Untimely Demise

'Untimely Demise, Systematic Eradication (Punishment 18): Unlike Toxic Holocaust, Untimely Demise’s brand of thrash is devoutly Eurocentric, and unlike Warbringer (see below), they know what they’re doing on their new record. Slickly recorded and performed and with a strong sense of dynamics as well as intricacy, the Canadian band take a big step forward on the follow-up to 2010’s City of Steel, coming across as a neat balance between Arch Enemy and Kreator. Songs like “Spiritual Embezzlement” and “Somali Pirates” are absolute scorchers, while “The Last Guildsman” and “Revolutions” showcase lead shredder/vocalist Matt Cuthbertson’s greatly improving melodic sensibility. Highly recommended. -Adrien Begrand

Published online on October 30, 2013* - Decibel Magazine

'Sophisticated thrash with deathly touches'

Untimely Demise
'City Of Steel'
(War On Music)

"UNTIMELY Demise's debut album is full of dynamic riffs, all of which lay the foundations for a promising continuation to the Canadians' young career. 'Virtue In Death' and 'Hunting Evil' get everything off to a rousing start, with Matt Cuthbertson's vocals proving he owes quite a lot to the influence of Kreator's Mille Petrozza. The trio also hint at Carcass and At The Gates, in that they can be very melodic without ever compromising their brutal impact. 'Unmaker' is a fine example of this, Matt's intricate guitar work complementing the rhythmic ferocity of bassist Murray Cuthbertson and drummer Scott Cross. Untimely Demise have pulled off the impressive trick of making their complex music sound easy. [7]

Malcolm Dome - Metal Hammer Magazine UK, Issue 215, March 2011, pg 84

. - Blabbermouth.net

Untimely Demise – City Of Steel (Sonic Unyon Recording Company)

This is some seriously sweet blackened thrash. This is the Saskatchewan crew’s debut effort, and they are impressive as hell. They play a great style of thrash, but on top of that, the leads and solos on these songs are definitely something to take notice of. Sonic Unyon is a small label for sure so this may be difficult to find, but definitely seek it out.

http://www.metalsucks.net/2011/09/13/shit-that-comes-out-today-the-september-13-2011-edition/ - Metal Sucks.net

UNTIMELY DEMISE
City of Steel
(Sonic Unyon Metal)


Straight from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Ca. (a mouthful right?), come three young thrashers known as UNTIMELY DEMISE. This intense strain of blackened thrash shows that Canadians really love their metal and take its exercise seriously. In seven precisely executed songs, the three from the north craft a sound that can only be described as a cross between SKELETONWITCH and old-school IRON MAIDEN. After heavily touring in 2011 with bands such as TOXIC HOLOCAUST, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, and BONDED BY BLOOD, the Canadian trio were signed to a worldwide deal with Sonic Unyon Metal. City of Steel, which will be their first album released on the international scene, is actually a re-release of their late 2010 album of the same name. Glen Drover, of MEGADETH and KING DIAMOND fame, produced the re-released album with the band and even added in a few solos of his own. At a little over 30 minutes of transfixing music, UNTIMELY DEMISE shows that they are ready to establish themselves firmly within the metal scene. These guys know how to play and show no holding back in the execution of each song. Expect to see UNTIMELY DEMISE coming through your neck of the woods and be ready for its attack. (ML) - Hails and Horns Magazine

(excerpt from 'Reanimated', a feature discussing the thrash metal revival*)

'These days it still feels like the most genuine, sincere sounding thrash metal comes from locales far removed by any sort of 'scenes'. Untimely Demise know that firsthand. Based further North, right smack in the middle of North America, in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, whose metal exports are very few and far between, the band has had to work extra hard, not only at creating a distinct sound, but making themselves heard as band after band in America landed high profile deals when labels caught on to thrash's new wave. The effort is just starting to pay off, though, as the young proteges of (former) Megadeth guitarist Glen Drover have not only found their sound - think Annihilator meets Kreator with a touch of Chuck Schuldiner - but are about to announce a major label deal this summer.'

-Adrien Begrand - Terrorizer Magazine 'Secret History Of Thrash Metal' UK, June 2011, 89-90

. - Exclaim Magazine online, December 2010 - Review by Keith Carmen

UNTIMELY DEMISE (7/10)
'City Of Steel'
Sonic Unyon
'Contrary to the name we hope they keep going for a while'

As fun as it is to see young thrash bands replicate vintage '80s' thrash metal out of respect and pure fandom of the sound/overall aesthetic, it's even more encouraging to come across bands who are trying their damndest to take a tried-and-true formula and do something that stands apart from everything else. With just and EP and a full-length under their bulletbelts, Western Canadian trio Untimely Demise have hit the ground running with a highly technical take on the classic thrash sound, and that album, the ferocious and intricate 'City Of Steel' has just been released worldwide via Sonic Unyon.

You can tell how unique a new band is when you have a hell of a time narrowing down a comparison to just one or two bands. With 'Untimely Demise' you hear doses of Megadeth, Annihilator, and Kreator in the dexterous rhythmic riffs, Michael Amott in Matt Cuthbertson's leads, early Children of Bodom in the song structure (minus the keyboards), and in Cuthbertson's high-pitched snarl, a combination of Mille Petrozza, Jeff Walker and Sound Of Perseverance-era Schuldiner. Hell, it's probably unintentional, but 'Virtue In Death' boasts a crunchy, rhythm riff so similar to Raven it makes this writer smile. Got all that?

Either way, 'City Of Steel' is a confident debut, seven tracks of slick physicality and some mighty impressive shredding, that youthful enthusiasm reined in nicely by producer Glen Drover (he of King Diamond/Megadeth notoriety). Just one album in, and they're already looking like Saskatchewan's best metal export since Into Eternity.

-Adrien Begrand
- Decibel Magazine, Issue #85, November 2011, pg 101