Demonic Resurrection - _Beyond the Darkness_

Demonic Resurrection opens the compilation -- the benefits of being boss! (Sole member The Demonstealer is also the founder of Demonstealer Records.) As with their previous full-length, _A Darkness Descends_, this is grounded in thrashy death, yet markedly different. Demonic Resurrection are far more restrained on this album, whilst power and especially heavy influences leave a greater impact. Greater use is made of clean vocals (terrible, but that seems to be the norm) and solos, both of which enhance the epic tone that permeates this release and presumably ties into the thematic concept of a celestial journey. A better executed, more mature and cohesive release than their previous work.

Severe Dementia - _Epitaph of Plassey_

I have heard metal from many, many countries, but Bangladesh is a first, even for me. As with the previous EP, this is a concept album detailing the Battle of Plassey, which took place on June 23, 1757 at Plassey village in India, between the British East India Company and the army of Nawab Siraj-ud-Doula. His leading general, Mir Jafar Ali Khan, betrayed him, which led to his defeat, placing the entire Bengal region under British control. Despite the nationalist concept and associated musical styles, this is not an attempt at Pagan metal reinterpreted for the Bangladeshis, but brutal technical death metal with jazz fusion passages tossed in for good measure. Severe Dementia may not receive any accolades for originality, but as a straightforward and uncompromising entrant to death metal, they favourably compete against their emergent peers to the West. As the first band I have ever heard from Bangladesh, it's a more than acceptable entrant, and one hopes that there is more life to Bangladeshi metal than the Bengal Tiger.

Dusk - _Dead Heart Dawning_

Dusk are probably the premier Pakistani band and are the originators of Pakistani metal. The intro on _Dead Heart Dawning_ is rather unusual, consisting of some tribal drumming accompanied by some chanting to the accompaniment of a bass. Unusual, but effective, as is the next song, which is reminiscent of Necromantia, due to the prominent bass work. "Sorrows of the Flesh" is little more than a tribute to early My Dying Bride, right down to the doomy chord progressions, the use of deathy grunts with some clean whines and violin, with only a few solos adding an individual touch. The closer and title track's mid-pace allies it to death rather than the slow winding riffs of doom metal. This was an unusual and unconventional EP, where four songs, including an intro, are insufficient to provide an accurate picture of this band's capabilities. I would love to hear what they can do over the course of a full-length.

Helmsky provide two tracks of melodic death thrash, saved from Gothenburg ignominy through their dynamic approach.

To summarise, this is a pleasing compilation and it is probably not just promotional rubbish to state that this is the epitome of south Asian metal.