Average Classic Death-Metal, with vocals mixed too loud, but an overall "underground feeling" that I cannot dislike... 6 out 10

Another tape from CASTRUM, but this time the music is better... same style, same attitude, but some riffs are good and vocals are good too... a little step ahead... 6+ out 10

Cornelius was cool enough to send me their older demo ("Flames...") on the blank side of the newer demo so I could hear the progression of the band so far. I must say, I like this quite a bit, both of them. The style is somewhat melodic brutal death. Something like you would get if you mixed AMORPHIS's first two full-lengths together. Most times it's fast, yet catchy. The only failing of the old demo is that the vocals are pushed a little too much in front of the music, ending up louder than everything else. It's not a big problem since the music is easy to get into, and they also fixed that on the newest material. The thing that caught my attention the most is the concept this band uses lyrically. Maybe there could be a new sub-genre in the underground: historycore? The topic covered on the first tape is the witch-hunts and the Inquisitions in general. It makes for much more interesting reading than the typical gore or political fare. "Pleasure in the Deeds of Horror" has three songs, one being an intro. The two actual songs on it are stories of people (whom I've never heard of, but I'm not big into the subjects CASTRUM sings about, although they are quite interesting) related to religious persecution and weird perversion. I doubt these are fictional tales, but who knows. Enough of my speculating on that. The music is what matters and it's damn good. Both demos are well-produced studio releases, "Pleasure..." being the heavier of the two. It also has some blast, where the prior demo did not. No overkill, just perfect. Seeing as this is the only band I know of from the Ukraine, I urge anyone interested (third time's a charm) to get in touch. May this Death Metal Renaissance continue for a long time to come. (goden)

Here is a demo which definitely won't make you fall asleep. A Death Metal trio from the Ukraine, with two Hungarian members. CASTRUM really know how to play brutal Death. After a synth-intro 2 tracks prove this fact. The lyrics are also remarkable, not one or two words that have been thrown together in a primitive way, that's for sure! Both of the lyrics have historical themes, the titles: "Gilles de Rais (Le bon sire)" and "Calvary of Grandier". Not the classical "deadly themes". The sound is good enough for me, the voice of Georgius is violent, Cornelius plays very varying guitar-riffs and melodies, Werkoff shows no mercy for the drums. It's an intensive, strong demo that you must hear! (MSE)

CASTRUM are a Ukrainian Death Metal band. Their style is reminiscent of both early MY DYING BRIDE (minus any dark romanticism) and that early 1980s Heavy Metal style that bordered on Death Metal. While I enjoy certain aspects of their music and would proclaim that they have much potential right away, there are things about these songs that are just too unrefined. From my interpretation CASTRUM are aiming for the brutal-and-melodic style of Death Metal, which is not easy to achive and in the end things don't tie together very well, as the sound quality is crude at points. The lyrics on these two demos involve a subject I am most interested in, the Christian Inquisition... good reading it may be but when the last song comes to an end I don't have much desire to hear it again. Though, an up and coming band CASTRUM are. (68/100)

This Ukrainian trio with Hungarian members has already proved with their previous rehearsal tape that in Ukraine are existing bands which play quality music. Their 1st demo contains two older songs and intro/outro in 13 minutes. Their style can be called emotional Death Metal with Black-type vocals. The guitar playing is enchanting, very witty, though it reminds me of the past too. The drum playing is very fast it's a real wonder that they can remain precise at the same time. The keyboard parts are so splendid which I've never heard before. The instrumental tracks both the intro and the outro bring tears into your eyes with their beauty. The lyrics which deal with the historical past can be rarely heard as well. It's the mix alone which they didn't manage to make perfect bacause the singing is louder than it should be and the guitars are in the backwards. But as a whole everything can be heard. The printed cover contains both photo and lyrics. One of my favorites.

Excellent Death/Thrash of the 80's with lyrics of the Middle Ages. Everything is pro here. Good mix, color cover with lyrics and photo. What are you waiting for? Get this 3-song demo or die.

CASTRUM's third demo came to me in a nice elegant cover from Transcarpathia. After a quite long instrumental (piano/guitar) piece which seems to be perfect, there are two tracks titled "Gilles de Rais (Le bon sire)" and "Calvary Of Grandier" in the style of gothic-brutal death metal as they call it. This time it means a tasteful and calm (together with the power) very musical death with great melodies, many variations and full of energy. (Not too fast music). The lyrics are absolutely great and epic which is rare nowadays. I couldn't get tired of this demo at all, due to the great balanced music and the fine rattle. This is absolutely great!

This the third demo of this ukrainian death metal band, created in 1994. They sound like a melodic death metal with some doom parts, with good musicians and playing/composing like veterans. The gun of them is loaded from recording a CD, and only thing missing is one label to give them a deserved chance. The demo has two songs plus an intro, and historical lyrics. (C.A.)

These two CASTRUM demos in this issue are a bit old, but they're available through Crucifix distro (run by CASTRUM's mainman Cornelius) from which you can get also some other interesting items from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, etc. Despite that "Flames by Impiety" was recorded back in 1996, it contains that kind of Death Metal which doesn't become out-dated at all with the passing of time. These rather melodic than raspy guitar tunes as actual nowadays as they were long times ago and the combined songs of this demo are able to please us even after years proving that Death Metal is eternal. Some dificiencies, of course, raise their heads, mainly soundwise - drums a bit mechanic, the guitars could have been thicker and too much echoes were used at the vocals in my opinion. But they are compensated by the long, well-composed songs each including several themes into it, tasty keyboard backgrounds at times or the thrilling historical lyrics.

All the important things for you to know about this band was said above. This demo may add to that a bit heavier and better sound but musicwise not too much change as they remained (and probably will remain in the future, too) in the good, old beaten track of honest Death Metal.

Here comes CASTRUM, who's brand of Death Metal (which is almost a shock to me, there are still Death bands forming?!) from Ukraine is quite cool to my ears... Someone has to give them credit for not jumping on the Black Metal wagon!!! They are calling their music Gothic-Brutal Death Metal... And yes, it does sound ok after your a bit more familiar with their music. I could also add that they have that good old sound of the German Metal of the mid '80's... Something I've always enjoyed in the past and still do... You can hear that they are looking for their own original style and sound and with time, CASTRUM could evolve in something more personnal and definitely entertaining. Production-wise, "...Deeds" is a much better recording than "Flames..." but they are both worthy of interest... You should give them a chance and get a copy of their demos... If you still enjoy Melodic Death Metal, that is!!! Cool shit!!! (R.C.)

I've always been a fan of this Ukrainian trio. This material contains all the demos, rehearsals they have done so far and is a great insight into their quality music. Just imagine raw yet catchy Death Metal with rough vox and lyrics dealing with medieval themes, and you'll get them. This impressive piece of work has a fairly decent sound and a full coloured jacket card. - 7,5 -

Frankly speaking, this MC release could be reviewed in "Demo Reviews" section too as long as "The Leading Spirit..." is a compilation of CASTRUM's early works (circa 1996) released in 1999. To avoid any misunderstandings this is not croatian CASTRUM. This one is of Ukrainian origin. Material featured on this MC represents mid-tempoed synth-spiced Death Metal, reminding early DEICIDE and HYPOCRISY. Artistic side of this release is quite impressive (special mention goes to Cornelius, master-mind behind CASTRUM, whose riffs and leads strike as splendid ones). However, the production on the majority of tracks lacks any professionalism and intensity (except well-produced songs from "Pleasure in the Deeds of Horror" demo). Anyway, I strongly recommend "The Leading Spirit..." to all who care about DM in Eastern Europe. Death Metal maniacs, this stuff is for you. (Krasniy)

CASTRUM rules! I've been in touch with Cornelius (guitar/bass) since I first heard of his band in '98 and he recently sent me this tape, released by Metal Force Records out of the Ukraine. "The Leading Spirit of Medieval Tortures" compiles CASTRUM's three demos, "Burial of the Affection", "Flames by Impiety" and "Pleasure in the Deeds of Horror", all from 1996. Plus there's a relatively new, non-demo rehearsal track titled "Unprecedented Torture", which is a cool bonus! The latter two demos were reviewed in previous issues of Eternal Frost, but if you haven't heard CASTRUM, get this tape and check them out! The lyrical concept involving the Inquisition is rather interesting and the music is original and well-performed death metal, brutal but with a fair amount of melody. I sure hope these guys are working on another release! (goden)

Collection of several recordings of CASTRUM, including rough rehearsals and studio recordings better taken care. In the general it is a good sample of the death raw and tribal metal of the band that invests in the brutality without worrying a lot with the technique. It reminded me a lot the recordings of the first vinyls of Brazilian bands as MUTILATOR and SARCOFAGO and I felt a pleasant nostalgia of those times. I like those underground garage productions, they make us to remind of the beginning of the metal movement. For the underground maniacs! (EF)

Ukrainian Metal Force Records was kind enough to put out Ukrainian CASTRUM's former three demos on one cassette. For me only the first rehearsal tape was so far unknown from this great Death Metal band. The next two demos I already reviewed in the previous issue of ours, so may it be enough of them that they were masterpieces of Eastern European Death Metal around 1996-1997. We can hear long, complex, sometimes melodic and sometimes brutal songs with lyrics dealing with the medieval times. This tape also shows us where they started from, which is more interesting for me this time. I was surprised by the sound of their first attempt, I expected much worse being this just a rehearsal recording. But I extremely (and immediately) fell in love with this lively sound. Although it can be heard here and there that the songs was just being evolved at that time, they possess a pure and unalienable power, which suggests that there was some potential in CASTRUM even back then. It is absolutely worth obtaining this material (if you don't own them yet) till their first real album, which is already on the way, is released with the title of "Hatenourisher".

No, Croatian vampires (also carrying the name "Castrum") is not what I am talking about now. This CASTRUM comes from Ukraine and differs a lot from it's namesake, both musically and lyrically. Basically, "The Leading Spirit of Medieval Tortures" is a compilation of their earlier demo works and rehearsals. The first four tracks come from "Flames By Impiety" demo (recorded back in June 1996), appearing as quite raw (especially, in terms of recording) yet technical, mid-paced death metal, rather unorthodox I'd say, even though I don't like the keyboards' sound. The next three tunes were taken off "Pleasure in the Deeds of Horror", and these are the best ones. Sounding quite similar to early ANCIENT RITES, though still being enough original, these songs are (fairly) well recorded, synth-spiced at times, with somewhat special sound and approach to music. At least, I can't recall any whether Russian, Ukrainian or Belorussian band we could compare CASTRUM to. Furthermore, this time keyboards sound enjoyable, even taking into account the fact there're only few of them. Then we have one rehearsal track, the freshest one, if talking about the times recording took place. It's not bad, however I believe better studio is a necessity. In the end, there come "Burial of the Affection" rehearsal demo, featuring more five compositions. Not bad as well, especially that instrumental tune... Seems like I tried to tell you what "The Leading Spirit..." is all about musically, whilst lyrically it might be a perfect crib if you're going to have your medieval Europe's history exam next week. In general, atmospheric, recognizable dark death metal is what we have here. Not your everyday DM, you know. (review by Herr Stalhammar)