### Demonic Death Judge: Skygods

#### 21/11/12 || gk

Finland’s Demonic Death Judge put out a very enjoyable debut last year that I simply forgot to write about here. However, just a year later, the band is back and “Skygods” is an improvement on the debut in just about every aspect.

What we have here is some quality stoner doom that uses elements of sludge and southern rock and 70s prog. Album opener and title song Skygods gets the ball rolling with its ridiculously catchy opening riff but as the song progresses, the bass playing gets clearer, there’s an excellent lead guitar spot and a sly nod at Goblins’ theme for Suspiria and I realized these Finns have seriously upped their game. “Salomantaari” has a clear Sabbath lineage with its slow and rumbling riffs but an upbeat catchy riff sits right next to it and the mid song jam with quiet, clean guitar and bass gives off an awesome 70s prog-rock feel. “Aqua hiatus” mixes acoustic guitar strumming with a melancholic melody to great effect at the start before going off into heavier territory and finally circling back to the opening motif. This is another great song. Album closer “Pilgrimage” is the mandatory epic and at exactly 10 minutes long is the perfect showcase for this bands ability. At once, heavy and menacing but also laid back and calm, this song moves through many different moods. It feels like one long jam but there’s no sense of indulgence. “Pilgrimage” is a great finish to an impressive album.

What really stands out for me on “Skygods” is the guitar and bass playing. Saku Hakuli on guitars pulls off some seriously catchy riffing and matches that with very cool lead guitar parts. He can go from heavy, sludgy doom riffs to laidback and dare I say it, elegant jam sections with ease. Bass player Pasi Hakuli matches him every step of the way. Often following the guitar riff but every now and then stepping out of the shadows to play an absolutely memorable bass part like it’s the simplest thing in the world. Also, the acoustic guitar parts are much better integrated here than on their debut. The only downside for me on “Skygods” is vocalist Jaako Heinonen. He’s good at what he does which is the whole tortured sludge metal screaming but it does get a bit old and doesn’t always fit the music especially on the softer, more melodic parts.

“Skygods” shows a marked progression for the band from the debut. The song writing is of much higher quality, the band seems a lot more comfortable and their musicianship has improved tremendously in a relatively short period of time. If you like the whole stoner scene at all then Demonic Death Judge might have something for you. “Skygods” is an impressive album and something all genre fans should check out.

- Information
- Released: 2012
- Label: Inverse records
- Website: Demonic Death Judge Bandcamp
- Band
- Jaako Heinonen: vocals
- Saku Hakuli: guitars
- Pasi Hakuli: bass
- Lauri Pikka: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Skygods
- 02. Salomantaari
- 03. Latitude
- 04. Knee High
- 05. Aqua Hiatus
- 06. Cyberprick
- 07. Nemesis
- 08. Pilgrimage