Review: Demon Sluice - Dancers Beneath Shores of Fire
Strider got the taste for some death metal grit in his black metal lunch. Check out his review of Demon Sluice here.
Band: Demons Sluice
Album: Dancers Beneath Shores of Fire
Genre: Black/Death Metal
Country: United States
Label: Negative Wingspan
Released: September 5, 2025
Introduction
Demon Sluice is a Blackened Death Metal duo from the United States. Formed in 2023 and consisting of members Valefor (Guitars/Drum Programming) and Gallimgrim (Vocals) the duo released a demo in May 2024. They have since followed up with their debut album Dancers Beneath Shores of Fire in September.
Dancers Beneath Shores of Fire
Tracklist:
- Sower of Dragon Teeth
- Force Fed Anemone
- Benthic Zone
- Curses Upon Curses
- A Wounded, Starving Beast
Harkening back to the early hours of extreme metal when the lines defined by genre weren't so clearly drawn and the boundaries were still being pushed to their limits is where you'll find Demon Sluice.
As a whole the album is an unforgiving, unrelenting orgy of black infused death metal. Fueled by an onslaught of riffs and grotesque snarling gutturals. The drum programming is impressive and clean. A percussive, precision wrought beast within itself feeding the assault.
Production wise the album is beautiful. The clarity is everything you'd expect from modern production and yet still maintains its visceral aggression. The vocals are down right nasty in all the right ways. Fusing elements from all of extreme metals sub-genres into one nauseating concoction.
Valefor is an absolute madman on the guitar. Vomiting forth chugs, squeals and arpeggiated scales. Tremolo picked nightmares and walls of feedback. The album has it all and it's done well. Massive amounts of Death Metal riffage tinged with just enough blackened melody to keep one's sanity in check.
The aural siege on one's senses is paused only for a brief moment at the albums mid way point with the ambient track Benethic Zone. A passage that feels like a singular gasp of air before being sucked back down into the oceanic depths that proceeds for the remainder of the album. The latter half containing Curses Upon Curses and A Wounded, Starving Beast being my personal favorite.
The album artwork and logo are worth noting. I love the classical renaissance aesthetic of the artwork. I'm always keen on when an album's artwork and logo jump out at me before even listening to an album and this one caught my attention while scouring through releases. However I'm not completely sold on the band name. But that being my only complaint, the band name could be anything as long as the music itself rips, and it fucking rips.
Conclusion
An impressive debut album and an excellent follow up to their demo. Dancers Beneath Shores of Fire leans heavily into its Death Metal influences but fans of Black Metal will surely find something to appreciate here. It's an epic monstrosity, peeling forth from the abyss to rain fire and rot upon its listeners.
BMZ Rating: 7,5 out of 10
Support Demon Sluice here: https://demonsluice.bandcamp.com/album/dancers-beneath-shores-of-fire
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