Release Date April 18th, 2026
Format CD/Digital
Genre Thrash/Death Metal
Origin USA
New York has always had a special relationship with aggression in metal, and Another Demon tap straight into that tradition with "As Above So Below". The band is built from players with roots in hardcore, thrash, and extreme metal, and that background comes through naturally across this EP. Max Capshaw brings years of New York hardcore history into the vocals and attitude, while Frank Tosi and Jun Takeshita shape the guitar work with a mix of old school thrash violence and darker death metal atmosphere. Add Dave English behind the drums and the result is a band that sounds experienced without turning sterile or mechanical.
"As Above So Below" throws out ripping riffs, aggressive pacing, eerie melodies and enough menace to satisfy anyone raised on Slayer, Exodus, Overkill and early death metal brutality. The production has power without sanding off the rough edges, giving the guitars and drums a raw energy that suits the material perfectly. There is a clear love for classic thrash running through the EP, though the band also pulls in darker and heavier textures that give the material extra character. The atmosphere matters here just as much as the speed.
The guitar work is one of the strongest weapons on the EP. Frank Tosi and Jun Takeshita attack songs with fast riffing, violent rhythm changes and leads that bring an old school spirit without sounding trapped in nostalgia. There are moments where the music swings into darker territory, almost brushing against blackened or doom influenced passages before launching back into full speed aggression.
The appearance from James Murphy adds class to the release, and his solo work fits naturally into the band's savage approach instead of sounding pasted on for attention.
Vocally, Max Capshaw attacks every song with a rough and forceful delivery that matches the music perfectly. His hardcore roots help give the material an extra street-level aggression, especially during the faster sections where the vocals sound genuinely furious instead of theatrical. Lyrically, the EP dives into horror themes, punishment, inner struggle and occult imagery, all fitting naturally with the dark tone of the music. The band avoids sounding cartoonish, which helps the atmosphere stay intense throughout the EP.
What works best about "As Above So Below" is how alive it sounds. This is not one of those modern thrash releases built only around precision and studio tricks. The EP has sweat, speed, violence and enough dark atmosphere to stop it from becoming one dimensional. Some sections could have benefited from even more variation in pacing, and a few ideas could have been pushed further, though the overall intensity and songwriting are strong enough that those issues never drag the EP down. For a shorter release, it leaves a strong impression and easily creates anticipation for a future full-length album.
Anyone into aggressive thrash metal with death metal influence should absolutely give this EP a shot. Fans of classic riff-driven metal with horror themes and fierce energy will get a lot out of it. If you only want modern polished metal with clinical perfection, this may not connect the same way. For everyone else, "As Above So Below" is a fierce blast of New York metal fury loaded with killer riffs, violent energy and enough darkness to stay memorable long after it ends.
| 8.0
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