Demo 98 by Staydown: A Raw Slice of Spanish Metalcore Fury
Man, oh man, where do I even start with Demo 98? This little gem from Staydown is like a rusty knife to the gut—messy, brutal, and unforgettable. Released way back in ’98 (yeah, when grunge was still kinda cool but fading fast), this self-released beast hails straight outta Spain. It’s not polished or perfect, but that’s exactly why it hits so damn hard.
Let’s talk about the chaos first. The band throws down some serious metalcore vibes mixed with hardcore grit, and holy hell, does it work. You’ve got Reverend screaming his lungs out on vocals while One Million $ Man and Sacamanteca shred their guitars like they’re trying to summon Satan himself. Fly-Man on drums? Dude’s got this relentless energy that just doesn’t quit. And Gravedigger on bass? That low-end rumble feels like an earthquake you can’t escape. Oh, and shoutout to the Staydown Wrestling Squad for adding those wild choruses—it’s like they brought the whole neighborhood into the pit.
Now, let me tell ya about two tracks that stuck in my brain like gum under a desk. First up: "Satan Rules." Whoa, right? The title alone should give you chills. From the opening riff, it’s clear these guys weren’t messing around. The guitar work here is nasty—like, evil clown at midnight nasty. Reverend’s vocals are raw as hell, switching between throat-shredding screams and almost demonic growls. Every time I hear this track, I feel like I’m standing in a sweaty basement show, surrounded by people losing their minds. It’s unhinged, unapologetic, and totally addictive.
Then there’s "God Or Evil," which flips the script a bit. This one starts slower, more brooding, like the calm before a storm. But once it kicks in, holy crap, it’s like getting punched in the chest over and over again. The lyrics hit hard too—existential stuff about morality and questioning everything. By the end, I’m always left breathless, wondering if I just survived something real or imagined. Honestly, it’s tracks like this that remind me why music matters. They don’t just entertain; they make you think, feel, and question your own soul.
One thing I gotta say, though—the production is super DIY. Like, you can practically hear Alberto Pastor fumbling with cables in the background while recording. But honestly? That adds to the charm. It’s raw, real, and human in a way most modern albums aren’t. Mixed by the band themselves, it’s messy but full of heart. You can tell Staydown poured every ounce of themselves into this demo, flaws and all.
So what’s the takeaway here? Demo 98 isn’t gonna win any Grammys, and it probably won’t top anyone’s “Best Albums Ever” list. But it’s a snapshot of a moment—a bunch of dudes from Spain making noise because they had no choice. It’s ugly, beautiful, and completely authentic. If you’re into metalcore or hardcore, you need to check this out. Just don’t expect perfection. Expect passion.
And hey, fun fact: apparently, the drummer Fly-Man used to moonlight as a pizza delivery guy. Makes sense, right? Delivering hot riffs AND hot slices. Rock ‘n’ roll royalty, folks.
