ARS IRAE are a young German black and/or death metal band from the South of Germany. It’s not easy to say whether the black metal or the death metal component is the defining earmark of this Verwelkt (decayed/withered) entitled mini CD. The first tracks are way more influenced by Nordic BM or Pagan style, but beginning with the title track Verwelkt in the middle, the focus moves on to melodic grooving death metal, although all the songs mix up both genres. Any of the five songs are quite well played and very fine produced for a demo, and by changing the dominant style of the whole CD in the middle while still altering between death and black metal, there is also some recognition value. And Verwelkt gets an interesting, yet slightly dazzling touch with the last song Elysium, as female, Gothic like vocals are applied along the growling of singer Michi.
But at all, the songs are not inventive enough to create an outstanding album. Very similar riffing has been heard many times before, so this part could take a bit more variety and originality, the same applies to the vocalist. For the load of text he has, his growling and screeching should be more diversified.
Overall, not an outstanding, but solid demo, and I think ARS IRAE have the potential to deliver something more autonomous the next time.