Demonic Death Judge - Absolutely Launched (Album Review)

Release Date: April 30th 2025. Record Label: Suicide Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Absolutely Launched - Tracklisting

1.90's Violence 03:34

2.Natural Wine Guy

3.You've Got Red On You

4.Goner 04:54

5.Dead Dogs

6.I Realize That... Now

7.Spliffhanger

8.Absolutely Launched

Members:

Jaakko Heinonen - vocals

Eetu Lehtinen - bass

Lauri Pikka - drums

Toni Raukola - guitar

Review

Sludge/Stoner Metal heavyweights Demonic Death Judge are back with a BANG after a five year absence with Absolutely Launched. This record sees the band leave the deeper depths of the aquatic world heard on their previous records and launch an almighty assault on DRY LAND but still keeping the oceanic theme but a healthy dose of black humour which you can see from the brilliant album cover.

Demonic Death Judge covers a lot of ground on this release with inspiration coming from The Melvins and UNSANE with the band still providing their own wicked blend of Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves. The harsh vocals of Jaakko Heinonen once again surround the fast-paced instrumental sounds with a heavy dose of FINNISH underground attitude being contained within the kick-ass lyrics. This is Demonic Death Judge’s most outrageous and fun record to date. There’s still a high amount of bleak sounding moments but the band are sure having a hell of time on this record and no doubt the listener will too.

The songs are spiky and fresh with a GONZO sense of Surf Rock appearing on the opening tracks of 90’s Violence and Natural Wine Guy. Some clever word play and fast paced sounds blends Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal imagery into a frenzied metallic approach which can be quite melodic in places but still maintaining their subtle aggressive attitude.

The delicious and seedy level of FUZZ ROCK becomes ever more dominant throughout the album but most noticeable on the excellent third track You’ve Got Red On You which has first rate melodic Psychedelic passages. Jaakko’s vocals once again adds a demented atmosphere to proceedings with music that will appeal to fans of Church Of Misery and BONGZILLA. Slightly depressing soundbytes appear which shows that Demonic Death Judge haven’t left their old school vibes behind even within this record, perhaps being their most modern sounding record to date.

The band reinvent themselves in so many different ways with Absolutely Launched with subtle changes in melodies and story themes projected into the album. What hasn’t changed is Demonic Death Judge’s talent for conjuring up a mighty THICK WEEDIAN RIFF out of thin air and transforming into a highly original style of music you haven’t heard before. The record is also heavily distorted with plenty moments of down tuned instrumental sounds where the AMPS most definitely at bursting point. The aquatic moments add an almost surreal Post-Rock vibe before the classic Stoner Metal surroundings restore creative order.

Other great tracks to check out are: Dead Dogs, Spliffhanger and Absolutely Launched.

Absolutely Launched is dynamite entertainment which sees Demonic Death Judge on top of their game and having a blast from start to finish. This is one of the band's standout albums to date and will impress anyone who listens to it. 

Brilliant stuff. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.

Absolutely Launched will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Suicide Records from Wednesday April 30th 2025.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Demonic Death Judge - The Trail (Album Review)

Release date: March 27th 2020. Label: Suicide Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Trail – Tracklisting

1.Cougar Charmer

2.Filthy as Charged 

3.Hardship

4.Elevation 

5.Shapeshifting Serpents 

6.Flood

7.Fountain of Acid

8.Cougar Charmer (Reprise)

9.The Trail

10.We Have to Kill

Members

JAAKKO HEINONEN

EETU LEHTINEN

LAURI PIKKA

TONI RAUKOLA

Review

The Trail is Demonic Death Judge 5^th album and it’s quite possibly their most experimental and varied offering to date and that’s saying something about this great band. As DDJ have never been afraid to change musical style of direction whilst remaining in the confinements of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal. This new album changes that slightly by allowing the band to adapt different aspects to their music.

The Trail maybe not as easy or accessible to listen as their past efforts such as Seaweed but it doesn’t make it any less captivating as such. This album still has DDJ’s trademark riffs buried within but allows to be more creative with their music.

Opening song – Cougar Charmer – is more of an Acoustic offering with elements of Americana style melodic rock being played at a slow pace. It’s not the most exciting songs to open the album with but things can change in a heartbeat on this album and they do with the next song.

Second song – Filthy As Charged – is what we come to expect from DDJ with the heavy Progressive Sludge/Stoner sounds with a harsh Doom Metal vibe allowing the band to play a heavier style of music. The band switch things up by adding a more riffier style of music that we haven’t heard before. It’s a good change of pace and shows you as a good indicator this album is going to be way different to what DDJ have released in the past. The trippy Stoner interludes are another cool touch but it’s the heavy sounds that instantly grab your attention and leave you wanting more.

Third song – Hardship – carries on the harsh vocals and Post-Doom based guitar sounds for a song that perfectly drifts from one heavy environment to the net whilst retaining a solid melodic groove. The distorted guitars have an almost Industrial feel to them and DDJ start to add a more commanding presence to their music. Wait till you hear the trippy and experimental guitars towards the end of the song that feel like they quite different to what the band have performed in the past.

Fourth song – Elevation – opens with a 70s Hard Rock riff before the band start laying down their heavy down-tuned Doom/Sludge/Stoner guitar sounds. The atmosphere is less chaotic on this song and has a more organic feel. This is one of my favourite songs on the album with DDJ taking their time on this song and allowing the listener to feel part of the song. The heavy growls are still present but the guitars have a cool Post-Rock melodic flow to them.

There are 10 songs on this album and unfortunately I can’t go through describing everyone. All I can say is the remaining 6 songs are just as good and as challenging as the 4 songs I’ve reviewed here. Demonic Death Judge still play a wide range of different sounds on this album. Some of them are quite challenging at first. As you wouldn’t expect DDJ to go down that route but overall it works and this allows The Trail to perhaps be Demonic Death Judge most creative album to date.

Other cool songs to check out are: Shapeshifting Serpents, Flood, Fountain Of Acid and The Trail. As I feel this is where long time fans will enjoy the most. As they contain the most heaviest grooves on the album and perhaps some of the most recognizable aspects of Demonic Death Judge.

Overall, The Trail is an expertly produced album and one that will keep their fan-base happy for a long time to come. This is another excellent album from Demonic Death Judge and another great addition to their celebrated back catalogue.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Demonic Death Judge and Viral Propaganda PR

The Trail is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Suicide Records from March 27^th 2020.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp