Untimely Demise stands on a swinging pillar that primarily leans on the edge of thrash metal but dips into melodic death metal territory ala At The Gates or other seminal bands of the Gothenburg equation on a sequential basis. The group's overall approach is debatably insignificant and maybe a slither redundant at first, but "City of Steel" showcases the higher road of this identity that many try and ultimately fail. Untimely Demise is not the kind of band that will floor you with grade-A instrumentation or stellar guitar work which redefines thrash metal, but "City of Steel" still provides a decent bludgeoning of riveting thrash welcoming many outer sounds and niches into the house of these Canadian butchers.So, what Untimely Demise attempts throughout "City of Steel," the faction's debut, is quite basic compared to others divulging in the thrash/melodic death metal algorithm. The record pretty much follows the philosophy to a tee, using old-school thrash in the circle of Slayer or Kreator to assist the psychotic guitar work and harsh vocals, while frequently turning the musical dials into melodic regions one could associate with late Carcass or Dark Tranquillity if Dark Tranquillity had testosterone. And as I said, originality isn't Untimely Demise's foundation of power, but the group at least has the ability to craft fun, catchy riffs and verses that stick out, and quite a portion of their melodic work really leaves a lasting impact, especially the scathing, furious guitar work throughout "Unmaker, which is my favorite part of the album, hands down.
Not everything they touch turns to gold, however; the transitions occasionally seem predictable and expected, but Untimely Demise at least has the diversified factor working in their favor to make each and every song smooth and memorable with consistent, aggressive fire shooting from every orifice. Also, one of Untimely Demise's leading assets that will unquestionably impress curious listeners is the band's lead guitar work and their excessive soloing habit which comes to light at every bend and turn; it's really amazing how their solos fit into the album's landscape of ravenous melody so well, truly some great work on the part of Untimely Demise.
There aren't many things to say about "City of Steel" other than its simplistic nature dominates the album. The opening number sums up Untimely Demise and the remaining cuts follow suit without hesitation or variation, but it works to the band's benefit during the record's running time, at least to a comfortable degree. "City of Steel" may not become a classic or noteworthy release causing friction in the metal underground, but Untimely Demise still provides a bestial experience that appropriately explores the realms of both thrash and melodic death metal without derailing the band's true intention, which is to sink sharp incisors into your neck and drain every last drop of blood from the futile victim of this violent squad.