The Eyes of Salt 2023 demo demands attention from the moment you press play, and it holds onto it for both the right and wrong reasons. Let’s start with the positives: the first three tracks are nearly flawless in every aspect—production, musicianship, and lyrical depth. From the opening song, I was hooked. The emotional weight of the lyrics hit me hard, and it’s rare to hear a song with such raw intensity and heart. The band’s performance is tight, and the production is crisp, clean, and polished—everything sounds like it’s been carefully crafted for maximum impact. Honestly, I was in awe as the track unfolded.
What really impressed me was how Eyes of Salt didn’t lose momentum. The next two songs kept up that same high energy, continuing the raw, emotional journey. It felt like the band was on fire, pouring everything they had into these songs—powerful, fast, and melodic hardcore that just grabbed you by the soul. I found myself completely captivated. The energy, the drive, the pure emotion—they absolutely nailed it. Seriously, chef’s kiss.
But then, things took a sharp turn with the last two songs, and that’s where things got a little... jarring. It felt like the production quality completely shifted, almost as if they had swapped producers mid-demo or used older, less polished recordings. The mix became a muddy mess, and I found it hard to distinguish the guitars, drums, and bass. The vocals were still clear and powerful, and the lyrics remained strong, but the rest of the band’s performance was buried under a thick veil of poor sound quality. It was frustrating because the musicianship still seemed solid—what I could hear of it—but the overall mix just didn’t do the band justice. I’m not sure if this was a production issue or if it was out of the band’s hands, but the contrast between the first three tracks and the last two was jarring.
Despite the rough patch at the end, Eyes of Salt’s 2023 demo is still a compelling listen, especially for fans of emotionally driven, fast, and melodic hardcore. When it’s on, it’s on—truly gripping stuff. But that dip in sound quality is definitely something to be aware of if you’re hoping for a consistent sonic experience throughout.
RATING: 8.5/10
NOTIABLE TRACKS:
Father Of My Father
timebomb
Don't She Your Tears