Ancient Tragedy (GRE) issue #2:
Here we have some great U. S. A. doom / death shit!!! Their debut demo really amazed me! There are 4 songs with a very clear sound coming with a coloured cover and a pro tape. Really good work! The music is well structured, sometimes fast death and other times very doomy, like SEPTIC FLESH and THE GATHERING! The band has opened gigs of MY DYING BRIDE and HYPOCRISY... I think that they have a lot to say in the future! Buy this one!!!

Static (MI) issue #16:
Here we have a death metal band with keyboards to add a mysterious touch. I've got to admit they've blended the extremely heavy styles well with the smooth sounds of the keys. The 4 songs are loaded with many great musical moments. The two guitarists really have created something unique like dual harmonies and clean breaks. I think what makes this group so great is the way it's all put together, like they put a lot of thought into it. There's a female vocal part in one song that's cool. This is total pro with color cover and it sounds perfect.

Torture Chamber Music Reviews (OH) issue #6:
I was not expecting much from this demo-I'm not the world's biggest fan of atmospheric death metal-but I was pleasantly surprised. These songs kick ass! Instead of overwhelming everything as in most music of this genre, the keyboards only add a little depth to the tunes. The raging guitars, punishing drums and growled vocals carry most of the weight here. These guys (and a lady-her name's Mary, not Rhiannon, and she plays guitar, not keyboards-can you believe it!?) are all very talented musicians, unloading lots of technical riffs and time changes at every turn. This spends all over most of the "atmospheric" bands out there today and proves that moodiness doesn't have to be synonymous with weakness. Well worth checking into, especially if you're into the atmospheric/doom thing.

Ultima Comparatio (CT) issue #2:
Every once in a while a demo comes along that when you hear it, you just know that the band will do something within their respective choice of music. Thus is certainly the case with this band. The music is very much of the Death Metal nature, basically because of the vocals. The music itself, is a blend of many styles, but the entire tape is filled with melody over brutality. They leave the brutality to the vocalist, who at first I was not real fond of, but now I have grown to really enjoy, this simply can not be compared to any one band, just pure excellence.

Moonlight (CT) issue #2?:
Every indication is that Death metal may soon be on the rise again, and if acts such as this are continuing to arise, Death Metal will be welcomed by yours truly. What we have here is some exceptionally well written melody filled metal with extremely heavy vocals, that at first were a bit too guttural for me, but I have grown to love the combination of them mixed with the very melodious music. I can not recommend this enough, and I can guarantee this band will be signed by years end. LG Rating 10.

Sociopathic Despair (IN) issue #4:
Rating: A-. This is the best atmospheric/melodic death metal release I've heard since Amorphis' "Tales From The Thousand Lakes." Damn, I really like this! Garden Of Shadows is a new band containing ex-members of Funereal Opera, Biovore, and Sadistic Torment. They play a form of technical, atmospherically melodic death metal similar to older Amorphis, My Dying Bride, Avernus, and pre-Queensryche-wannabe Paradise Lost, with a good deal of doom and gothic influences mixed in. The band conveys a true sense of gloom and melancholy in their music thanks to the addition of enticingly sensual (yet forlorn) female vocals. The lead vocalist's guttural death metal roar contrasts sharply with the sweetly singsong female operatic vocals. The incorporation of violins and keyboards, as well as folk-style, quasi-progressive guitar tracks, complete the effect. The distinction between the band's contrasting elements of brutality and melodic beauty is often clearly discernible, and at other times intrinsically meshed. Brutality and melody work hand-in-hand with this band as it does with few others in the crowded underground. Song titles include "Lovely Cold," "Company In Solitude," "Apollonian Realm," the title track, and an intro. Garden Of Shadows is definitely one of the most noteworthy new bands in this stylized sub-genre of death metal. If they continue to put out demos of this high a caliber, they will be one of the strongest bands in their burgeoning scene. I am looking forward to more excellent releases from this uniquely refreshing band in the future. The demo is pro-duped and comes with a color cover. Cost is $4 ppd. (MR)

Lamentation (HUN) issue #9:
This US five piece puts out incredible atmospheric, emotional Death metal. There are more guitar melodies than you'll hear by hundreds of so-called "atmospheric doom/death" bands. The complex song structuring reminds me of Dark Tranquillity, still this is some original metal with beautiful keyboards, occasional female vocals and acoustic guitar parts. Great musicianship, clear sound, pro done tapes with color cover. All this for only $4 (US), $5 (elsewhere). Buy it or die!

Stormwatch (MA) issue #1:
(4 out of 5) A phenomenal demo from this band out of Maryland. The music is a mixture of atmospheric and death metal, with some occasional female vocals to make things right. Garden of Shadows play with power and majesty, the kind that one might find on newer Hypocrisy or Rotting Christ albums. The sound on this isn't perfect, but it certainly is by no means of poor quality. This is also a band that can play their instruments well. I enjoyed their tempo transitions, which can go from a slower rhythm (ala old-Paradise Lost) to faster rhythms that almost border on black metal, and also the keyboard work is pretty good (this is an area in which the mix might be a bit weak). Each of the songs on this demo is excellent, and my favorite definitely has to be "Lovely Cold" with its incredible majestic atmosphere. I am definitely desiring to hear more of this band. Check out the interview in this issue, as well as the info on how to get your hands on this demo.

Underground Zine Scene (MI) issue 8:
Garden Of Shadows-Heart Of The Corona Rating: 10 I hearby proclaim thee the new gods of Doom/death metal and hereby command all my loyal readers to rush out and buy this demo and … Oh , only if it were that easy. Formed in '95, Garden of Shadows are in my estimation one of the most promising new doom acts to come out of the States since Avernus (who are now signed to MIA Records) and at this point and time I think they are better than Avernus is NOW. I don't make that statement lightly and I from all the music I've heard in the last 10 years I can say without a doubt that this band will get signed, probably overseas, but I have no doubts that they will get signed. Recorded in April of '97, Heart of The Corona, Lovely Cold, Company In Solitude and Apollonian Realm are the 4 songs that combine atmospheric, death and doom elements perfectly. This tape leaves little doubt where the future of doom lies, right in Gaithersburg, MD of all unlikely places. $4ppd US / $5 ppd. world.

Abominate (LITH) issue #7:
Excellence!!! Four tracks demo, over than 30 minutes of atmospheric death metal. When I got this demo I remembered band AVERNUS which was done something like that. This demo is one of the best for me now, because all four songs are full of impression and power. I like everything in this product and I didn't know what I can say more...