Different people like metal music for different reasons: for its diversity, musical adventurousness and lyrical complexity, groove, freedom of expression, extreme aggression and rebellious feeling, various song structures and face-melting solos, etc. But definitely not for a good production or high sound quality.
In the underground realm of metal it is more important what do you want to say with your music than how do you do it. And that's why metal really stands out. Have you ever heard of poorly recorded/produced but successful pop album? I bet no. Have you ever heard of just poorly produced pop song? Perhaps no, I haven't. And as for metal it's quite a commonplace.
There are lots and lots of low-quality metal demos with cult status out there. Sometimes they have a lot of raw creativity, atmosphere and charm in them that professional releases with their fancy arrangements and producers lack. And people still listen to these demo tapes and keep them in their collections. I also own a few. But today I want to write about demos not from famous mainstream bands but from some underground acts I like.
MOONLYGHT "Midwinter Melodies" (demo 1996)
6 song demo from Canadian progressive metallers - doomy, folky and darky. None of these songs will later appear on the albums, so it's kind of exclusive. Sounds better than their second and third albums.
PACEMAKER (demo 1985)
Decent NWOBHM from France with fast-speed guitars and really high vocals. The only material the band had recorded.
IMMEMORIAL (demo 1996)
The first recorded material from Finnish multi-instrumentalist Jari Mäenpää. Really good catchy songs. I'm returning to this demo again and again.
NOKTURNAL MORTUM "Lunar Poetry" (demo 1996)
Demo album from Ukrainian black/pagan metal band. I like this cassete more than all their 'real' albums. It breathes with enchanting dark atmosphere of Carpathian mountains. And the synths make you think of SUMMONING. Was re-released multiple times, no wonders.
XIPHOID "Trumps of Doom" (demo 1988)
This 3 song demo is all they left in the history of speed metal. Proper material from Belgium, though the song "On the Run" sounds exactly like HELLOWEEN's "Ride the Sky".
GODS TOWER "Canticles" (demo 1994)
Demo cassete from Belarus' most famous band. Later they will be known for their unique guitar sound and shamanistic atmosphere. One can already find the seeds of band's future sound in this record.
SANCTUARY "Inception" (demo 1986)
Last but not least. The first demo from US power-thrashers. I like this one a lot. Like, really a lot. And in a couple of weeks the remastered version of it will be released on CD. That's why I decided to write about demo tapes in the first place.
And what are your favourite metal demos?