Written in Blood: March 1997

Xysma
Lotto
Relapse 

I’ve spent some major time listening to this band Xysma over the past week. Unfortunately, I have since lost the bio sheet and have even lost the CD case. (Yum, I have so many Jelly Bellys in my mouth right now. Good damn thing I’m not on the radio.) Anyway, I know the band is from Finland and that Lotto is the band’s fourth album. Don’t buy this album because it just happens to be on Relapse. Don’t not buy it for the same reason. This band is not the usual Relapse fare. One thing Xysma has in common with their label-mates is that they are different/cutting-edge or just plain hard to figure out. This band as a whole is like nothing you’ve ever heard. Though, certain things about them are familiar. Musically, I hear some ’80’s alternative rock mixed with maybe some Danzig and/or the Cult. Something like that. This is one of those bands that will grow on you. 

SPECTRUM FEST
Relapse Records 

IDENTITY 3…D!
Century Media 

So…Do you want to check out a veritable “boat-load” of new music without going broke? I have a way for you to check out 33 bands, on two CDs, for less than you would pay for one CD. Relapse Records, home to some of the most extreme bands known to man, is releasing SPECTRUM FEST. This release features some of the more established bands on Relapse such as Neurosis, Amorphis and Brutal Truth; bands like Abscess and Mortician that have taken the word extreme to a new level; and some bands with more of an experimental nature such as Pica, Bastard Noise and Lull. Century Media is releasing IDENTITY 3…D! This disc contains some of the hottest up-and-comers around. Performances from bands like Stuck Mojo, Sentenced, Morgoth, Merauder and Grave will have you running ’round like a friggin’ mad-person looking for the latest albums from these bands. This disc even has a song from one of my very favorite new bands — Nevermore. Check it out. Both of these CDs will ring in at just under $4 a piece, and will give you what you need to have an intelligent conversation in the metal circles 

Machine Head
The More Things Change…
Roadrunner 

Machine Head are releasing this CD as a follow-up to Burn My Eyes. This is the first time I’ve really given this band a listen. All I knew about this band was that Rob Flynn was in Violence – and that band…well, sucked, so I never gave this band a chance. I know, shame on me. The music is heavy and tight, the vocals are good, and Dave McClain‘s drumming (ex-Sacred Reich) is right on the money. 

Judas Priest
A Tribute To Judas Priest
Century Media 

JUDAS PRIEST! JUDAS PRIEST! Come on, everyone join in! JUDAS PRIEST! A Tribute to Judas Priest album — what more do you want? I would have to say there is no one into heavy music that didn’t get into Priest at some point in their lives. I watched the Grammys the other night, and know none of these bands won anything. Apparently they got rid of the “Best new album to kill fuzzy little animals by” category. That doesn’t matter though, being asked to be on this album is more of an honor. Some of the bands like Testament, Nevermore, and Strapping Young Lad reworked the original material, adding their own trademark style to the music. Other bands, like Helloween, did the songs exactly as they were originally recorded. I hear you have to be good at that when the only gig you can get is as a Club Med cover band. This is a fun album. This tribute album will take you back to the sixth grade again. 

Anathema
Eternity
Fierce 

Liverpool’s Anathema released their latest full-length, Eternity, at the end of January. The band continues on with their ambient, flowing style, moving further from their more doom laden beginnings, leaning more towards a Pink Floyd-ish sound. Anathema covers the Roy Harper/David Gilmour song “Hope” on track six. If you’re into this stuff, Fierce Recordings will be re-releasing the band’s last album, The Silent Enigma, previously unavailable in the United States. I squealed with delight when I found the new Grip Inc. in my mailbox. Nemesis is the highly anticipated follow-up to their ’96 release, The Power of Inner Strength. It was nice to see the line-up is the same. For those of you that don’t know, this band was put together by Dave Lombardo (Ex-Slayer drummer). Waldemar Sorychita (Despair and producer extraordinaire) adds his unique mastery of the guitar to the band. Though, he rarely does any solos on this disc (Booo). Jason Viebrooks is on bass (I never know what to say about the bass player — sorry — uh, he’s really good). Finally, Gus Chambers’s Rob Halford-like powerful vocals are a nice touch. Grip Inc. is everything good that metal has been in the past and what is good about metal today.

I do have one gripe about Grip, though. Remember about a year and a half ago when Grip Inc. came into town with Morbid Angel? The show was canceled because the stage at the Bar and Grill wasn’t big enough. (Here’s my point) As far as I can tell, their bio photo seems to have been taken with the band standing on the Bonneville Salt Flats. It’s probably the same picture they will use for the CD so check it out. Anyway, these guys come to Salt Lake, cancel their appearance, then use our terrain for their bio photo. I would say these guys owe us the performance of their lives. We WILL be waiting, Grip Inc.!! —John Forgach

Read more Written in Blood by John Forgach:
Written in Blood: February 1997
Written in Blood: January 1997

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