Written in Blood: July 1997

Awakening: Females in Extreme Music
Dwell
The Ozzfest
Ozz Records 

“Girls, Girls, Girls, blah, blah, blah, (now sing with a higher pitch) Girls, Girls, Girls…” Something tells me when Mötley Crüe wrote that song, it wasn’t about the women that appear on the CD, Awakening: Females in Extreme Music. This release features 11 bands from all over the world that have some, or, are made up entirely of female musicians. The styles featured by these bands pretty much runs the gamut in extreme music. From doom to death, it’s all here.

For those of you that have enough sense not to drive to Vegas for the Ozzfest, because you know damn well you’d just get too drunk and sick for half of the show (in the hot sun), you can bring it right to your home. You won’t even have to set up a stage. This release features nine of the bands that appeared during the ’96 portion of the Ozzfest. Highlights of the disc include live performances by the bands Coal Chamber, Earth Crisis, Sepultura and Slayer. 

Galactic Cowboys
The Horse That Bud Bought
Metal Blade 

It’s Friday night and I’ve just gotten done watching Boy Meets World and Sabrina. What can I do now to keep that warm fuzzy feeling I get from watching pre-adolescent primetime? Let’s look through some of the CDs I have for review…O.K.? What’s this? Skinlab’s Bound, Gagged and Blindfolded. No, I don’t think that will do it. Here’s another one, Another Lesson in Violence by Exodus. Maybe next month. Here’s one! The Galactic Cowboys’ The Horse That Bud Bought. Track one, “Tilt-A-Whirl” — now that song rocks almost as much as the real thing. Track two, “Evil Twin”— a little too bubblegum for my taste, but not bad. Track three, “Oregon,” was a little darker and more reflective. Sounds real good. Track four, “Tomorrow.” We’re rock’n again. Well, you get the idea. The Galactic Cowboys go off on goofy tangents every now and then, but always come back to rock. I have to save some of this fun for tomorrow, because Saturday night TV isn’t as kid friendly as Friday night.

Savior Servant
Dominion Records 

Staten Island, NY’s Savior Servant has released their first album on Dominion Records. The self titled release starts out strong with two “rock/metal” tracks. By track three we reach the obligatory rock ballad, which is inevitable when a band has a singer that actually sings. Never fear: track five will find us up and running once again. Overall, the songwriting is pretty good — a bit on the Alice In Chains side. The production is good as well, and even the packaging (for what I’m guessing was self-financed) is a pro job. One thing I found funny about the package was their bio. First off, there’s a picture included with the whole band giving their best “I should be in a ‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!’ TV commercial.” Then, the bio is the sappiest thing I’ve seen since a maple tree in Vermont: “Behind this collective vision is the sight of a haughty vocalist, a serious and steadfast guitar player whose quietude belies his ambition, an inward taciturn drummer…” Taciturn drummer? What in the hell? Does that mean he eats too many oranges or something? Maybe Lars can decipher this for us. 

Fall From Grace
Fierce/Mayhem 

Former Exhorder guitarist Jay Ceravalo is getting a second chance to spin the big metal roulette wheel. The debut album from his new band, Fall From Grace, has this metal fan stacking the odds in his favor. Ceravalo and Co. keep this self-titled release heavy and tight. Crisp tones, intricate rhythms and liberal use of the E chord keep the guitars out in front. With the lack of a better description, I’d have to say the guitars sound downright perky. Catchy musical composition and hooks will interest fans of bands like Machine Head. 

Testament
Demonic
Fierce/Mayhem 

Remember back when you first listened to Testament’s last album, Low? You were completely digging it until you reached track seven, “Dog Faced Gods,” at which point you were completely blown away and thrown clear over the edge by the heaviness (all the time suspecting that James Murphy‘s guitar influence was behind all of this). You were saying to yourself, “Good God! They should do more stuff like this!” Well guess what? They’ve done a whole damn album like that. Founding members Chuck Billy (vocals, of course) and Eric Peterson (guitars) were joined by Derrick Ramirez (bass) and legendary metal drummer extraordinaire, Gene Hoglan. Dammit Murphy, I thought we found you a home! Anyway, Demonic brings back the energy the band had in The Legacy days. I’ve heard that Glen Alvalais (former Forbidden guitar-wiz) has stepped in to fill the lead guitar position which has been vacant since J.M.’s departure. Shout it. Demonic! 

Thought Industry
Black Umbrella
Metal Blade 

The members of the band Thought Industry dragged each other out of their favorite coffee bar; they tore themselves away from their arthouse goon friends; and they stocked up on plenty of cigarettes and vodka. These things accomplished, the band was ready to lay down their latest gloom-laden, “My life should really suck with the crap I have to go through,” “Let’s laugh at ourselves and the world around us” tracks that reside under the shelter of their latest, Black Umbrella. I get the impression these guys take the “screw it” attitude in the studio, but they are so good that the final product can’t help but be great. Thought Industry is like no other. I found out about T.I. when their last album, Outer Space Is Just a Martini Away was released. Black Umbrella has more of a grounded feel to it. It just sounds like the band is more comfortable with their instruments, the recording process, or maybe a combination of the two. Whatever it is, it’s a winner. 

Sundown
Design 19
Century Media 

The band Sundown was only meant to be a side project. Once together, members from the bands Cemetery and Tiamat decided they had much more (enter the band’s first release, Design 19). Electronic drumming, keyboards, arid heavy-handed guitar strumming fill the tracks on the disc. The vocal styles used by Mathias Lodmalm are the real highlight of the disc. His Goth-like approach to singing contrasts the rest of the band, and carries the bleak, emotive messages of the songs. 

Divine Regale
Ocean Mind
Metal Blade 

Divine Regale, or “Buick Regale” (coined by their biggest fans) are one of the newest bands signed by Metal Blade. D.R., a six-piece out of New Hampshire, are trying to find their place in the realm of progressive metal. With bands like Queensryche, Dream Theater, and Fates Warning dominating this sect of the metal world, I’m sure this task will prove to be difficult. Lyrically, the songwriting was done with many of the members getting involved. The songs are reflective and have enough questions about life and mankind’s role to keep a case of magic eight balls busy for hours (Will Bobby ask me to the dance? *Shake, shake, shake* “NOT LIKELY.” Damn!). In an attempt to distance themselves from other bands that are sometimes labeled as “progressive,” D.R. stray away from long instrumental sections in their songs. Personally, I feel that’s one of the best parts to music like this, but Divine Regale have placed their emphasis on writing songs with the entire band in mind. This is a very solid first release. They should just stuff a sock in the singer’s mouth every now and then. —Forgach

Read more Written in Blood by John Forgach:
Written in Blood: June 1997
Written in Blood: May 1997

Enjoying the 90s nostalgia of ye olde SLUG archives? Consider becoming one of our donors!