Written in Blood: July 1998
Archived
Dark Funeral
Vobiscum Satanas
Metal Blade
First off, a big “thanks” goes out to Steve Wadley for caring enough to write in when he didn’t like my “Black Sabbath was never better than when Dio was in the band.” statement. I really appreciate the letters, people (or e-mails), but when you don’t agree with me, remember you can also call me at 1-800-get-your-own-damn-column. Now for more of my broad, open minded, musical opinions…. There are many forms of music that I find annoying. Black metal is one of them and this band Dark Funeral is a good reason why.
Narnia
Awakening
Nuclear Blast
Rip-off. This guy is ripping off Yngwie Malmsteen so bad that Yngwie should feel violated. Trust me, this is no mere comparison. Narnia is two guys, Christian Liljengren (vocals) and Carljohan Grimmark (guitars,bass, keyboards, vocals, drums and programming). Of course Grimmark’s guitar playing is the focal point of the album. This guy’s rhythms, the phrasing of his solos, his runs, licks — everything spells Yngwie. Even the keyboards and bass are pure Malmsteen. There obviously weren’t enough guys standing around during the writing or recording of these songs saying “Now don’t you think THAT sounds a little too much like Yngwie?” This isn’t even early Yngwie that I’m talking about, it sounds like Eclipse and Fire And Ice when even Yngwie sucked. In the “thank you” section, Grimmark thanks Ritchie Blackmore and “My Strats” (sound familiar? What do you want to bet that the neck of his Strats are scalloped?). At least this guy had enough sense to add Yngwie to the list. I think these guys are even Swedish. AAAAGGHHH!! Is nothing sacred? If Yngwie Malmsteen was dead, he would be rolling in his grave right now.
Beseech
From a Bleeding Heart
Metal Blade
First Narnia, now Beseech. Two metal bands from Sweden that suck? I never thought that I would see the day.
Fear Factory
Obsolete
Roadrunner
On July 28th, after the fireworks of the 4th of July and Pioneer Day (in UT) are over, the real explosions will be felt. The latest war between man and machine will take place in the form of Fear Factory’s Obsolete. Fear Factory has always embraced the technological elements of their songs, which were most evident on 97’s remixed, full-length EP, Remanufacture. While the band’s ultra tight, ultra clean sound still benefits from techno-manipulation, the human element of Fear Factory still bleeds through the pummeled sound waves to the listener. Rhys Fulber, formerly of Front Line Assembly, produced Obsolete and also added keyboards to the songs. The lyrics of Obsolete deal with man’s creation and dependence on machines, “Man has created these machines to make his life easier but in the long run it made him obsolete. The machines he created are now destroying him. Man is not the primary citizen on Earth.” This is totally Fear Factory, but as any F.F. fan has come to expect, experimentation is a staple in the evolution of the Fear Factory sound. Check out the twelve-piece string section used on the tracks “Resurrection” and “Timelessness”.
Konkhra
Weed Out the Weak
Metal Blade
I would have no problem if every album recorded for the rest of 1998 sounded like Konkhra’s Weed Out the Weak. This is heavy, heavy thrash the way it was meant to be played. Well thought-out rhythms, grooving drum beats, ample bass presence, death vocals and (praise the lord) killer solos. Konkhra was formed in the early ’90’s. The band got busy early releasing two full-lengths, a couple of EPs and a video before two of the band members departed. This left Anders Lundemark (guitar/vocals) and Thomas “Gnist” Christensen (bass) scrambling to find replacements. A couple of “shady” deals later and in comes Chris Kontos on drums (ex-Machine Head) and the Mighty (my description) James Murphy on guitar. All I have to say about this is it’s a good thing Lundemark had the good judgment to bring in a gunslinger of Murphy’s caliber rather than try to peck out a solo like a chicken at a typewriter himself. Nothing kills a good metal album quicker than crappy solos, as far as I’m concerned. What more can I say, other than, Weed Out the Weak will be out on July 14th.
Nasum
Inhale/Exhale
Relapse
Brutal, extreme grind-core is what Sweden’s Nasum does best. Actually, it’s this form of music that Nasum plays exclusively. Formed in 1992 by Anders Jakobson (guitar) and Rickard Alriksson (drums/vocals), the band picked up second guitarist Mieszko Talarczyk (who would later replace Alriksson) before recording a 7″ for a German label. More 7″ releases, demos and appearances on compilations would follow before the band was picked up by Relapse sometime in 1997. By this time Mieszko had his own studio where the duo recorded 42 songs in a two month period, 38 of those tracks became Inhale/Exhale. Nasum’s sound has been compared to early Napalm Death. While this is a fair comparison, Nasum’s sound is a bit more polished than early Napalm, which serves the band best by letting the heavi ness shine through without all of the clutter.
Pro-Pain
“Best Of”
Mayhem
Pro-Pain is releasing a “best of” album with songs from their first three albums. If you want to hear songs from the band’s fourth album, well, you’re just going to have to go buy it. This “best
of” release also features a previously unreleased track from the Foul Taste of Freedom sessions, titled “Take It Back”. The last three tracks were recorded live in Germany. Pro-Pain, a band that averages 250 shows a year, are currently touring and breaking in Dave Chavarri’s drumming replacement Mike Hanzel.
Thumb
Exposure
Victory
Look for the band Thumb to gain EXPOSURE in the U.S. market when they play the first 16 dates of the Warped Tour. Thumb was formed in Germany in 1993 and this summer will mark the band’s first appearances and release of their new album here in the U.S. Get your old skateboarding magazines out. Apparently, singer Claus Grabke made quite a stir in the scene back in the ’80’s. In 1981 Claus rode for Titus Skates and then in ’85 was a pro rider for Powell Peralta. Later moves found Claus with Madrid and then Santa Cruz. This skating wonder was German champion 11 times, European champion 4 times, won over 20 European cups and placed 4th and 6th in the official world championships. When Thumb was being formed, the final addition to the band was one of Claus’ skating comrades, German pro rider Jan-Hendrik Meyer on bass.
Thought Industry
Recruited To Do Good Deeds For The Devil
Metal Blade
Thought Industry is fast becoming one of my favorite bands. Their last two albums really won me over. Recruited To Do Good Deeds For The Devil is a ”best of” and really captures what this band is all about. Don’t get this “best of” album confused with the “take songs directly from all of our albums” approach to putting one of these together. All of the Thought Industry favorites that appear on this release have been.reworked, remixed or recorded live. A few unreleased songs and a cover were also included. Many of the reworded and live songs on Recruited To Do Good Deeds … are taken from Outer Space Is Just a Martini Away and Black Umbrella. If you don’t have those albums you might want to get them first so you’ll know what the original versions sound like. —Forgach
Read more Written in Blood by John Forgach:
Written in Blood: June 1998
Written in Blood: May 1998
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