Written In Blood: November 1997
Archived
Dismember
Death Metal
Nuclear Blast
AAARRGGHHHH!!!!! Warm up your best death metal growl if you plan on singing along with this one. Dismember have recorded 12 songs that serve as a testament of their support to death metal. Concerned with the growing trend of other bands straying away from their roots, Dismember wanted an album that would capture their “classic” sound, although, I’m not sure this band ever got very far from their “classic” sound in the first place. With all of the members getting involved in the writing of the material, all of the songs take on a life….death of their own. The guitars are tuned way down giving them that locomotive chug quality to them. The music is raw and intense. Yup, this is death metal.
Mercury Rising
Upon Deaf Ears
Dominion
I really don’t know when this CD was released, but since it’s from Dominion Records I figured I’d check it out. It looks like it was added to Dominion’s growing catalog of progressive metal back in ’96 so we’ll just go with that. For the most part I liked this CD. The songs are structured around the impressive vocal abilities of singer Clarence Osbourne. He has a unique sound with a Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) type of power and feel. One thing that I noticed was that the songs don’t develop much past the vocals. There aren’t many parts of this CD that the singer isn’t doing his thing. Part of the reason I notice things like this with this type of band is because I seem to hold prog. metal bands to a higher standard when it comes to technical ability, song structure and instrumental sections – as far as I’m concerned that’s what makes progressive metal what it is. Mercury Rising will be entering the studio in January to record their next release, Building Rome. They will be recording with two new guitarists, so it will be interesting to see what comes next.
TODAY IS THE DAY
Temple of the Morning Star
Relapse
Nashville’s TODAY IS THE DAY have left AM Rep to join the Relapse team for their fourth record, Temple of the Morning Star. This is one of those bands that truly sits on the line between hardcore and metal. It’s almost too abrasive to really be metal, but it’s also too negative and metallic to be hardcore. So this disc is what it is. One thing this disc is: 17 tracks of pure, pissed-off aggression. The lyrics read and are sung like they are the ranting of a psychotic maniac screaming at the world. Don’t miss the cover of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” at the end of track 17 (if you don’t know, or can’t figure out who originally did that song, then there’s just no hope).
Misery Loves Co.
Not Like Them
Earache
Patrick Wiren (vocal/guitar) and Orjan Ornkloo (guitar/programming) have released the second album, Not Like Them with their band Misery Loves Co. Although the duo had much success with their highly computer generated first album, they decided to take more of an analog approach this time around. In addition to having more of an “earthy” feel, this release is a little slower in parts and a bit more dark and moody. If there is one constant between the two albums, it would be that the aggression level is always over the top. The lyrics come from the Ornkloo side of the writing team. Most of the songs such as “A Million Lies” deal with the alienation and distrust Orjan feels for the world around him. Other songs like “Prove Me Wrong” were written about affairs of the heart and have a very personal feel. Track five, “Complicated Game” is a remake of an old XTC song and has enough “hooks” in it to ensure that the listener will take the musical bait. Whatever the songs are about, they all show that this pair of musicians are Not Like Them.
Deicide
Serpents of the Light
Roadrunner
Don’t you think it’s humorous how some people call metal “devil music?” Well stop laughing, because Deicide are back once again to prove them right. The new album is called Serpents of the Light, and should be an effective tool in spreading the band’s anti-christian message. around the world. Don’t let the fact that the name Satan is only mentioned in one song, all of the songs except for track seven, “Creatures Of Habit,” are all chock-full of anti-christian messages. According to Deicide, Christianity is centered around lies and hypocrisies and is responsible for most of the world’s problems — this is a common theme of most of the songs. You may not agree with the message, but the fact that this band is good at what they do is undeniable. Deicide play very hard and fast, but keep the production clear and to the point. The sounds coming from this disc are very easy to swallow, despite the harsh, brutal nature of the music being played. This band will invite you in, then rip you clean from your soul.
Coalition
I don’t know much about this band because they didn’t send me a bio with the CD. Luckily, this music speaks for itself. The entire band puts on an impressive aural display of musicianship. The songwriting exhibits a level of maturity that isn’t often captured by many young bands, which may be the best indicator that this band is ready to take the next step. Coalition really know how to manipulate and exploit the low end in order to make it heavy without letting the sound get “muddy.” Cool vocal sound too. Nice packaging. The front and back cover are black and white pictures — subtle, yet effective. Also, it was nice to NOT see the obligatory three pages of thank yous, or a thank you to pot. Coalition appeared on the METALMANIA X compilation CD #3. —Forgach
Read more Written In Blood by John Forgach:
Written In Blood: October 1997
Written In Blood: August 1997
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