I first put on this CD before reading the biography and the resemblance to MALEVOLENT CREATION was evident in my ears in a flash, so blatant I almost had déjà vu when listening to the tracks. Up to here, things might seem quite OK, to imitate a good band is better than experimenting something meaningless. Unfortunately, contrarily to the first MALEVOLENT clones, SILENT DEATH, the band that they so diligently recall the imprints is the MALEVOLENT CREATION of their dark moments, when they had the bass player on vocals, and they don’t even do that this well if you want my opinion. Actually the mystery unveiled when I realized it was a band made up of the garbage of MALEVOLENT, among which their mediocre temporary singer. Not this bad by itself, when compared to other abominations in this issue, although they very rarely keep the music to decent levels of interest. A good track is Silent Carnage, the 6th in the CD, which have some sort of extra petrol, although barely enough for the 46 minutes of length.
Archives: Reviews
DISMAL EUPHONY (Nor): “All Little Devils” Cd 1999 Nuclear Blast
A nagging kid complains something with his uncle which should have some sort of cancer at the vocal chords judging by the vocals alone of this band. The complains goes on for too many minutes, with some abused melodies, a very faint orchestral feel and really, really boring overheard sonorities which could be associated to the most moderate of CRADLE OF FILTHs. I had not the guts to finish to follow this arguing but I hope uncle and nephew found some gun and shot at each other in the end so we won’t have a second DISMAL EUPHONY album.DISINTER (USA/Il): “Welcome to Oblivion” Cd 2000 Morbid
Reissue of a Deadsun classic, DISINTER are a fast Thrash/Death Metal band with low grating vocals and a very classic mindset in arranging the songs. Pretty various with a slight taste of “retro” sonorities (well yes, after over ten years of existence, Death Metal has its stages and it’s eras). Actually honest and pretty professional, it is Death Metal with no lode or infamy. I couldn’t state a band which might be associated with DISINTER in sonorities, because most of the big names have a particular sound while DISINTER is just Death Metal, maybe not ultra-tight nor viciously perverse, but Death Metal without any contaminations. I gladly noticed there are no declaredly slow parts at all, mostly keeping the songs to unrelenting riff releases and constant drumming with downtuned vocals, although again, nothing overly extreme.DISGORGE (USA/Ca): “She Lay Gutted” CD 2000 Erebos
Well to compare Mexican DISGORGE with these American ones, would be like comparing a aluminium bin filled with festering organs in putrefaction and a slab of granite stained with blood. There’s the sort of clinical sound and razor sharp compression which distinguishes the top levels of this new Death Metal line. Much in the vein of DEEDS OF FLESH the vocals are hyper guttural but more of the grunting kind than the phlegmy IMPETIGO-like gutwrenching style. The sounds are precise, the production clinical but not to the excess, just the right amount to avoid the music from becoming a complete mush. There’s something of SUFFOCATION in the relentless concatenation of riffs and drumbeats which flow minute per minute without a single break. Like DEEDS OF FLESH approach to Death Metal? Like DISGORGE.OLD MAN’S CHILD (Nor): “In the Shades of Life” split Cd with DIMMU BORGIR (Nor) 1999 Hammeheart
Before Hammerheart sent me this CD, I had not listened to OLD MAN’S CHILD. Which is a pity because when I thought DIMMU were very bad, this band reaches levels of impersonality and sold out dignity I couldn’t believe possible. They use the keyboards the way EUROPE did in the 80’s, and fall into Flamenco like pizzicato guitar work from time to time… and they want to sell you this crap for evil or depressive… Sometimes I am speechless towards the mannequins that buy this music. I hope I can forget this soon but I know I would have to bear them for a long time still. Where did I put my copy of “Fallen Angel of Doom”?DISARRAY (USA/Tn): “Lesson in respect” 1999 Eclipse
Now I know what it is called. Aggro Metal. It’s, for those who are not so advanced to know the term, a new school of thrash metal which centres on heavily pounding riffs in the vein of PANTERA/BIOHAZARD, slow but full bodied rhythmic and vocals halfway between grunts and Hard Core screams. Actually DISARRAY is a good model of this music, somewhat more violent than the average KORN clone. Actually they avoid the samplings, the warm rapper vocals and other electronic clichés of DEFTONES or KORN replicas. More on the Sludge Core verge of CROWBAR for my little experience in this music, with a high level production and some catchy macho slams.DIMMU BORGIR (Nor): “Devil’s Path” split Cd with OLD MAN’S CHILD (Nor) 1999 Hammeheart
Talking with all my honesty, to say that this CD is bad wouldn’t be fair. Because to my ears this could not even be considered a CD. It’s a piece of plastic with some publicity inside. They inspire me just like a brochure from some furniture market. I don’t really know where they want to go with this music. Probably pocketing cash from brainless idiots. The only words I can hear when I hear the keyboards is “money”. Despite this, I can’t hate them like I hate CRADLE OF FILTH. These bands are not responsible for the complete wimping out affair of the so called “Black Metal” scene. They’re just effects, not the cause. Therefore I cant but feel complete pity for them. They’re utterly miserable creatures. Probably they have one of those professional contracts, record in million dollars studios and stuff. Yet they are just pitiful. The vocals are a mockery of woman shrills, the music falls into pop rock riff here and there amidst a cauldron of easy listening keyboard effects. As a friend of mine told me, DIMMU BORGIR was nominated for the Norwegian Music Award, which means they have even escalated to success. Unbelievable… and the way they dress? I mean how can you take seriously a band that looks like this? Not that looks are everything in this music. But there are limits to the bad taste even for me… how absolutely pretentious…