#015 Mayhem - Deathcrush

In the dark Norwegian mists of 1987, something was stirring. This dark-presence manifested itself as an EP of the most gruesome, dark, and insanely heavy metal that the world had ever seen at that time, and heralded the beginning of an era. That EP was Deathcrush. Nothing quite like it had been seen before, and nothing quite like it has ever been seen since.

Deathcrush has a very interesting sound. few other black metal bands existed at the time to influence their style, and what emerged is quite unlike the black metal of today, with many of the features which black metal listeners are accustomed to lacking. Songs such as "Deathcrush" are intensely heavy, but somewhat lack the sinister and dark vibe which the band perfected later, in releases such as "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas".
The lyrics also head in a far more gruesome, Death-metal like direction than black metal does nowadays, with songs like "Chainsaw Gutsfuck" needing little in the way of explanation.

The vocalist, "Maniac" delivers an impressive screaming delivery of vocal duties on most of the tracks, aside from "Witching Hour" and "Pure F**king Armageddon" on which another vocalist, "Messiah" handles the vocals.  Maniac was to later return to mayhem, following the suicide of  vocalist "Dead" some years later.

Deathcrush is a very pleasing EP to listen to, with each song being sufficiently different, but in the same overall style, as the others. If you have the right mindset, you can appreciate the amazement and shock which the record gave the world at the time. Deathcrush is truly a look back in time, and contains classic songs which every black metal fan should know.

As is traditional in Black-metal, the album is neither fantastically produced, neither does it have a fantastic number of tracks. My version is approximately a little over seventeen-minutes in length, and is comprised of 6 tracks. Those looking for smoothly produced, progressive, lengthy Black-metal will not find it here. what is found here is Black metal in it's juvenile state; Still to develop some of it's key features, and likely to be surpassed in future (In Mayhem's case by the follow up album, "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas"), but the music is young, filled with energy, and not afraid to be loud and violent.

This album is a classic, and although it does not live up to it's follow-up, it's still easily deserving of 7/10.

Links:
Mayhem on Myspace








 

#014 Iron Fire - To the Grave

Most Power-metal originating from Europe is substantially different from it's American cousin, but the spirit of American Power-metal has evidently been taking trips abroad, as it is very much alive and well, in a band of unsung heroes of Power-metal; The Danish band "Iron Fire".

One of the more recent of their six albums, "To the Grave" epitomises Iron Fire's speedy, pleasingly crunchy guitar, and clean well controlled vocals. It deals with some very traditional Power-metal themes; Battle, Fantasy, and Heavy-Metal itself.

Iron Fire have an impressive back catalogue; There were four albums previous to this one, and they have released another since, However, they are very little known outside of Denmark. Listening to the album, I can utterly conclude that this should not be so. Songs such as "Hail to Odin" are high-speed power metal masterpieces, with excellent instrumentation and arrangement, the lead and rhythm guitar functioning in excellent unison, with impressive solos, which receive less emphasis within metal than they once did.

Although the drum-work is tight, and the vocals are very good, Guitar is certainly the dominating factor in the album, with an extremely crunchy, almost "munching" guitar sound, which I wager is one of the factors which will make or break the album to the listener.

Another make or break factor is the vocals. They are clean, high, and very well controlled, as has always been a staple in Power-Metal, however, they have a very whiny, slightly sneering edge in places, which takes a while to get used to. Truth be told, Iron Fire are a band which take a lot of getting used to in general, and it took me multiple listens of many songs to fully enjoy them. I urge anyone who is into power metal to give the band, and this album, a try.

Bare in mind that it's not the most straightforward band to become addicted to, but it is very rewarding to do so, if you ask me.

I give the album 9/10. It should be much better known.

Links:
Iron Fire on Myspace

#013 White Wizzard - Over the Top

White Wizzard are an extremely young band, but you wouldn't know that from their sound. A Traditional-metal vibe is what they blatantly aim for, and it is definitely what they have achieved in their debut full-length album "Over the Top"

There may be the occasional burst of double kick drumming, and they definitely maintain a slightly heavier sound than the bands they emulate, but it's beyond doubt that White Wizzard are one of the most "Oldschool" sounding bands I've heard which weren't around at the time the style was pioneered. The band cites many of the NWOBHM bands as influences, two of the ones I noticed most being Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, and, frankly, what better influences to have?

Most of the songs on this record are of a traditional length, shortish, generally between four and five minutes, with the exception of "Iron Goddess of Vengeance" and "White Wizzard" the self-titled album closer, which is longer and in places slower than most of the other songs, which are short, fast, technical, and fairly simply arranged, in other words, Traditional-metal staples.

I found myself enjoying the musical styles of this album greatly, and I am willing to wager most who are into "Good ole' fashioned" Metal will be. The musicianship is excellent, with rock solid drumming, and the extremely talented bass-work of John Leon, which works in harmony with skilled, although not mind-blowing, guitarists, to create a very lucid and tight sound.

However, I found this album's vocals to be less pleasing, and to seem less fitting with White Wizzard's style than the work on their earlier EP "High Speed GTO". Another issue is originality; although it is obvious that the band aspire towards a very traditional sound, It would have been nice if they had put their own twist on it a little. What they have created is definitely pleasing, and deserving of success, but it is also somewhat generic.

Despite this, it is an excellent album, and I don't hesitate to give it 7/10

Links:
White Wizzard on Myspace