Well, this is a long album. Almost an hour. Heavy metal -
well....yes. Lots of different types.
I absolutely love this record. You know, I have mentioned in other reviews the
problems with copying under the guise of 'influence'. This, ladies and
gents, is how to make something original and entertaining from drawing on your
influences without copying. I believe it is the 4th offering
from Chrome Division, who were formed by Dimmu Borgir main man Shagrath. He
abstains from vocals in Chrome Division and elects to play guitars instead.
They also stay away from Black Metal, and that is fine with me.
Vocals sound a little like Chuck Billy in places. The second track,
'Endless Nights' sounds like Chuck has joined Black Label Society and it was
very entertaining. That raw growl over heavy guitars tuned to a lower key. Yes,
the BLS influences crop up but there is so much change. Well to be honest, it's
more the Zakk Wylde guitar tone than BLS - but this is successfully merged into
a lot of different styles throughout the album.
My favourite songs are a million miles from what I just mentioned. There's a
lovely kinda folk toned song (which doesn't stay that way for long) called 'Lack
Of Perpetual Sorrow' that reminds me of something Chris Cornell would do. The
very skilful blend of acoustic and electric guitars on this song in particular
is reminiscent of all that was good about a lot of bands to come out of the very
early 90s. This is one of those songs that succeeds beautifully in taking you in
a completely different direction from where it started and then getting you back
there again.
Other parts of this album remind me of Down and Skid Row. For the latter just
listen to 'Reaper On The Hunt'. Completely different styles that blend together
and work when you really wouldn't imagine they could, not together. I sound like
I am describing a Best Of Heavy Metal compilation album. You could put this
album on in any rock or metal pub and people probably would never realise they
are listening to the same band. Throw in a catchy bluesy rock number called 'The
Moonshine Years' which brings the Chuck Billy vocal style back and I'm thinking
how does that kind of vocal performance fit on a (albeit very heavy) blues rock
track? I wish I knew. I only know that it does. Sounds like Chuck left BLS and
went to Motorhead.
The adaptability of the frontman, one Shady Blue (I will never
understand stage names but that's irrelevant) is one of the strongest points on
the album. I can't work out if the last track, 'OI' is supposed to be thrash
metal or new wave punk. It has elements of both of them which sounds impossible
to put together, being as apart from the tempo there isn't really anything
similar in those two genres. How the actual fuck are they doing this? I
don't care I'm just pleased they are.
This is awesome. It's like watching those 'Will It Blend?' clips on Youtube but
with metal music instead. Well, I can tell you it definitely does
blend. These are guys that draw on influences to create original material. Not
the copycats in the mainstream that we are so very sick of. Keep doing what
you're doing please guys. Outstanding. 54 minutes of Out. Fuckin.
Standing!
