Well shit, since we're already here in Sweden, I might as well post another nugget of fiendish malevolence from that fair country, namely Cemetary's 1992 DM opus An Evil Shade of Grey. At its core, Shade of Grey is a pretty standard early-90's-Swedeath album--which of course isn't a bad thing at all--but after a moment, one's attention is drawn to the strange keyboard flourishes wisping about ethereally in between the crushing, fuzzed-out guitar riffs and blastbeats, and by the time that the oddly "broken-hearted" lyrics of the (still thunderous) sixth track "Scars" roll around, one's mind might start questioning exactly what is going on here.
Indeed, it makes perfect sense that Cemetary went the same sad direction that other once-great bands like Morgoth and Septic Flesh (to a lesser extent) went as well later in their careers: to that mascara-ed, frilly-shirted pit of undeniable mediocrity known as "gothic metal". But discarding this album due to that sorry fact would be tantamount to throwing out the proverbial "baby" with the proverbial "bathwater"--Shade of Grey stands to this day as a killer fucking release, as heavy and rippin' as just about anything else on the market in 1992. In a way, all the elven grab-assery on this album just adds character to it. Personally, I'd rather have a little variety here and there with my crunchy DM, rather than another 40-minute slog through the same tired riffs and caveman drumming--even if said "variety" consists of a little lute-strumming, keyboard-tickling, or ambient ninny-ism. That's just how I roll.
Download HERE
Purchase HERE
Indeed, it makes perfect sense that Cemetary went the same sad direction that other once-great bands like Morgoth and Septic Flesh (to a lesser extent) went as well later in their careers: to that mascara-ed, frilly-shirted pit of undeniable mediocrity known as "gothic metal". But discarding this album due to that sorry fact would be tantamount to throwing out the proverbial "baby" with the proverbial "bathwater"--Shade of Grey stands to this day as a killer fucking release, as heavy and rippin' as just about anything else on the market in 1992. In a way, all the elven grab-assery on this album just adds character to it. Personally, I'd rather have a little variety here and there with my crunchy DM, rather than another 40-minute slog through the same tired riffs and caveman drumming--even if said "variety" consists of a little lute-strumming, keyboard-tickling, or ambient ninny-ism. That's just how I roll.
Download HERE
Purchase HERE
Metallum/Last.FM
"DEAD RED" (observe those groovy ambient keyboard noises! Nocturnus-esque!):
Damn fine record. Been on a little bit of a Swedeath bender lately. Clicks with me a bit more than Florideath.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was a bit astonished, but then following the link I noticed that it was simply a mistake: Not the thrash legend Septic Death, heroes of my youth, wimped out (which I would have noticed) but some greek Death Metal band I've never heard of ...
ReplyDeleteSeptic Flesh are not 'Septic Death'. Acid Death are not 'Septic Death'. Get your Greek metal sorted ;)
ReplyDeleteSeptic Flesh never put out a whole album of solid songs. But you can make a hugely awesome 'best of' from the first four or so records if you want. The more recent material is very inadequate, though.
Everything Acid Death did is worth a few concentrated listens.
I'm sorry when did ELVEN ASS-GRABBING become a label???
ReplyDeleteSorry, misprint. Fixed.
ReplyDelete@ Helm
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation on Acid Death. They are seriously great.
Cool CD, just head it for the first time a week or so before you posted this. I like the keyboards on this a lot, and they get a little more "prog" in general than a lot of the other Swedish groups. Kind of reminds me of old pre-"Slaughter of the Soul" ATG in that way; though they don't sound that much alike they both tweak the Swedeath formula a bit to get a more unique sound that still crushes.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you liked Acid Death.
ReplyDelete