JUSTIN’S ROCK REVIEWS W/C 1/11/04

 

RED HARVEST / INTERNAL PUNISHMENT PROGRAMS

 

When magazines rave about a new album I feel myself backing away, having been bitten before, so it really nice to say that all the mags are right, it is good.

 

This Norwegian Industrial Metal band have produced a fine piece of modern Metal, laying all to waste all before it like a scorched earth policy.  Their sound is a blend of Slayer, Ministry, Fear Factory and even Kraftwerk at times and makes for a very interesting listen.  The songs are as hard edged as they come and at times very Avant-Garde, the bleak landscape the songs portray would not look out of place in the Bladerunner movie. 

 

The title track refers to the sub routines in the Human psyche that make us become what we hate, and it’s this inevitable hopelessness that underpins the whole album like some metallic foundation. The starkness of “Symbol Of Decay” grinds slowly to its traumatic conclusion and the bombastic “Teknocrate” and “Wormz” are fine pieces of Metal as you will find in any where and deserve to be heard.  If you don’t get this you will miss out I’m glad I put my suspicions behind me and bought this CD.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.redharvest.com/ & http://www.nocturnalart.com/

 

DOWNLOAD            “Anatomy Of The Unknown” from the label site above

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 41 mins + CD ROM 

 

SLUMBER / FALLOUT

 

This  is another of the bands I came across while browsing the Karmageddon Media site, they are a 7 piece Swedish band who’s sound is a mixture of Gothic, Classical and Melodic Death Metal and despite looking odd written down here the music they make is superb.

 

Sonically they are similar to Opeth and My Dying Bride but with a stronger Death Metal element mainly due to the gruff vocal style.  The first track “Rapture” is a good showcase song for the band and describes the feeling I get when listening to it.  The sweeping majestic keyboards mix with the simple melodic lead breaks and a Death Metal vocal style makes for a very interesting experience and the title track is just as good.  This is a fine first album and I can see they will gain a lot of respect on the Metal scene, all they need is a good support slot on a major European tour and they have it made.

 

Best tracks “Fallout”, Rapture”, “Where Nothing Was Left” and “Distress” go on treat yourself to a very listenable CD.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.slumber.nu/ & http://www.karmageddonmedia.com/

 

DOWNLOAD            “Rapture” from either site

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 38 mins + 7 TRACKS  

Please mail any comments about these reviews to justin@justin-case.co.uk

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