JUSTIN’S ROCK REVIEWS W/C 14/5/07

 

 

 

SCARVE / UNDERCURRENT

 

This band has to be my favourite French band, they are 21st Century Death Metal with very progressive leanings and if I had to make a comparison it would have to be a heavier, Death Metal Strapping Young Lad.

 

Their music is so captivating I don’t see how you could ever tire of listening to them; their songs are full of off beat, quirky time changes, thunderous great drumming, razor sharp guitars riffs and harmonised vocals that create a soundscape you can loose yourself in easily, take the crushing, galloping rhythms of “Fathomless Descent” that is a joy to listen to or the more staccato laden riffs of “A Few Scraps Of Memories” complete with a spoken poem bit in it a full of false relationships (Diablo in musica) at its best and there are plenty more besides, The front cover is vulvic imagery and suits the organic nature of the music it holds inside, this is by no means easy to listen by any standards but it is very rewarding and ultimately, very rewarding and gets the Justin Case seal of approval, listen out for tracks on my HFM and Pipeline shows.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.scarve.net/  & http://www.listenable.net/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 41 Glorious mins + 9 TRACKS

 

GRAVEWORM / COLLETRAL DEFECTS

 

Now signed to Massacre Records Death metal band Graveworm have come up with their heaviest album yet, the Melodic content is restricted to the keyboards with gruff vocal style now prominent.

 

There are no direct comparisons to the bands sound, they are an amalgam of Amon Amarth, Soilwork with touches of early In Flames, songs like “Bloodwork”, ”Suicide Code” and “The Day I Die” are typical modern Death Metal with the usual subject matter and grinding riffs that kill.  The band have an ear for unusual cover version, with “Losing My Religion” being a prime example and this its Bonnie Tyler’s song “I need A Hero” that gets the Death Metal work over and for the most part it works well and does show that the band have a sense of humour and don’t take themselves too seriously.

 

Nothing ground breaking on this CD but what you get is first class Death Metal, played to perfection with style and panache and deserves your attention.

 

WEBSTIE      http://www.graveworm.de/ & http://www.massacre-records.com/

 

TOTAL PLYING TIME = 41 mins + 10 TRACKS

 

MARILYN MANSON / EAT ME, DRINK ME

 

2007 finds Marilyn Manson in a dark, bitter and twisted Gothic style but like all his albums it has an off beat, commercialistic quirkiness that has become his trademark and as far removed from the garish, burlesqueness of The Golden Age as you can get.

 

Starting off with the very stylistic “If I Was Your Vampire” full of dark imagery, twisted lyrics and a very Gothic, rhythmic beat and a guitar riff to match, the first single “Heart Shaped Glasses” is just as good and is destined to be another Manson fan favourite, the other thing that strikes me listening to this CD is guitar playing, its always been good but it just seems better and to my ears there is a more Bluesier, organic feel to the playing that makes it warmer which contrasts nicely against the coldness of Manson’s vocals.  Also listen out for “You And Me And The Devil” and “Are You The Rabbit?” which deserve a special mention.

 

This may not be as instant as some of his other CD’s but this is Manson pleasing himself, (if you’ll pardon the expression) and usually leads to better, stronger songs, when your not trying to please everyone else you don’t compromise as much.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.marilynmanson.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 53 mins + 11 TRACKS