death metal
|
|
After an almost sleepless night it's once again time for coffee and some intense death metal. I've been starting my writing sessions with death metal for a while now and it works quite well. Apparently, this is the perfect music to really wake up to, although I still prefer something calmer to play when my alarm clock hits. But once the first cup of coffee is poured, I need to indulge myself into massive riffs, guttural vocals and hammering drums. It's rather strange since I never gave death metal a lot of attention before I started this website. I guess it just grows on people who are willing to listen.
And I truly want to invite you to give Neter a shot. This quartet from Sevilla, Spain, have been around since 2004. 'Idols' is their second full-length and, judging from the great cover art and lyrics, we're dealing with some serious criticism on religion and superstition. I rarely write about cover art, but I really like it on this album. It shows people tearing down the statues on Easter Island. Perhaps it's symbolic for the demise of all religion, but let's not go into the subject. It would become an endless discussion about 'Gods plans', loaded with opinions in stead of facts and thus useless.
So let's talk about the music on 'Idols', which can simply be described as death metal, nothing more, nothing less. After a brilliant intro (I love instrumental tunes, especially heavy ones), Neter blasts nine fierce songs through my speakers, all in perfect death metal tradition. It's no wonder that bands like Bolt Thrower, Deicide and Suffocation often come to mind. Those named indicate an old school approach which usually is a good thing and here it's no different.
Thing is, the songs sound quite alike, which also doesn't have to be a problem. After all, that's 'the sound' of a band. So there's little difference between the songs but plenty of variation and tempo changes within them and that's what makes this album so enjoyable. In a way it feels like a massive rollercoaster with top speed passages and slower ones, crushing and fearsome and barely avoiding becoming doom metal. Above all of that sonic violence, Manuel growls out his frustrations and anger with sheer rage. He does quite good, perfectly aligning his grunts with the music.
So naming a favorite track is quite difficult but if you put a knife at my throat and make me, I'll go for 'Triumphant March' and follower 'Pulsar'. Yes, if I being threatened, I become quite bounteous. That being said, 'Fallen Moai' and 'Contagium Vivum Fluidum' are also punishing songs, showing a skillful band who know a thing or two about songwriting. But most of all, I would suggest listening to the album as a whole because that's where 'Idols' truly come into its own. Like I said before, the 'rollercoaster-effect' is amazing in this one, as if it is one massive song, divided into several segments.
So take it from me, we're dealing with a great death metal album here with songs that will guarantee an immersive live performance. Because, after all, the stage is ultimately the best place to enjoy this kind of music. In that aspect, I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys opening for bands like Behemoth, Napalm Death or Vader and blasting those names right off stage, leaving an exhausted audience behind.
Serge
And I truly want to invite you to give Neter a shot. This quartet from Sevilla, Spain, have been around since 2004. 'Idols' is their second full-length and, judging from the great cover art and lyrics, we're dealing with some serious criticism on religion and superstition. I rarely write about cover art, but I really like it on this album. It shows people tearing down the statues on Easter Island. Perhaps it's symbolic for the demise of all religion, but let's not go into the subject. It would become an endless discussion about 'Gods plans', loaded with opinions in stead of facts and thus useless.
So let's talk about the music on 'Idols', which can simply be described as death metal, nothing more, nothing less. After a brilliant intro (I love instrumental tunes, especially heavy ones), Neter blasts nine fierce songs through my speakers, all in perfect death metal tradition. It's no wonder that bands like Bolt Thrower, Deicide and Suffocation often come to mind. Those named indicate an old school approach which usually is a good thing and here it's no different.
Thing is, the songs sound quite alike, which also doesn't have to be a problem. After all, that's 'the sound' of a band. So there's little difference between the songs but plenty of variation and tempo changes within them and that's what makes this album so enjoyable. In a way it feels like a massive rollercoaster with top speed passages and slower ones, crushing and fearsome and barely avoiding becoming doom metal. Above all of that sonic violence, Manuel growls out his frustrations and anger with sheer rage. He does quite good, perfectly aligning his grunts with the music.
So naming a favorite track is quite difficult but if you put a knife at my throat and make me, I'll go for 'Triumphant March' and follower 'Pulsar'. Yes, if I being threatened, I become quite bounteous. That being said, 'Fallen Moai' and 'Contagium Vivum Fluidum' are also punishing songs, showing a skillful band who know a thing or two about songwriting. But most of all, I would suggest listening to the album as a whole because that's where 'Idols' truly come into its own. Like I said before, the 'rollercoaster-effect' is amazing in this one, as if it is one massive song, divided into several segments.
So take it from me, we're dealing with a great death metal album here with songs that will guarantee an immersive live performance. Because, after all, the stage is ultimately the best place to enjoy this kind of music. In that aspect, I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys opening for bands like Behemoth, Napalm Death or Vader and blasting those names right off stage, leaving an exhausted audience behind.
Serge