What a puzzling record. Not only it is labeled as Speed
Metal but it’s also a one-man-band project led by Anders Lindberg from Sweden whose lyrics have been taken care of over the pond in the US. Now when you read Speed
Metal nowadays, it does seem a bit anachronistic as the short-lived genre which gave birth to both Thrash
Metal and
Power Metal does not even ring a bell among the newest Metalheads.
Nonetheless, aspiration to perform something close in essence to the sound of the early 80’s can’t be a bad thing. It’ll remind some of comps like “Speed Kills, But Who’s
Dying?” and how frontiers between genres were at the time not as finite as they are today.
And what a blend of various genres and influences this record offers. Comprised of 13 songs, the record explores various grounds with more or less success.
From Punk-Rock ridden with
Metal riffing anthems to outright Thrash aggressions, from Rock ballads to
Crossover stuff, it’s a unique mixture of everything that sounds 80’s. Pell-mell, you’ll find things that belong more to some UK MeloPunk a la Active Minds, some early sounding
Suicidal Tendencies from “How
Will I Laugh Tomorrow…” (World Hater) to stuff that would belong more on
Helloween’s first “Keeper” or even a “
And Justice For All…” kind-of track.
Gang Green,
Laaz Rockit,
Acid Reign, bla, bla, bla. There’s just too much to mention everything. If you’re then looking for something that would hold the record together, do not look for a specific genre but rather for a specific sound as throughout the record Lindberg shows us how much he likes nice and catchy tunes be it in riffing or in melodic solo parts.
Past the initial “what the heck” moment that’s bound to hit you when you’ll first play the record, 13 songs of varied intensity and genius do remain. I am personally not fond of Lindberg’s singing which at times I find too candid and not aggressive enough (if you’re looking for a “violent” record, please stop reading) and some songs are just too off the wall like Darkest of Souls which looks like the filler ballad bands like
Overkill,
Death Angel or
Testament would put in in their records at the times only to get some MTV airing…
It’s only a first record so there are good chances that the little flaws found here and there can be worked on. Still as much as I enjoyed most of it, it’s going to be tough to touch that many people that can take this mixed bag of Thrash
Metal, Speed
Metal, Punkish
Metal and what not. In this regard, it is a bold album and an even bolder thing to release something like that in times where the underground looks only for the most bestial Black
Metal or technical Death
Metal. If you’re feeling melancholy for old times or are just fed up with each and every band claiming to be the most brutal stuff out there, please feel free to contact both label/band directly. It sure will be a breath of fresh air amid the present bands…
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