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By JEFF MAKI
Catchy black metal? I didn't know there was such a thing until Graveworm's Collateral Defect. Actually, Graveworm is not a black metal band in the truest sense. These Italians combine elements of extreme metal such as death, black and goth into a sonic blast of evil that remains dynamic and melodic—a combination rarely heard.
Vocalist Stefan Fiori is an exciting frontman, capable of death metal growls or high-pitched black metal screams, and he frequently alternates between the styles. Sabine Mair provides dark atmosphere with keyboard pads and dazzling effects. European bands are using keyboards more and more in their music—something American metal has never really taken on—but there's nothing like hearing these dazzling notes dancing alongside heavy guitar riffs at a frantic pace. A prime example is “The Day I Died,” where they carry the song. The fiery opener, “Bloodwork,” lays the groundwork for this phenomenal release with demonic vocals and an overload of guitars. “Suicide Code” is one of more death metal songs in the vocal department but is catchy as hell. The strong guitar melodies are straight from Swedish melodic death metal. On the lightning-fast “Fragile Side,” Fiori is joined on vocals by Matze of The Sorrow, his clean vocals adding cool contrast to Fiori's extreme styles. Kataklysm vocalist Maurizio Iacono also appears on the album.
“I Need A Hero”—wait, don't tell me, yep, it's a cover of that song by Bonnie Tyler. (You know—”I need a hero/I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night/He's gotta be strong/And he's gotta be fast/And he's gotta be fresh from the fight/I need a hero.” It's an interesting choice for a cover and a high velocity black metal version of the song. It's good to see Graveworm has a sense of humor. The song featured in Shrek 2 and other light-hearted movies is transformed into a black metal anthem. Other than this, Graveworm is legit, delving into dark lyrical topics—death, suicide, the apocalypse, blasphemy—all cleverly written and kind of similar to Pinhead's memorable dialogue in the Hellraiser movies. “Out of Clouds” and “Scars of Sorrow” end the album on a strong note with some of the best work from keyboardist Mair and guitarists Eric Righi and Stirz.
The musical craftsmanship and melding of styles on Collateral Defect is unmatched and this is easily one of the best extreme metal releases of 2007. For those who dwell in the darker side of metal, “step inside the circle/your love will turn to hate/join the evil forces and feel the connection” of one of extreme metal's deadliest acts. |
