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Visualizzazione post con etichetta Evil. Mostra tutti i post
Visualizzazione post con etichetta Evil. Mostra tutti i post

giovedì 5 settembre 2019

Evil/Siege Column - Split EP

#PER CHI AMA: Thrash/Death, Sodom
Ormai il nostro è un mondo in cui il cd sta scomparendo quasi del tutto per tornare a far posto ai vinili e alle vecchie cassette quali formati fisici. Non ne sono immuni nemmeno le due band di oggi che insieme condividono questo split album: si tratta dei giapponesi Evil e degli americani Siege Column, con tre pezzi per i primi e due per i secondi. Il cd si apre con la furia distruttiva dello spaventoso trittico di song formato da "Paramount Evil", "Welcome to Satan" e "Rasetsuten". Il primo dei tre pesca direttamente dagli anni '80, citando band del calibro di Sodom o Sarcofago. Quindi un bel thrash/death old school per il quintetto di Tokyo che nella seconda sulfurea song (direi più un interludio di connessione fra la prima e la terza traccia), non nasconde delle influenze provenienti dai Black Sabbath. Si arriva cosi velocemente al terzo brano, un pezzo diabolico che in tre minuti liquida egregiamente la pratica Evil per lasciarci agli statunitensi Siege Column. Una band questa, che include l'onnipresente Joe Aversario, uno che deve essere membro di una cosa tipo dodici band (tra cui gli Abazagorath e gli Altar of Gore) ed ex membro di altre sette. Qui i pezzi sono due: "Mayhemic", soffocante esempio di death metal old school sempre di derivazione ottantiana e "Fight of Destruction", un pezzo di caotico death brutale mal suonato e pure mal registrato che poco nulla mi ha lasciato al termine del suo ascolto. Alla fine comunque, comprendo la scelta operata dall'etichetta per ciò che concerne l'uscita fisica, vista l'obsolescenza dei contenuti di questo Split EP. Ah dimenticavo, ai punti i giapponesi Evil surclassano alla grande gli statunitensi Siege Column e il voto complessivo è figlio della media delle due performance. (Francesco Scarci)

martedì 24 ottobre 2017

Evil - Rites of Evil


#FOR FANS OF: Black/Speed/Thrash, Sarcofago
Evil hail from Japan, but don't think of friendly tourists who smile permanently while taking nonstop pictures. These guys are in a bad mood. Their kind of blackened speed/thrash metal rumbles down the road without being interested in any extraordinary features. Evil have the guts to concentrate on pure metal, although this is not the most vehement record of the genre. The fourth track, "Yatsuzaki" for example, offers an almost melodic solo. Generally speaking, the guitars are cutting rather than harmonious. This is not the soundtrack for the birthday party of a seven year old girl. Okay, if Godzilla has a daughter of this age, she might be an exception, but I don't want to digress.

The simple compositions shape a very homogeneous work. Nobody needs to fear any kind of bad surprises. The Japanese horde has found its niche without taking care that many bands have already exploited this niche beforehand. The roots of this 'Rites of Evil' can be traced back to Bathory's famous debut. But for those who are less interested in historical milestones, one can say that Evil's work can be compared with outputs of groups that prefer a simplistic, rather minimalist approach that tries to pick the best of different worlds. While the guitar work builds a bridge to the old days of speed metal, for example during "Sword of Stupa", the raw barking of the lead vocalist has nothing in common with the high-pitched screaming of the early vocal artists. His pretty monotonous, sometimes nearly punk-like voice does not push the music on a higher level, but it also does no harm.

Evil do not lack energy and power, but it is also true that they have not been able to pen one or two earworms that keep sticking in the listener's mind immediately. Some riffs shake up the audience while evoking associations to (early) Venom or lesser known bands such as Quintessenz from Germany. The opening riff of "Eternal Hell", the ninth track, points into this direction, but at the end of the day, this mid-tempo stomper does not exceed standard requirements. It seems as if these dudes are not excessively talented in terms of song-writing. On the other hand, they avoid asinine, inappropriate sections and I am sure that they have the heart at the right place. As much as I hate to say it, this alone is not enough for the creation of a genre classic. I miss songs that develop their own personality.

The production scores with a certain sharpness. The guitars dominate a slightly sinister sound that finds the right mix between transparency and a certain amount of filth. Thus, the guys have no serious technical problems. They just need to put more effort into their compositions. Easier said than done (my first song is still not finished, since 1985 I am working on it...) Therefore, I am happy that at least my first review for The Pit of the Damned is complete now. (Felix 1666)
(Nuclear War Now! Productions - 2017)
Score: 65

https://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/rites-of-evil