The Laws of Scourge

I know that I can be pretty critical- Entombed just doesn't tickle my fancy, Obituary is average at best to me, and I still can't stand Beherit. That being said, you can kind of see that when I say an album is my favorite, I mean it. This is that album.

I first heard the song Crush, Kill, Destroy on an unofficial Myspace, and I found it an enjoyable listen. One day, curiosity took hold and I just HAD to purchase this album. I'm glad I did. From the start of the title track, right up to the very end, I was captivated.

From the very beginning, I was exposed to a guitar tone that I can only describe as orgasmic- it combines the trademark "buzzsaw" tone of the Swedeath of that time, and the Suffocation-style crunchy bass-rich sound. It fits the production quality perfectly, and it really sets the mood for the album. The drum lines are simple, but effective: blasts are performed with remarkable accuracy, and fills seem marvelously loose, like they were improvised on the spot. Normally this would be a bad thing, but the skill of the drummer, combined with the rawness of the music, just adds to the good.

I'm also a sucker for bass guitar, especially when I can hear it. Here, it shines-I can hear it perfectly, and it meshes beautifully with the guitar. It is definately one of the better examples of bass guitar in all of extreme metal. The vocals are also effective- they are very appropriate to the mix and add to the overall feeling of the album.

If I had to choose one song off the album to analyze closely, it would be Piercings. This is easily my favorite song on the album. There are so many things that are right about this song- the riff is memorable, the solo-ish lick at the beginning is fantastic, especially when it melts into the double-kick rhythm. The tremolo-blast part in the middle is as intense as it needs to be, and the song never lets up. A masterpiece if I do say so myself.

If you haven't already heard this album, it is a must-listen for anyone who claims to be a death or thrash metal fan. It was ahead of its time then, and it's still miles ahead of most of the "BR00T4LITY" we see today. It's classic technicality, with taste and some soul crushing added in to the mix. Go forth and listen.