Post by thesoundmonitor on Sept 25, 2003 5:12:43 GMT -5
NASUM
Helvete
(Relapse)
By Warren Wheeler
Grindcore is an inconsistent beast. While deluges of grind releases are thrust upon the general public from year to year, it is only the select few that reach quality worthy of repeated listens. Nasum achieved this in ’97 with their classic Inhale/Exhale - an album many a grind fan compared with Napalm Death’s Scum in terms of ferocity, political spite, and social observation. Like Napalm they followed this success with an equally intense follow-up firmly lodging the band in the intelligent grind fans consciousness.
Also like Napalm, Nasum now hit us with an album that - while inarguably intense and ferocious - seems to lack in atmosphere. Using the same Soundlab studio as previous efforts, Helvete carries a slightly more sterile, metal production as opposed to Inhale/Exhale’s crisp-but-raw approach. Such clarity can actually detract from the ferocity.
The speed is still evident and the dual vocal attack is creative and at times catchy. Tracks like ‘Stormshield’ and ‘The Final Sleep’add a little ethereality while the firearm effects in ‘Relics’ are kinda fun.
Lyrically the 22 tracks run a familiar theme of hatred for apathy (‘Go!’), fascism (‘Living Next Door to Malice’), racism (‘Illogic’), and misogyny (‘The Everlasting Shame’). Ultimately Nasum are one the better grind acts in action, but while their Relapse debut is seen as genre defining, Helvete defines the humdrum of the genre.
Helvete
(Relapse)
By Warren Wheeler
Grindcore is an inconsistent beast. While deluges of grind releases are thrust upon the general public from year to year, it is only the select few that reach quality worthy of repeated listens. Nasum achieved this in ’97 with their classic Inhale/Exhale - an album many a grind fan compared with Napalm Death’s Scum in terms of ferocity, political spite, and social observation. Like Napalm they followed this success with an equally intense follow-up firmly lodging the band in the intelligent grind fans consciousness.
Also like Napalm, Nasum now hit us with an album that - while inarguably intense and ferocious - seems to lack in atmosphere. Using the same Soundlab studio as previous efforts, Helvete carries a slightly more sterile, metal production as opposed to Inhale/Exhale’s crisp-but-raw approach. Such clarity can actually detract from the ferocity.
The speed is still evident and the dual vocal attack is creative and at times catchy. Tracks like ‘Stormshield’ and ‘The Final Sleep’add a little ethereality while the firearm effects in ‘Relics’ are kinda fun.
Lyrically the 22 tracks run a familiar theme of hatred for apathy (‘Go!’), fascism (‘Living Next Door to Malice’), racism (‘Illogic’), and misogyny (‘The Everlasting Shame’). Ultimately Nasum are one the better grind acts in action, but while their Relapse debut is seen as genre defining, Helvete defines the humdrum of the genre.