Tinnitus
Liquor And Poker
Tinnitus, Backyard Babies second US release, is actually a compilation of songs from the bands first four albums that were released in Europe throughout the '90s. BYB released their debut record back in '91, spawning the birth of the retro-rock Swedish invasion popularized by The Hives. After the second BYB release, guitarist Dregen put the band on hiatus to launch the acclaimed Swedish band The Hellacopters. Dregen then returned with BYB in '97 with the band's first US release Total 13 that earned them great press throughout the US and scored them the opening slot on Velvet Revolver's European tour. Although many of the songs on this disc date back nearly 15 years, they still sound current today in a retro sort of way and far succeed the talent-less, over-rated and over-commercialized US retro crap like The Strokes and The Vines. BYB were bashing out New York Dolls/Stooges inspired glam/trash/punk-rawk long before it became this over-hyped lampoonish trend. I've seen this band perform live at the Dragonfly in LA several times in the late '90s and they always tore the place apart. If you're into Hanoi Rocks, Guns & Roses, and Jet, than Backyard Babies is definitely for you.
FEAR MY THOUGHTS
Hell Sweet Hell
Lifeforce
Hell Sweet Hell is a surprisingly impressive debut release. I say 'surprisingly' since I expected this CD to be your typical hardcore death-metal with unbearable vocals and horrible production. In reality, Fear My Thoughts have churned out a thrash-metal gem in the vein of '80s Bay Area thrash pioneers Exodus, Violence and Possessed. Great musicianship highlighted by neck-breaking riffs and ultra-furious drum work topped by sharp production, Fear My Thoughts definitely stand out from the rest of the pack. Even the vocals are commendable for death/thrash metal standards, powerful yet precise without the over-abundant death growl. Great vocal melodies and harmonies as well, demonstrated on the tracks "Windows For The Dead" and "Ghosts Of Time," something you very rarely hear in death/thrash/grindcore metal these days. Although the songs do tend to blend together, sounding overly redundant at times, Hell Sweet Hell is a thrash/death metal album I recommend...and as you know it's not often give a recommendation on death-metal.
WITHERED
Memento Mori
Lifeforce
Here's yet another release from Lifeforce that I found rather interesting. Memento Mori is the debut release from Atlanta, GA based band Withered and is accurately described as progressive death-metal meets grindcore. Again, displaying great musicianship and an above average production. Although considered a full-length CD, Memento Mori only features seven songs, but if you want to add some hellish spice to your prog-metal, check out Withered.
Shockwaves CD REVIEWS ISSUE 12 Page 14