Published on Jun 9, 2004
Hardcore punk can’t be tamed without losing it’s street
credibility or can it? Should such a concept even be
entertained?
Oslo, Norway’s hardcore upstarts, Amulet, found reason to tinker
with what I find to be an exceptional debut release as they hit the
studio to record their second album,
Freedom Fighters. Adding a second guitarist to the fold
(Espen Follestad) that would also contribute backing vocals might
seem trivial. But sprinkle in the effects of a Hollywood-schooled
female soul singer (Tracee Meyn) to a track coupled with three
other chicks singing the prominent background chorus to another
song and there would be seemingly be no chance for the album to be
taken seriously amongst the hardcore faithful.
Additionally, for that band to release such an album in these
circumstances, win categories at the prestigious Norwegian Alarm
Awards, and get picked up by a major label has to involve several
other factors. Well, it’s not going to take putting on the Clouseau
hat for me to offer some fundamental reasons why Amulet was able to
pull off these feats with
Freedom Fighters.
First, Torgny Amdam should be the envy of every hardcore
screamo-type act for his maniacal vocal styles. When he chooses to
bridge his screaming aggro vocal lines by having to actually sing,
he can do it as well as anybody I have ever heard. He has passion
and he sounds legitimately pissed when he needs to (which is 90% of
the time on this album) which are carry over traits from the band’s
debut,
The Burning Sphere.
Secondly, by the band adding the second guitar and a dedicated
background vocalist,
Freedom Fighters benefits with a fuller sound than before
which admirably does nothing to encroach on Amdam’s ability to
remain the focal point on all of the songs. If this were a pop or
standard rock release, such an observation would be pointless as
those genres generally lend themselves to a busier approach in
their musical output.
Thirdly, the band had the good sense to employ Norway’s own
wonderboy, err…Euroboy in Knut Schreiner (Turbonegro,
Euroboys, the Vikings) to team with Anders Møller, (Anal
Babes) in producing the album. Essentially, these two guys have had
their hands in most of the better punk recordings that the Oslo
scene has produced in the ’90s to present day.
Oh yeah — we can’t forget the female input. The track “Profane
Wishes” is where Amulet employs Meyn to harmonize backing vocals
around the chorus. The band is able to succeed in pulling this off
for a couple of reasons — Meyn’s parts, while noticeable, are
hidden by a searing instrumental jam that brings the song back to
the overall hardcore pace of the album. Not given the chance to
time itself out, “Profane Wishes” stops itself just short of being
called a ballad in rock terms.
“Hot Time” is built around the same blueprint. It’s another
spastic track that comes up for air a couple of times allowing the
boys to breathe. Within the context of a 12-track album, both
instances of these short-leashed guest appearances do more to
create identity for all of the songs on the album than they
contribute in hurting anything.
It would be pointless for me to start naming certain tracks on
Freedom Fighters as better than others. I have always
contended that this was a special album in that it comes off as a
complete soundtrack for the entire recording. And in what is
something of an odd occurrence, my recommendation of this album to
everyone that has taken the time to actually listen to it has
yielded nothing but positive remarks.
Dig punk rock? Have the stomach to reel in the hardcore pace?
Give this album a listen.
[Note: Columbia re-released Freedom Fighters
with some extra tracks and video from The Burning Sphere
and before. Roll the dice and ante up the extra bucks to give
that release a try.]