Published on Aug 2, 2005
Some of the more established hard rock bands from Stockholm,
like the Hellacopters,
may think that rock n’ roll is
actually dead. Thank God there is a new guard positioned to
challenge them on such a defeatist attitude.
In Distortion We Trust not only serves as a middle finger
salute to such a missive but also doubles as the album title for
another Stockholm band’s riff-heavy debut album. The band
responsible for this is Crucified Barbara, a quartet of females
that intriguingly bear little comparison to any other current
female band of significance.
In some ways,
In Distortion We Trust is also a textbook metal album, given
the adrenaline-fueled passion behind vocalist Mia Coldheart’s
wailed lyrics, as well as Klara Force’s axework. The title track is
a prime example of this claim, as Coldheart shares lead vocals with
guest vocalist Aurora Parmacek, who gives a few death metal growls
of the song title several times towards the end of the track —
symbolic since Sweden is generally credited as the birthplace of
death metal.
Further proving the chops and ability of the band are the keen
layering of fretwork patterns timed to the coordinated backline
procession of bassist Ida Evileye and drummer Nicki Wicked. This is
evident on the first single, “Losing The Game,” which hit number
eight on the Swedish rock charts six weeks before the album was
released.
The second single from the album, “Rock n’ Roll Bachelor,” is a
bit more lacking in the fretwork department and is largely
reminiscent of the old Joan Jett anthems where Jett sings over
simple chord arrangements. I’m not sure this would be my choice for
the second single personally; “Play Me Hard” and “My Heart Is
Black” are more complete pieces, more melodic and featuring more
interesting hook structures. Additionally, the lyrics to both these
alternatives can be taken a little more seriously than those found
in “Rock n’ Roll Bachelor.”
Seems to me that it would always be easier to beat a line like
“Check him out, you can have him / Cause he’s nothing but a tight
blue jeans ass to me.” I personally get more of a charge in hearing
“Life is a bitch and so am I you see / I dedicate my love to a
Flying-V” found in “My Heart Is Black.”
Earlier I mentioned this album had a textbook metal feel,
meaning there’s an overall shredding guitar element (presumably
from those Flying-V’s) that gives
In Distortion We Trust more of an old school metal sound.
From my perspective, this dynamic is most appealing as it offers
musicianship complexities that are absent in most of the
contemporary metal I hear today.
In Distortion We Trust is a hard rock/metal album that most
accurately defines the climate of hard rock in today’s terms
despite what others might say. Trust me. No, wait. Trust Crucified
Barbara.