Published on Nov 3, 1998
Normally, I wouldn’t bother writing up something for “The Daily
Vault” for a five song, 18 minute disc.
But then, this is the first time I have heard Adramelech.
Probably the first time you’ve heard the name as well.
Too bad.
Part of my “job” as a reviewer is to find awesome unknown bands
and make you know about them. Adramelech is such a band. They are
from Finland.
Their disc
Seven is aggressive metal played with thunderous double bass
drums. The disc blasts off with “Seven” in the same vein as recent
Pantera albums. You press “play” and instantly, the music starts,
there’s no dead air.
Like other death metal bands, I don’t understand what the band
is singing about. Lyrics were not included in the promo copy I
received in the mail.
While lyrics would boost this disc up even higher, I didn’t find
myself questioning the lyrical content: I was too focused on the
band’s energy. As with most trios, the bass and drums seem to stick
out as being as important as the guitar melody. My favorite part of
trio bands is when the guitarist takes a solo and the bass and
drums hold down the groove. Pantera does this well (I think they
need a new album soon as this is the second time I’ve referred to
them).
“The Sleep Of Ishtar” starts off as a more groove-oriented
track. The overall feel is slower. The first guitar solo brings out
the bass guitar groove of Phillippe La Grassa. Drummer Seppo
Taatila is continually keeping the time together with strict cymbal
strokes. His double bass drumming is thunderous. The second guitar
solo in this track is better. Jarkko Rantanen shifts to a cleaner
tone in his guitar and seems more melodic.
“Captured In Eternal Lost” seems the closest to run-of-the-mill
death metal with a blast beat (duh duh duh duh on the snare
continuously instead of making things interesting). The guitar is
less interesting than before. I also don’t like it when a one
guitarist band records a rhythm and a solo – how does the band
replicate both parts live?
The final two tracks are marked as live but the label is odd.
The only hint they are live is at the end of “Across The Grey
Waters” when Jarkko says, “Thank you.” There’s no crowd noise. The
songs exemplify what the band would be like live with looser guitar
parts and drums. Not relaxed, but less studio sterility.
In all, Adramelech is an outstanding band from Finland that
would give American death metal bands a run for their money. To
contact the band, check out their website at:
http://www.dlc.fi/~jsr/Index.htm