Published on Oct 16, 2000
When is a death metal band not a death metal band?
I couldn’t help thinking about this question as I listened to
To Hell And Back, the latest release from Kimberly Goss and
Sinergy. There is no doubt that this group has many of the messages
(albeit toned down) that so many of their fellow bands layer onto
their albums. But with Goss’s vocal delivery, it’s sometimes hard
to see this as being such doom-and-gloom material.
I realize that, this early in the review, it may sound like I’m
saying that women shouldn’t sing for death metal bands. I’m not
saying this; save your angry e-mails. Besides, there are plenty of
instances on
To Hell And Back where Goss easily could put a chill down
anyone’s spine with her delivery. The opening track alone, “The
Bitch Is Back” (no, not a cover of the Elton John song), is ample
proof of this.
Yet Goss’s delivery often comes across as being a little light –
think Alannah Myles fronting a metal band, and that’s occasionally
the impact Goss has on me. She’s an incredible singer, no doubt
about it, yet I question whether her vocals are the right fit for
the band. (They ought to be; she formed the group.)
To Hell And Back, otherwise, occasionally teeters between
magnificence and mediocrity. Tracks like “Lead Us To War” and “Laid
To Rest” don’t immediately jump out and grab the listener; however,
repeat listens to this disc show the true power of these tracks.
Others, like “Last Escape” and “Wake Up In Hell,” deliver the goods
from the first listen onwards. Still others, like “Gallowmere” and
“Midnight Madness,” fail to light up the boards like Goss and crew
hoped they would.
Cheers to Sinergy for getting the concept of the “secret track”
correct; on my advance copy of this disc, they clearly mention
there’s a one-minute silence before the ninth track, a balls-out
cover of Blondie’s “Hanging On The Telephone”.
Goss proves that death metal is not just a musical sport for the
boys, even if
To Hell And Back isn’t always as strong of an album as it
could have been. This is still a very young band; possibly things
will be completely tuned up with their next studio effort.