Published on Mar 5, 2004
The album cover suggests sleaze punk but the opening sounds from
the first track on
White Diary suggest a message much more urgent and darker
than the songs that musical genre is known to haphazardly
produce.
Spawned from the same turbulent Norwegian underground as their
deathpunk forefathers Turbonegro, the band Silver cast a spell even
more mystical than than that band’s early recordings of the mid
’90s with the band’s
White Diary release. Credit the guitar tones of Bee Buzter
and Amy Jubb in collaboration with the sonic’s delivered by
vocalist Blanco Summer for generating an album that largely comes
across with repeated pleas of despondence. The guitar riffing is
kept in check and thus the result is decidedly built around the
basic structure of three-chord rock n’ roll.
Having previously released a couple of acclaimed,
faster-sounding EPs prior to the recording of
White Diary, Silver recapture that frenzied vibe on this
release with the inclusion of the magnetic “Gentlemen’s Blues (Riot
1-2-3),” a track only explosively rivaled by “Evacuate! (Sin Fix
Journal).” Chaos aside, the track “Condem Nation” inspires memory
of the Sex Pistols and “The Dark Side of the Light” hits the same
opening dungeony guitar note that is found on the Turbonegro
hit”Get it On” before settling into an airy track with the same
gothic overtones that the Smashing Pumpkins were known to fashion
back in the day.
On one hand, it’s refreshing to see Silver evolve in their short
existence to date with songs that hit different tempos. And while I
have to imagine the band blisters the harder numbers in a live
setting due to the undercurrent of hype that adorns this release,
I’m going to predict the band’s future success will be tied to the
slower and more musically complex numbers on
White Diary such as “Angels Calling” as Summer’s voice is
the natural selling point to the material. His natural forlorn
ability in casting his voice suits the gothic sound of the band in
a way that’s much more dynamic than the output that most punk rock
vocalists are known to deliver.
Fortunately,
White Diary sends a signal that the band has the lyrical
creativity to move forward as the release includes nine original
tracks to accompany just one holdover from their latest
Riot 1-2-3 EP release. Lately, I’ve seen many bands recycle
previous EP works on their first LP to only fall from grace when
they are in the studio working on their follow up full length
album. A band that was cast from the same musical sleaze rock mold
and resides only a couple hours away from Oslo, by the name of
Hardcore Superstar, vividly comes to mind.
On the horizon, Silver is scheduled to perform as a part of the
Norwegian band showcase at the highly regarded SXSW festival
(Austin, TX) in March with the probability that they’ll come across
as seasoned veterans despite the fact that
White Diary is just their first full length release. Having
performed in over 200 gigs to date, including billings on previous
Quart festivals in addition to five separate club tours through
Germany, Bad Afro Records truly believes in pinning their motto
“pushing Scandinavian rock to the man” to this sponsorship.
I’m inclined to agree that Silver and
White Diary is a wise choice in the matter.