Band: Dismember (Sweden)
Year: 1991
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast (Don't let the label fool you now...)
Lineup:
Matti Karki - Vocals
David Blomqvist - Guitar
Robert Senneback - Guitar
Richard Cabeza - Bass
Fred Estby - Drums
NOTE!!! I am reviewing the original jewel case release, that has only ten tracks. Another release has the ten tracks shown, plus two more (Torn Apart, Justifiable Homicide).
WOW. This is essential death metal right here! This album manages to combine the brutality of old school Floridian-styled death metal, add in some melody, and top it off with some f
ucking solid solos and leads. In fact, the leads on this album sound like Glenn Tipton gone br00tal. Not to mention that they f
ucking WORK too. The band is from Sweden, but don't be expecting any gothenburg to come flying out of your speakers.
Drumwork on this album is done nicely as well. Estby keeps it interesting by changing tempo and drum patterns quite frequently. What's more alleviating is the fact that there isn't an overabundance of tickticktick grindcore blasting, and when a blastbeat is played, it complements the riffage supplied by the guitars. Nice work!
Now to the melodies. A great example of how melody is used on here is displayed right from the start on "Overriding Of The Overture". After the intro, that tremolo riff is just beautiful and haunting at the same time. Quite catchy to boot!
If melody isn't being played on this album, a great deathy thrash riff is played. The thrash influence on this album does it great justice. Think early Death, but about 10x more effective and heavy.
Highlights of this album are definately "Dismembered", "Skin Her Alive", and "In Death's Sleep". Dismembered and In Death's Sleep are kinda like overtures to the album. They pretty much display everything good that there is to showcase about the album. Skin Her Alive is definately the most brutal song here, with a cool solo to boot. After that solo comes the incredibly cool "SKIN HER F
UCKING ALIVE!!!" bit.
All in all, if you are a fan of death metal you need to buy this right now. It will not disappoint.
5/5