Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 09:27 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Country: Ukraine
Label: Redefining Darkness Records
Year: 2018
The Blind Leading the Blind was released at the 11th hour on November 11th in order to hit shelves at the exact moment of the 100th anniversary of the end of the war. Saying that you can understand how serious the band takes its work (and their selves). But being Ukrainian, military obsessed and writing songs about German soldiers can make things a little weird…Hopefully in a recent interview their singer Ditmar Kumar claimed that they are not Nazis (“…Are you a Nazi band? What could I say? Just no, it`s about human nature, Homo sapiens behavior, history, and war. And – fuck Nazis and all kind of totalitarian shithead…”). Some would notice that unfortunately (and we feel deep sorry for this) Metal Invader has written a couple of words for some Nazi-friendly bands or suspiciously silent when they ask them their opinion about Nazism as Marduk, but without having any witch hunt syndrome as long as I continue being the editor in chief no any other band’s review or interview that has a Nazi ideology will be posted. As for 1914, in the same interview on Echoes And Dust, we can read some anti-Russian (?) or anti-Putin phrases that may sound anti-imperialistic, if we see them on an anti-war prism, but also may sound too patriotic -if not chauvinistic- to some ears (“…It’s really hard to realize that in 2017 when Tesla rolls over the world and drives out fuel engines, water is found on Mars, Elon Musk plans private space journeys – our young guys are dying just because some insane post-soviet dictators imagined themselves to be masters of the world and invaded a foreign country. And Europe still feels deeply concerned with their tongue stuck deep in the ass. Such a position of frightened impotent. Or do you think these fuckers gonna stop on us?..”), especially if we remember the Nazi-friendly Ukraine government. I’m not a judge or even a SJW to tell anyone what to think about 1914 -but not also washing my hands as Pontius Pilatus in a time were you ought to chose a side- and I will believe their statement that they focus on the human nature and behavior on rough times and war conditions, neither about glorifications, nor about propaganda or ode to German army. Enough said about the lyrics, as musically speaking even though there’s nothing innovating; still this album is a top notch blackened death ode to Asphyx and Bolt Thrower. 1914’s members have a hardcore, punk and sludge past that is reflected on their compositions. As they wonderfully mix their Doom and Death influences on a mournful soundtrack. We can also hear some post-black elements especially on the parts that they try to create a depressive and overbearing atmosphere. I can’t predict future but it seems rather difficult for these Ukrainians to escape the cell they created if they will continue writing about the same topic. Despite the fact that WWI is a strong, never ending theme and always remains highly topical. All you that find war a seductive and evil enough issue you can check an excellent album of military metal, if I can use this term.
5/6
