Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 02:05 PM by Giorgos Tsekas
Genre: Melodic Death / Groove Metal
Country: Sweden
Label: Rambo Music / Gain Music Entertainment / Sony Music
Year: 2015
Chugger identify themselves as a groovy death metal band. Well, it’s more than that. Definitely more. Chugger released their first full length studio album “Human Plague”, consisted of 11 tracks, on April 1st 2015 via Rambo Music, Gain Music Entertainment and Sony Music, on physical CD and on digital format, as well. The album was recorded in Gothenburg Rock Studios, mixed and mastered by Daniel Antonsson (Dimension Zero, ex – Dark Tranquillity, ex – Soilwork).
The record starts with the powerful track “The Grid”, setting the mood for what’s to come. The “Virus” follows up, kicking off with a pleasant, nice intro which evolves into a fast and dark death-ish, brutal tune. “Never Alone” has slow – paced guitars full of melody that gradually get heavier and faster, but without it being something exceptional; it features guest vocals by Maria Stranden (ex – Therion) as well. Some of the highlight tracks of the record are “Feed the Fire”, “Five Feet Down” and “Endgame” (one of the more progressive track of the album). Throughout the album there is a nice swapping between slower and faster parts, as well as melodic parts scattered here and there, without disturbing the record’s balance. Vocals, however, tend to constantly change their range and tunes, depending on the track or parts of the tracks. Some may like it, on the grounds that make the record more interesting that way. For me, it’s kinda boring, as the whole concept is expected from a certain point. One more thing about the vocals that grinded my ears is that they’re overly mixed, resulting into creating frustration at some points. Lastly, approaching the end of the album, I got the feeling that the band repeated itself on riffs, solos and generally the compositions. It’s like their inspiration well drained.
Overall, “Human Plague” is a record interlarded with (a progression of) 90s Gothenburg sound, created by In Flames, At The Gates and Dark Tranquillity on the one hand, while on the other side of the coin, a groovy south – American touch presents itself, supposedly spicing things up, along with the crude and harsh vocals; it’s a weird combo if you think of it but it doesn’t do the trick. If the record was smaller in duration and with a more natural sound, it would have ranked higher, for sure.
3/6
