Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 09:24 AM by Nikos Nakos
90’s was the golden years for Death Metal and every month another gem was released as the youth of Northern Europe and from the States were on a tremendous estrus shaping this certain decade with their brilliant yet grotesque works. Dismember were pioneers of the signature Swedish Death metal sound along with Entombed and their debut Like an Ever Flowing Stream took the world by the throat leading to a similar, if not a sequel, sophomore full length Indecent & Obscene, which although failed commercially despite the 2 breathtaking singles “Skinfather” and “Dreaming in Red”. As a result their label was unhappy, but mostly the band also was feeling that they had to prove to everyone including Nuclear Blast and themselves that they could write “mainstream” songs without losing their identity or their ferocity. Songs like “To the Bone”, “Hallucigenia”, “Collection of Blood” (a crescendo of melody here), and “Life – Another Shape of Sorrow” could easily be in any of their 2 previous works after all, still Dismember tried new things, but yes in their own way. Please also mark that the world had already changed, again, and At The Gates, In Flames and Dark Tranquility were ready to take the lead from Stockholm bands. Tomas Skogsberg production was definitely too clean (for Dismember), but excellent in my personal opinion and the safe distance of almost 30 years later…and wasn’t the reason why this album failed commercially too. As all instruments shine (even the thick Richard Cabeza’s bass lines) and the sound is relevant and modern even after 30 years.
Massive Killing Capacity was out on August 4, 1995. Before that there was an EP release as a precursor, the legendary now “Casket Garden”, months before the album’s release. The album is groovy (check the ultra- hymn “Crime Divine”), with proto-death n’ roll vibes as in the opener “I Saw Them Die” that became an instant fans beloved track. Guitarists David Blomqvist and Robert Sennebäck’s trademark HM-2 signature created sharp riffs, probably monolithic yet essential. Songs have lots of tempo changes and melodic guitars lines while the choruses are catchy and easy to remember. Of course the palm muting technique is present, so as “traditional heavy metal” elements. The big difference though was Matti Kärki approaching that brought new fans, but made many old school ones unhappy as they accused Matti for reaping Entombed’s L.G. Petrov’s style (and his shouted style of vocals).
A shocking album at it’s challenging time for purists and one track minded fans, now considered to be classic, Massive Killing Capacity is a formidable record in a way that cannot be disputed or doubted as it balances melody and ferocity impressively.
