|
|
|
Welcome To Unbound Zine |
|
| Album Review |
|
Grief of War-A Mounting CrisisAs their Fury Got Released
(Prosthetic Records, 2008)
Originally released in 2005, the debut album from Japanese thrashers Grief of War is getting a domestic release courtesy of Prosthetic Records. On behalf of all thrash fans I say thank you for bringing this gem to North American ears. This album is a blistering combination of traditional thrash metal and elements of crust. Its an energetic hard hitting sound that makes some newer thrash albums seem a bit tame in comparison.
Imagine high octane Bay Area thrash mixed with Doom styled crust and heavy Japanese hardcore as well. While the album is speed driven, there are definitely some more mid-tempo songs and riffs that recall the early days of thrash as well. The band also has a unique sense of melody and isnt afraid to inject the riffs with exotic fills and guitar melodies. The vocals are pretty much a standard old school thrash approach with the odd use of a heavier more death metal style at times.
The drum performance is rock solid and while it is slightly bare banes, it never falters. Charging drums are a trademark of the thrash genre and this album doesn't disappoint with its Dave Lombardo meets Lars Ulrich drumming style. While some thrash bands experiment with blast beats this stays true to the old school style of thrash drumming.
Also noteworthy are the guitar solos. The solos might be fast but melody is definitely as big part as well as these solos have more substance than just whammy bar dives and flailing fingers. Picture a cross between early Exodus solos and early Metallica solos and youll have a basic idea of what to expect from the guitar solos.
Prosthetic Records have found a gem with this album. Everything from the performance to the production to the songwriting is top notch. If you are even slightly into the thrash genre this is an album you need to hear.
|
|
|
UN: A Mounting Crisis has been out for a few years now in Japan but has just been released in North America. How did Prosthetic Records become interested in the band? Were you looking for a label to release the album in the US?
Ken/guitar: We've been looking for a label to play in the US for a long time, so we really appreciate Prosthetic Records!!
UN: With thrash metal having a bit of a revival in North America right now, do you think it is the perfect time for the album to be released in North America?
Ken: Yes, it's a good time for us to start the activity in the US and soon we'll know it was a perfect time!
UN: Is the deal with Prosthetic just to re-release A Mounting Crisis or will you be working with the label for future releases as well?
Ken: We will work with Prosthetic for our second and third albums, too! And A Mounting Crisis is just a beginning, like a name card from us!
Plus I didn't join the band at that time yet, it was later.
UN: As A Mounting Crisis is a few years old when do you think we can expect a new album from Grief of War? Are the new songs along the same lines as A Mounting Crisis?
Ken: We are going to complete a brand new album over this summer. Consider A Mounting Crisis as a kind of like a trailer!
UN: I was curious to ask why you decided to use English for the lyrics instead of your native tongue. Was it to give the music more of a universal appeal?
Ken: Because we've been aiming the activity in the US from the start. We don't have a metal scene here in Japan and it's hard for us to keep playing here...
UN: From the band name and some of the lyrics it seems like the band is somewhat political in nature. Is there a lot happening in the world to inspire the lyrics and give you the aggression to play this style of music?
Ken: Actually we don't have much political meaning behind the music, but we sometimes feel sad and angry about what's going on around the world and, in turn, also inspired by them. Manabu [Hirose], the vocalist/bassist takes many days thinking up the lyrics and composing music and also sometimes he just lets his feelings flow while writing stuff himself. So all the stuff is producing from inside his mind.
UN: Who would you say influenced the Grief of War sound? I know it is an overused question, but there is more to the bands sound than just thrash metal and Im curious to know what else inspires you.
Ken:Manabu as a songwriter, he got the influences from 80s - 90s thrash metal and also from other classic metal bands. Of course Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer but also Black Sabbath, Queensryche...So too much to mention!!
UN: While I am familiar with a lot of Japanese hardcore and punk Im not as familiar with the thrash scene. Are there a lot of thrash bands in Japan? Any that you would recommend for people to check out?
Ken: Unfortunately, theres not much of a thrash metal scene here in Japan, nor heavy metal scene itself. Maybe we only have VK (Visual-K) rock scene in Japan now...
UN: Have you guys put any thought into a possible US tour in the future? While I am sure if would take a lot of planning, is it something that the band would want to do one day?
Ken: Of course! That's why we made a contract with Prosthetic!! So, we can't wait to have a US tour soon! And now we are preparing the new stuff.
UN: What do you think sets Grief of War apart from the other thrash bands around right now? Is being original important or are you more concerned with just playing what you enjoy?
Ken: Of course it's very important to be original, but we don't deny the influences from the old great bands. And we are not only pursuing the pleasure playing metal music. It' s more like a searching for our meaning of life kind of thing. It's hard to explain in words...
UN: Do you think that the thrash genre and the hardcore genre pretty much go hand in hand? I could definitely see fans of hardcore being able to enjoy Grief of War right alongside the thrash fans.
Ken:Thank you for saying that! Of course we also want the hardcore fans to listen Grief of War!
UN: Lets end on a fun one. What would you say are the top ten thrash albums of all time?
Ken:
1 Slayer - Reign In Blood
2 Testament - The New Order
3 Megadeth - Rust in Peace
4 Anthrax - Among the Living
5. Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
6. D.R.I. - Thrash Zone
7. ARTILLERY - By Inheritance
8. Forbidden - Twisted Into Form
9. Destruction - Release from Agony
10. Kreator - Extreme Aggression
I still have lots more, but I bet the people who are interested in us definitely know these albums!!
Official Grief of War Myspace
|
