Album review: GRAIN: Flame mini-cd
I didn't really have great expectations for this record. As my opinion of preceding G//Z/R -album was
it being one dimensional and only having few good moments. And my expectitions didn't at least
grow bigger when I read quite negative review of SOUNDI -magazine. On that ground one might believe that this record is only depending on Clark Brown's
vocals. That criticism would have suited a whole lot better for "Plastic Planet" -album which was
indeed saved from catastrophe by Burton C. Bell, who sung for the band that time. Anyhow Pedro
Howse has bettered his playing considerably since the first record. Although some part of the
development may go to the credit of better production. Band has developed their brand of attitude
Metal towards industrial but thankfully not too much. I give a title of "ace" -song on this album for
"Mysterons" which I nominate as the best song of GEEZER's solo-career so far. GEEZER is also
heading for new territories in "Unspeakable Elvis". The man has played his whole career serious
Heavy Metal and for that I find surprising the tongue-in-check attitude of lyrics in that song. I guess
I'll have to dig up also something to criticize so I just say that those hip-hop-or-whatever rhythms in
"Northern Wisdom" doesn't cheer at all puritan Heavy Metal man like me.
I was very glad when I heard that one of my favourite nineties bands has released again new
material. Many bands would have lost their motivation when they had dropped from major-label but
not GALACTIC COWBOYS. They have come now to their second full-length for Metal Blade.
Harmony-vocals and Metal are combination which lot of people can't bear but at least this band
can't be blamed for lack of originality. In "Tomorrow" GALACTIC COWBOYS are in fact taunting
bands who surf on latest trends. Style of this new record has returned to the direction of two first albums. Last year's "Machine Fish" emphasized on band's harder
side but now there's more melodic stuff included again. My fave -songs are album starter "Tilt-a-
Whirl", before mentioned "Tomorrow" and slow-tempo "Ribbon" which have nice chorus. Right away
in the morning to the record-store!