band: Madder Mortem

album: All Flesh is Grass

comparisons: a young but definitely psychedelic Grace Slick somehow travels into the future/past and replaces Warrel Dane to lead Dreaming Neon Black part II into the swirling abyss that it should have gone. (I like DNB and I don’t like 2nd album).

the take:

I get a feeling of being in a twisted mind. I feel confusion. I feel an inter-mixing of many emotions. Some are primal. Others seem foreign as if voices speak overhead. All this portrayed by the deep creativity of Norwegian metal band Madder Mortem. Getting into All Flesh is Grass is like Jennifer Lopez’s brain voyage into The Cell. Delving into odd scenes, the music shifts in suit. Stressful scenes - powerful scenes - tranquil scenes - glorious and magnificent scenes - all depicted by Madder Mortern’s twistingly long songs.

The master storyteller is Agnete M. Kirkevaag who commands attention with her naturally deep voice and with a plethora of other voices that assumes many roles. Agnete could get dreamy as she delicately lulls you into a lullaby. Her voice could waver as a hazy mist then suddenly rise like an angelic choir. Or snarling, she actually seems truly angry when, as if pained by all the excitement, she breathlessly utters, “KILL, KILL, KILL!”

Many albums have their stories and talents but Madder Mortem rises above the rest. Their focus is on dynamic imagery. There are no side shows. The side effects, however, such as powerful metal music with smatterings of textures and instrumental acrobats are a welcome effect.

Q&A:

? Waddap, is this shit NU metal ? - no

? Is this the DEVIL’s music with death vox ? - just a tad

? c’mon, now is this fucking heavy metal ? - yes

? Is this prog rock like Dream Theater ? - just a little

? Is this beauty & the beast gothic exquisitely beautifully sweet chic vox with cleavage ? - no

? there any awesome keyboard soloing like Matt Guillory ? - no

? kick ass shredder Yngwie doode ? - sorry doode

? happy metal rules! this has double bass drum pedals man ? - uh, no

? she sound like Tarja/Nightwish or Anneke, I just love her voice ? - just a little like Tarja in some parts

score: 4.5/5.0

review by: Alzn