Despite my relative familiarity with old school Swedish metal, old and new, as well as most of Rogga Johanssen’s many current and former Stockholm-styled projects (Paganizer, Ribspreader, Bone Gnawer, etc.) I actually had never heard of Revolting. It’s even more surprising that their newest effort was released on FDA Rekotz, the label responsible for my 2010 album of the year, Entrails‘ Tales From the Morgue.
Well, now that I’ve caught up on the band’s newest album and their previous two Razorback Releases (2009’s Dreadful Pleasures and 2010’s The Terror Threshold), I’m glad I did. Revolting offers the simple pleasures of “mind blowing, old school Swedish death metal’ (their words not mine) and arguably the best of Rogga’s offerings in this particular vein.
Yup, that’s right! As much as I enjoy his Ribspreader and Bone Gnawer albums, it’s Revolting where Johanssen, to me, has found his true old school groove with a more honest, natural and truly nostalgic sound that isn’t forced or, well…boring. The songs perfectly capture the balance of groove, d-beat and death metal, all rendered with that Swedish tone that we all know and love.
What’s surprising is the amount of melody contained on these nine tracks. Despite the, somewhat, grisly themes (the album relies heavily on the likes of Fulci and Bava for inspiration), there’s an almost sense of playful melody buried under the mid-range rumble and groove. The solos and layers that surface in the likes of ‘The Plague of Matul”, “Human Exterminator”, “Dr Freudstein” and groovy ‘The Devil Witch” are almost fun. Don’t get me wrong, though, as there’s plenty of traditional Swedish canters, menacing chugs and trots like “Died of Fright”, “Sucked into the Sand” and “Beyond (The Book of Eibon)” that will make fans of the genre grin — and its never too tongue in cheek. That being said, there’s nothing on In Grisly Rapture that’s really mind blowing, as it tends to repeat itself here and there.
In Grisly Rapture isn’t quite up there with this years Demoniacal offering or lasts year’s Entrails-album, but its right there with recent releases by the likes of Morbider, Brutally Deceased and Zombiefication as far as damn fine, no frills, old school Swedish death metal goes.
That’s some great cover art too.
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This album is like a horror-themed version of early Edge of Sanity. I love it!
on Jun 20th, 2011 at 10:56im with ya gordeth.. Been listening to these guys all day now.. I didnt even know they existed till this review for some odd reason.. I love all Rogga’s projects but this one is outstanding!
on Jun 20th, 2011 at 12:57nice been waiting for some new revolting, havent heard ribspreader, gonna check that out too
on Jun 20th, 2011 at 20:42Crunchyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!! Love Rogga Johansson’s take on death metal. Guess the time he spent on Edge Of Sanity paid off rather well. :D
on Jun 28th, 2011 at 15:04