Silencer – Death, Pierce Me

Continuing the DSBM binge started in my review of Shining’s VI Klagopsalmer I decided to hunt down another cornerstone of the genre, Silencer.

Releasing only one album, Death, Pierce Me, Silencer achieved notoriety for the fact that its vocalist was clinically insane. According to “official” sources (read: the black metal rumour mill), soon after the recording of the album, Nattramn was institutionalised for attacking two girls in a park and then attempting suicide-by-cop. Given this information and a rather disturbing picture of the vocalist/lyricist in question, I had to hear this band!

The first thing that sets Silencer apart from most black metal is the vocals. Compared to everything from a dying cat to Yoda, Nattramn howls and squawks rather than the typical black metal rasps and screaming. It puts many people off the album, which, aside from the vocals is traditional, yet proficient black metal. Personally, I find the vocals help with the depressing, suicidal atmosphere of the music. Nattramn not only is insane, but he sounds it and you, as the listener, are forced to feel it. The desperate sounds are barely human, which gives a very eerie atmosphere to the proceedings.

Even though I can’t even type the name with a straight face, Sterile Nails and Thunderbowels is definitely the standout track on this 6 part opus. Mixing fast-paced black metal passages over ambient interludes punctuated by Nattramn’s croaking sobs, the lyrics are definitely the ramblings of a madman at the end of his tether.

Every track on this album creates the atmosphere that DSBM requires, drawing you into Nattramn’s consciousness and looming over the frightened figure shrieking in the corner. While I would say it lacks the melancholic atmosphere of Forgotten Tomb, Death, Pierce Me manages to creep you out in all the right places, and if you can get over the unorthodox vocal style, Silencer is a truly incredible band.

Dismember – Death Metal

As one of the bands that originated the Melodic Death Metal genre, I was interested in hearing some Dismember even though my love for the genre has waned somewhat over the years.

Death Metal certainly doesn’t pull any punches, it contains exactly what’s on the box. Rapid fire riffs, growled vocals (well, closer to thrashy, shouted) and a very good display of musicianship and adherence to the genre.
Highlights include the very triumphant opening track, the born-and-bred-in-Gothenburg Misanthropic and the decidedly down-tempo Stillborn Ways which has a very Hypocrisy feel to it. Each track is solid and well structured; there is groove aplenty and die-hard fans of melodic death will not go away unpleased.

The low production quality on the album is very noticeable. Everything sounds quite fuzzy, and compared to the albums that similar bands were putting out at roughly the same time (i.e. In Flames’ Whoracle) it is frankly quite shoddy. For a genre that breeds tonechasers like no other, it is quite frustrating to be faced with such poor recording quality. The other major issue I have with the album is that it is nothing new. By the release of this album, Dismember was on their fourth release, and it does not feel like it takes the genre any further. I do not have enough knowledge of their previous albums to determine whether it was a progression for the band, but it is frustrating when everyone is producing exactly the same music.

Ultimately Death Metal, despite delivering exactly what it says on the cover did not impress me much. But that is most probably because I have become distanced from the melodic death metal genre; if you’re a die-hard fan, pick this one up!