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 (Razorback Records - RR16)
Release date: 2003
Review: Frightmare is a band spawned from a one-man project called Maniac Killer which was damn great. Maniac Killer was something very grindcore-based, intense and blazing fast, Frightmare, however, is something quite different, much more death metal oriented, with more elaborated songs, thrashing riffs and even a bunch of well-placed, amazing guitar soli... So, yeah I'd say Frightmare plays muscular and aggressive death metal with a neat grindcore edge as well. They've got a nice, heavy and thick sound which ressembles Lord Gore & Engorged alot, obviously, but Frightmare might be a bit more straightforward and focused... I think this album brilliantly recaptures the old school death metal feel, with tightly built songs, steadily fast, unrelenting rythms, swift thrashing riffs, and many elements straight from old thrash metal and grindcore genres on top of everything. Vocals oscillate between growls and higher pitched shrieks, plus alot of variations between the two, all sorts of gurgles and splattery guttural sounds, all delivered with great conviction... Alot of the growls in particular reminded me of Glen Benton's vocals (Deicide). More musical influences... I thought there was a lot of Repulsion to it, a pinch of Impetigo, Macabre and maybe Massacre... Songs feel consistent, really rich and varied, with great solid structures, riffs are catchy and actually diversified, drumming is tight as fuck; All in all, this is one hell of a great death metal album, alot of it is surprising and fresh, definitely apart from mediocre brutal death metal produced these days. There's also the whole slasher/giallo concept of the band which definitely strikes a nerve with me! Slasher references from "Friday the 13th" to "Black Christmas" & "New York Ripper" (Quack!) culminating with a song dedicated to "Maniac" ("Frank Zito, the Maniac", best track on this album in my opinion...) - Pure genius! Couple that with the awe inspiring cover artwork (by Jake - "Tales From Uranus"), "Midnight Murder Mania" is one of the best album in a while. Can't wait for the sequel to this bloody massacre!
Tracks: 1)Cropsy 2)Midnight Murder Mania 3)Thorn In Their Side (The Slumber Party Massacre) 4)Friday The 13th 5)Slasher Holocaust 6)The Prowler 7)Be My Bloody Valentine 8)Black Christmas 9)The Ripper 10)Frank Zito, The Maniac
Band Contact: killneilsmith@hotmail.com
Label Contact
RAZORBACK RECORDS www.razorbackrecords.com
c/o Billy Nocera
P.O. BOX 321
Farmingville, NY 11738
U.S.A.
Email: WNocera@aol.com |
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