WORLD SGAINST WORLD - Silver (Bad Afro)
I picked this one out of a recent parcel of newies as soon as I spotted the Bad Afro Records logo on the back- it’s usually a sign of quality goods. They are a great label, based in Copenhagen, with a roster that includes the Flaming Sideburns, Baby 
Woodrose and 22 Pistepirkko. “Pushing Scandinavian music to the Man!” is their motto, and for my money they are up there with Finland’s Bad Vuggum as one of the best labels in that part of the world.
But for the first 20 seconds or so I thought I’d made an awful mistake. What I heard was muted clanging and scraping, overlaid with low muttering in some weird language. Had Bad Afro somehow got into Norwegian death metal while I wasn’t watching? Thankfully, no, this was just a bit of softening up before the eruption to come.
This is a rackety punky whirlwind of an album for the most part- only the second full length effort (as far as I can tell) from a Norwegian five-piece, who look a bit gothy/emo but don’t really sound it. They’ve been around for 10 years or so, and seem to tour northern Europe pretty relentlessly.
There are a few highlights early on - “Personal Decay” (“Vomit’s pumping through my veins/and I’ve got maggots for brains”) and “Dogs & Locusts” especially are great, low life alcohol soaked lyrics and vocals over a very full sound.
They throw in some odd lines to keep the interest level up- amidst tales of drinking cheap wine and smoking cigarettes, there’s a sudden mention of reading “Crime and Punishment” for the second time. And musically they maintain the high momentum most of the way through, but unfortunately it fades a bit by the end, especially on the final (CD only bonus) track, “Hold Fast” where they get a bit sensitive and shit. But I lost my copy of this recently, and really miss it- when you miss something you’ve only heard a few times, it’s usually the sign of a good album.
- TJ Honeysuckle
WHITE
DIARY - Silver (Bad Afro)
Norway's
Silver formed in 1997 and, having released a couple of EPs and singles, have
made their first foray into long-player territory with the 10-track album
"White Diary".
Silver - Blanco (vocals), Amy Jubb and Bee Buzter (guitars), Peady Pedal (bass)
and Katz (drums) - mix hard rock, punk and glam rock in a way that recalls
KISS, AC-DC, Turbonegro, The Ramones, Motorhead, Gluecifier, The Hellacopters
and the Backyard Babies.
On a track like "'The Emptiness" you can't help but notice the KISS-meets-Turbonegro-styled
sounds here; big riffs with with the Pal Pot Pamparius-esque piano. "'Funeral
Class One" picks up the energy and shows a clever sharing of vocal duties
between Blanco and (presumably) Amy Jubb.
"Dead Articulation" has another catchy KISS-inspired riff, combined
with dashes of slide guitar and some tough punk/metal sounds. "The Dark
Side of the Night" drops the tempo back, with the band still solid as
Blanco explores the kind of lyrical territory reminiscent of The Backyard
Babies' "Painkiller".
The rhythm section keeps it solid as Amy Jubb and Bee Buzter lock tightly
on guitars when necessary and also breakout into some impressive lead guitar
work.
"Gentleman's Blues (Riot 1-2-3)" (the title track from the band's
second EP) is a real highlight. "Angel's Calling" brings down the
curtain in a seemingly down mood, but again features the sharing of
vocals between Blanco and Amy Jubb and is possibly the best thing on the album.
It has some searing guitar work and great vocals from both Blanco and Amy
Jubb.
Silver's "White Diary" is one impressive effort and will be hard
to beat when it comes to working the pick of debut albums in 2004. - Simon
Li
3/43/4