Monday, April 25 2005
The Lilith Complex @ Pyro MusicRating: 7.5 of 10These guys give me a headache! Germany is known for a lot of things, but as far as heavy music is concerned, boy do they know how to do Metalcore. We’re talking seriously vicious, brutalizing European Metalcore devoid of all sensitivity and superfluous Scandinavian melody. Let me introduce BA'AL. After making a big noise in their home country on the back of 2003’s EP ‘The Babel Concept’, they signed with Circulation Records and released ‘The Lilith Complex’ in June 2004. The fact that I’ve only just acquired this disc (thru Lifeforce’s promotion management in Australia – Thanks Anton!) should make little difference – some 10 months on ‘The Lilith Complex’ still rages like it did the day it was released. Considering the current climate, BA'AL is very much a relevant entity.
‘The Lilith Complex’ is one of the heaviest Metalcore albums I have heard in quite some time. Enlisting the magic ear of Patrick W.Engel (Heaven Shall Burn) and Ralf Mueller to perform the crucial production/mixing duties, everything on this disc is sonically brutal. I’m not suggesting it’s the most outstanding mix I’ve ever heard (I have some problems with a few volume drop-out sections), it’s just that its TONE is so abrasive. The riffs of Steffan Eckardt and Christian Fisher have this real harsh, jagged, nails-down-the-chalk-board type effect – almost to the point of grating in some instances when the duo apply a distinctive ‘squelch’ on the end of their riffs. And then there is vocalist Stephan Henkel. I haven’t heard a hardcore/Metalcore vocalist sound this sickening since the day I heard Karl Buechner’s performance on Earth Crisis’ ‘Gommorah’s Season End’. Henkel’s blend of the Buechner style with a touch of Andy Dorner (Caliban) whilst adding his own firebrand phrasing results in one truly gut- wrenching vocal performance.
BA'AL has made some sort of attempt to distance themselves from the ‘typical’ Metalcore description by proclaiming themselves as ‘Ass Kick Core’. If they mean that ‘TLC’ will kick your ass, then yeah, they’ve achieved that. However, when all is said and done these guys are a Metalcore act - albeit with their own individual style. Certainly BA'AL doesn’t play the standard clichéd line expected of this style. BA'AL’s music is rooted in the more ferocious aspects of Hardcore (think All Out War) and a 90’s style metallic groove (Pantera meets early Meshuggah). The breakdowns are there, but never overstated and as for melody, well that’s even more subtle in its presence. Expecting any sort of duelling harmonies and At the Gates melodic death/thrash is just not on here. Nor is any resemblance of ‘clean vocal’ choruses. Considering the amount of this shit I’ve heard lately, BA'AL’s take on the style is almost refreshing.
If there is anything to complain about with ‘TLC’ is that, like most middle tier Metalcore acts, the song writing ideas are just not strong enough nor diverse enough to keep your attention over 50 minutes. Aside from jagged riffage of ‘Intimacy’ (which also features a backing vocal verse that strangely recalled Chris Goss’ Masters of Reality) and the steamrolling opener of ‘Surveillance Camera Players’, nothing much else grabs hold. It’s all a massive wall of riffs and wailing vocals, thoroughly intense and pure to the nth degree, but ultimately a little wearing by albums end.
The best aspect about BA'AL is that they’re not a straight up clone of the current style. They are incredibly heavy – Patrick W.Engel has made certain of that – and vocally they have one seriously demented frontman bringing their colossal sound to a head. Like I said, they give me a headache! They’re nowhere near groundbreaking, but if the Scandinavian element has got you whipped over the past few months, BA'AL might be the change you’re looking for with the style.
Hey Krozza, we're sending you a tank of love to downunder!
