Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 188
Location: Omaha, Nebraska
Posted:
Thu Apr 01, 2004 12:04 am
How convenient is it that Grip Inc. returns after a five-year hiatus when thrash is en vogue. Yet, how disappointing is it knowing that Lombardo and pals squandered a huge opportunity by producing an obtuse, left field, and unmemorable album that barely hints at what this band is truly capable of. Incorporated is the result of three men-vocalist Gus Chambers, guitarist/producer Waldemar Sorychta, and drummer Dave Lombardo trying to be 'too cute' with industrial sounds, basically squashing any hopes of a killer thrash album.
The most glaring weakness of Incorporated is the incorporation (no pun intended) of third grade kiddie riffs, with a totally unnecassary infusion of industrial elements. Combine these two together, and what you have is album full of 'what could have beens' and songs that succeed in annoying, but fail at impressing. A vast portion of the songs on Incorporated utilize some variety of industrial sounds, whether it be drum samples, keyboard noises, or sounds that Trent Reznor would laugh at. This is a crying shame, for we all know the immense of talent of Lombardo, and Gus Chambers possess a sleek, yet edgy thrash voice that is always easy on the ears. If Chambers were given more room to explore melodic avenues instead of screaming over rehashed riffs and annoying industrial sounds, Incorporated would certainly be a better listen.
Incorporated treats us to only a handful of thrash stormers, ‘Curse (Of The Cloth)’, ‘Endowment Of Apathy’, and ‘Skin Trade’, all which are solid thrash songs that thrust Lombardo's killer chops to the forefront. After all of these years, few can hang with Lombardo's blistering double-bass kicks, and bombastic tom work. Whereas Lombardo plays second fiddle to King/Hanneman in Slayer, Grip Inc. is an obvious platform to showcase the man who is responsible for many of the extreme drumming techniques found in metal. The appearance of Lombardo alone is enough to warrant a passing listen to Incorporated.
Grip Inc. is a band that is almost too perfect for thrash metal. Whenever you have thrash's premier drummer and an outstanding vocalist in Gus Chambers, making a bad album is hard to do. Well, Grip Inc. did just that. Incorporated does little to satisfy the thirst for thrash, instead dancing around the sound that made them, sounding as if they were trying almost too hard to do something 'out-there.' We all know Slayer won't have an album out by the end of the year, so let's hope the return of Dolving to The Haunted will quench our thirst.
GRIP INC. - new album "Incorporated" released on march, 15th!
