format: LP
year: 1988
country: Germany
label: No Remorse Records
#: [tba]
info: insert with lyrics CD version is extremely rare!
style: Speed Metal
Tracks
1) Obsession
2) Dawn For The Living
3) Sinners Exile
4) Magician
1) Frenzied Hatred
2) Dying Flesh
3) Delirium
4) Traitor
5) F.O.A.D.
Die aus Frankfurt am Main stammende Speed/Thrash Formation GRINDER kam zwar seinerzeit kaum über den nationalen Undergroundstatus hinaus, dennoch ist diese Debutscheibe ein jederzeit willkommener Drehtellergast. Vergleichbare Bands aufzulisten bereitet leichte Kopfschmerzen, für den groben Umriss sollten die frühen FLOTSAM AND JETSAM und VENDETTA genannt werden. Markenzeichen sind in erster Linie durchwegs schnelle Songs, welche mit treffsicheren Hooklines und feinen Harmonien vital angereichert wurden. Ebenso Adrian`s angeraut-melodische Stimme und die pflichtbewusst eingebauten Hobelriffs müssen vor Ort honoriert werden. Kalle Trapp konnte dem Quartett einen akzeptablen, zeitgemäßen Sound verpassen, der aber heutzutage wiederum seine Reize besitzt. Der pfeilschnelle Opener Obsession macht nach kurz angetragenem Intro unmißverständlich klar, was den Hörer die nächsten 40 Minuten erwartet. Einen mehr als soliden Abgang auf der ersten Seite bereitet Magician, hier erzielten die Hessen eine wahrlich gelungene Zauberformel, die dem normgerechten Metalfreak problemlos angenehme Gänsehaut darreicht. Dying Flesh warnt nicht nur vor gesundheitlichen Schäden innerhalb diverser Fremdenlegionen, sondern beehrt uns überdies mit einem verdammt orientalischen Charme. Als absolutes Husarenstück muß Traitor erhoben werden - die eingangs traumhaften Leads, das herrlich voran peitschende Tempo und der schnörkellose Chorus leiten den vielerorts beliebten Endorphin-Verschub ein. Der Abschlußtrack schimpft sich Fuck off and die, ein flinker Rausschmeisser, textlich, wie könnte es auch anders sein, werden Snobs und ähnliche Problemstoffe unsanft entsorgt. Tatsache ist inzwischen auch, daß die CD dieses Albums aufgrund der weitaus geringeren Auflage höheren Sammlerwert als die Vinyl`sche Version besitzt.
GRINDER is one of the best german Speed Metal bands of all time! Hard, powerful, fast but always with great melodies this one is highly recommend for fans of PYRACANDA (first) and old BLIND GUARDIAN (first two).
"Dawn for the Living" has a furious begin with the mercyless Speed metal crusher >Obsession<, the following title-track also leaves you no time to rest. The next track is the first unbelievable highlight on this LP, >Sinners Exile<:
"Holy father what will you say? Who decides about life and fate? No! Not you - you are just like me. A bit more violent a bit more mean...". The following chorus is hypnotising and a must to hear for all you Power Metal fans out there! Great guitars that leave you standing with open mouth! And right when you think: "That's it, it can not be better" comes >The Magician<: A more midtempo based Power Metal Kut with guitars like chainsaws that'll make you jump outta your window in extasy (so better only listen to this record if your room is on the ground-floor, he he). All other tracks are also terrific, not as outstanding as >Magician< and >Sinners Exile< but still better than 90% of all speed-metal records from around this time, including US Bands! This is true heavy Speed Metal in perfection - why does nearly nobody care for GRINDER? This will always remain a secret to me...
One reason may be that "Dawn for the Living" was released by the fantastic but sadly small independent Label "No Remorse Records". This Label had really great bands (BLIND GUARDIAN, WARDANCE, HEAVENS GATE, PYRACANDA) but did break up in the early 90ies, what a loss! It was by far my favorite german label - well, when I think about it, it STILL is my favorite german label.
The extinction of "No Remorse" is responsible for the very high price of the CD version of GRINDERs debut. It was released in a small quantity and is completely sold out since more a decade now, almost impossible to find even in germany. The CD features as bonus-track a life-version of >Traitor<, not really important. The LP is still easy to find today, so try to get this by all means!
GRINDERs second LP "Dead End" is also an absolute classic piece of metal, bit more melodic and all in all a bit slower but with even better songmaterial so if you do not own this - catch it if you can! Also hard to find, CD again with bonustrack (>The Morgue<, unreleased and good!) and also a must to have if you are not a poser!!!
GRINDERs remaining releases ("The first EP" and "Nothing is Sacred") are a lot weaker, only recommend if you see them for a cheap price anywhere...
After "Nothing is Sacred" GRINDER did split up. Adrian started a new band called CAPRICORN in the same musical style, but never again reached the quality of his earlier works...
(Roman Greindl)