Whip
Digitus Impudicus

Well well, what have we here? An album by a band called Whip, an album with a bony cover possibly depicting the trio that makes this band. It is the first album by a band that has been around since 1998, that isn’t exactly a productive indication, is it? Then again, they do have two EPs to boost about and a few demos as well. It is a Norwegian band releasing their album on a label that is a sort of collaboration between bands or something, that sounds like they are doing something interesting on that front and such things you always want to succeed. Then again, a label that selects bands of their liking is more of a buffer against the worst stuff. Although another then again can be said about that, not many labels do that anymore as they release albums already produced by bands that often already have released the stuff themselves. They try to take less risks which also leads to less rewards. Anyway, that is not the point of this review, the point is to see how this album by Whip stands up to my critical ear.

Sort of a grindcore concoction called death loving black metal, that is sort of a good description. High tempo aggressive extreme metal with hoarse vocals, not growls but croaky screaming or something like that. Very aggressive most of the time, sometimes they go to far in terms of tempo and aggression leading to some parts being a mush of things not really suitable for an album. Those are few and far between amongst the thirteen tracks though, the variation is okay. The production is solid and strong for the genre, I think it is a very well balanced album on most parts, bar the ones I just pointed out. Slightly short of 40 minutes is the playing time and I think this will be 40 good minutes for the fans of this genre.

The thing is though, the ones who are more dubious towards the extreme metal will find this quite uninteresting, some will probably even say that it is appalling. I on the other hand think that it alright, a bit weak and the thing is that even though I kind of want this to be good I just can’t drive myself to think that it is as it is always a strong relief when the album ends and silence arrives. Not bad but certainly not good either is how I see it. The reviews I found on the internet seem to be overall positive but all of them are from the extreme metal kind of sites and those that are not are more neutral although most regular reviewers doesn’t even seem to bother with the album.

So in the end I think that we can all conclude that for the fans of this kind of music it is most likely good. For the rest it is most likely an album not to have. I would have like some more tempo variations and a more melodic album on my part, then again who am I to argue with the creators as it is their vision that matters and my view is only for those sharing my tastes anyway. So, should you buy the album? the answer is probably no.

HHHHHHH