The Sky Is Dying over Gothenburg Habitations
Getting any tapes from Till You Fukkin Bleed label is
like a time machine teleporting me to the first half of the nineties, still
with glow on my cheeks, trembling hands and shuffling legs, nothing has been
changed through all these years. All right, let’s see at the item shown to the
world few months ago: modestly and neatly released with printed lyrics and
band’s photography. What do I need more? Of course, the only thing that counts
is music, doesn’t it? Right, and I tell you that my first meeting with this
Swedish trio is a really good sonic journey. Yes, their location is Gothenburg,
but do not be misled, as „Human Macabre Icon” is another… instrument that turns
time successfully back, though it is definitely more precise taking me to the
1993 year when a certain band called Entombed released its third album called
„Wolverine Blues”. And this last (so far) stuff of Let Them Hang I would place
somewhere in time when the final seconds of „Out of Hand” reverberate.
This Swedish characteristic sound which comes out of
the tape is like an air to breathe: I need to it to live. Yep, I got addicted
maaaany years ago and there’s no matter if the underground / mainstream is
overcrowded by such bands. There’s no matter as long as I’m able to discover
another killing bands like Let Them Hang. Comparing to the sound realization of
„Wolverine Blues”, the band didn’t decide to turn up the bass lines so much. Anyway,
the persons of Isak Edh and Anders Lagerfors did a good job providing
absolutely macabre sound, especially when played at maximum volume. The rest? I
cannot be wrong. Three tracks, ten minutes, Swedish death included. For sure
the band doesn’t expose melodic parts like in „Hollowman”, „Heavens Die” or
mentioned „Out of Hand”. No, they put special emphasis on general direct moving
rhythms and grooving intensity. And it’s hard to choose the best one as they
stick to mind at once, but maybe the final song with two kind of vocals? Just
take a listen on slowdown appearing at 2:00. Yep, I can feel like crawling in
entrails, guys. Add not so fast neck-breaking pace, catchy portions of riffs
and recipe for a gig firecracker is ready. It’s not possible to stay fixedly.
If the second song in the family is the fastest yet
with some doomy parts, „Network in Blood” has really strange (but I’m not
saying it sucks) slowing down, influenced by any doomy / sludge crew I guess. And
summing it, those tracks mean they do not want to invent anything as everything
has been invented in this kind of music. But! If the band doesn’t want to be
forgotten, the essence is to find own place in the nowadays infinite similarity
flood and the trio definitely did their duty. Band’s bandcamp declaration predicates
that the music should be fun, loud, intense and made by and for fans. Believe
me, all is correct for these mad Swedes and I buy it in such a form: simple,
hard-hitting and bloodboiling. So guys, it’s a good time for a full-length,
especially when „Human Macabre Icon” saw the rotten light of day in August,
2015. I only do hope they will try to keep it as it has been sereved here, not
trying to jump into „To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth” ooze. It
wouldn’t be nice.
75/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written in October, 2017)