What we got here is Czech grindcore/death/thrash hybrid, and a fresh one at that. Not that Stolen Lives are a new band, no. They've released their debut demo already in 2005, and have one album on their roster, too ('Budoucnost sviní' from 2015). They just happen to sound characteristic, at least to me.

The Czech Republic is known for vivacious grindcore scene and Obscene Extreme festival, where Stolen Lives also have played at. This, the sophomore album 'Luciferův efekt' was released in co-operation by Maximed Records and Defense Records. And comparing this one to the first album, I think the band got more unique, and even though their punky logo stays, they also got a tad more metal.

Theme of the album is the fight between good and evil in a person. We see which one is winning, so how about the music? Guitars are about sharp thrashy riffing, heavier palm-muted ones and punkier chainsaw grinding. There is definitely some nasty ones in, as well as some outright weird and maybe even corny; Macabre style juvenile warpedness. Double kick drumming, blast beats, D-beats and such mayhem is presented on the drums. The sturdy bass follows drumming closely.

The songs can be rather straight (Impaled Nazarene-ish 'Nevyhnutelně', for example), or then it can be about constant part changes ('V zapomnení'), fluctuating between thrash and grindcore, but 'Prozium' is basically a death metal song. And 'Nevíme nic' has parts of technical death metal in it. The instrumental outro contains catchiest lead guitar work on the whole album... Anyway, the variety of parts is what most of the songs are made of, and it can get very jumpy at times; it definitely lacks of catchiness, generally, but it is simply so angular at times, that it trips on itself more than a few times.

I like that the lyrics are translated in the booklet. Shows the band really want to message to be spread wider. The vocalist scream with his throat ripping, and this time around it does not annoy, but is potent and convincing, although not the maddest heard. The production has live vibe to it. It is dry and sharp, but does have lower end, too.

So, Stolen Lives appear to be a crossover band. With this trait they at times win, and at other times lose. Sometimes the songwriting is too bouncy, causing "what the fuck does this part do here?" style effect. But for those who are in for a challenge, then why not...

Rating: 6- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
07/31/2019 20:08