Finns... More than well known for their melancholy, right? And loads of respected rock and metal bands coming from there, too. And quite many of them having a melancholic edge to their music...

And Grendel are doing just that; they play melancholic hard rocking metal. The songs are very catchy, so catchy you could hear them playing on a radio. Sing-along choruses are abound. The music is rather shallow, but Grendel are still quite far from the hit-shit factories such as HIM, and some of the latter songs are the proof of this, especially the closer 'In the End'. And it can be said, that Grendel aren't a Sentenced or Entwine clone either. 'Lost Beyond Retrieval' is casual yet performed with heavy hands style melancholy; it won't drive one to suicide, but probably drives to nod head to it. So, Grendel do sound Grendel, and the acknowledgement for this goes mainly for the pretty able vocalist, whose voice is powerful and deep. I'd draw a comparison to Charon's vocalist, but not a "perfect match". Lyrics are usual and not to well written stuff about broken relationships, dying, self-loathing and such well-known topics for us Finns.

Sound is very solid, as expected from Nino Laurenne at his Sonic Pump Studios. Nothing bites, but it's heavy enough and thoroughly well balanced. The album is self-released, so the guys are really going to get noticed. The album looks in its all simpleness professional.

Grendel's debut album is a goodie for all of you who hark for another slice of Finnish melancholy, but a slice that's easily digested. Best received in smaller portions.

Rating: 6+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
12/26/2006 11:50