ALCHEMIST
Organasm (Relapse)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

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Traces of a forgotten, ancient Ennio Morricone score with Manco squinting at his donkey in a dusty oasis are the opening sounds on Organasm, an album that occasionally calls to mind 80's rock (ala Dire Straits) more so than it does any of this Australian band's label-mates.

The vocalist, Adam Agius, sounds dehydrated and thirsty, but at least he isn't putting on that cheesy Exorcist voice and attempting to seem sinister or dark.

Wow! Five minutes into the first track somebody (I think it was Agius) let loose with a shriek that was randomly placed, and cathartic, and nearly made me want to look out the window.

I'd have to recommend this simply on the grounds of its unpredictability. Especially in the quote-unquote "extreme metal" world of today, where everyone else seems securely fastened to the nipples of anyone in Morbid Angel, Deicide or Carcass. Put your pentagrams away.

Grade: B.

© 2002 - Jason Thornberry