| CD REVIEW Insane |
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Band : Insane Based in the North-Eastern French town of Thionville, Insane has benefited from the fact that they are close to both Germany, Luxembourg ànd Belgium, to make occasional excursions in those countries besides devastating the stages in their own region. Having been formed in 1997, you’d think the band would be somewhat of a household name by now…but as with so many acts, the guys took some time evolving towards their musical approach! Nevertheless, the guys have already played at the Metal Therapy festival (alongside the likes of Cannibal Corpse, Kataklysm, Loudblast, and Scarve), and have supported such acts as Exodus, Hypocrisy, Immortal, Holy Moses, Vader, Belphegor, Dew-Scented, Severe Torture, Destinity, Die Apocalyptischen Reiter, Scornage, and many more, on gigs both in their own region and outside France! Originally a quartet composed of singer David Feltin, guitarist/ backing singer Gilles Mathieu (formerly of Dark Presence), and the rhythm section of bassist Vincent Winter and drummer Stéphane Quercia (they’ve been a “pair” since ’88, playing in WitchCraft until ’89 and then playing in Crazy Edge from ’90 to ’95), the band’s musical direction was that of Power Thrash Metal, the kind which went done well with fans of the likes of Pantera and Testament. And with the 1999 issued, self-produced 7-track mini-album Hate Or Reason the band gave evidence of that! Then the quartet decides to change their musical approach with the introduction of keyboards and samples, and to create that effect enlist former Witchhunt and Esoteria’s Gilles Leclerc. As mentioned in the biography we got with our promo copy of the album, this brings an unhealthier side to Insane’s music. The guys also bring in some more variety, going to the length of writing a couple of songs which fall right out of the Power Thrash world altogether, and even adapt their vocal approach by adding more melodic parts in support of the otherwise still (quote) “…infernal rhythmic parts and devastator riffs…”! In recorded form, this “new” Insane is first introduced by a couple of 2004 compilation album participations, and eventually represented full-length by the album Mechanical Revolt of the same year. But the band isn’t done evolving yet! At the beginning of 2006 Insane enlists the services of second guitarist Kevin Koch (formerly of Infect and Proteüs), and his collaboration lifts the band to even more interesting dimensions by adding even more feel for melody, and a fair degree of technical ability! It also secured the band an endorsement from Randall amplifiers (formerly having endorsed Dimebag Darrell) and Skullstrings (a guitar sting manufacturor dedicated to Metal) that same year. In December 2007 the band enters the Soundlodge Studio in Germany to record with Jorg Uken (see also albums by Dew-Scented, Obscurity, and God Dethroned; he also mixed and mastered the album) and come out with a 9-track (almost 43-minute long) album…and in their own words, “…the production is phenominal so much it sounds professional…all the facets of Insane are this time pushed to the extreme, as much the power than the melody…”! Personally, I feel the production & mix could’ve been concentrated on the keyboardist some more! I mean, the guy is truly versatile to the max, producing sounds with at one moment emulate a piano, then a lone cello (check the passage halfway “The New Plague” or even the instrumental “In True Mental”) or complete orchestra, at another moment sounds like a normal organ, and eventually also brings in some more “electronic” noises and synth sounds as well! Occasionaly, he even mixes different modes of his instrument for even more interesting soundscapes! The trouble is, with the mixing being as it is, you have to listen réally close to get aware of all those niceties! Not that the guitarists don’t bring in enough delectable moments, you know…oh not indeed…for the guys sure bring in plenty of nice double lead passages, and then there’s some salivating solos to boot! With their short (still 2 ½ minutes long) instrumental (noticed the fun word play the guys made with the title?) the boys show a far more introverted and calmer side to themselves. Get a load of Insane music by surfing to myspace.com/insanepowerthrash and listen to two tracks off the Mechanical Revolt album and two off the new one (one of which you can also witness as a live video). Scroll down the page to “Insane – Addicted – Preview Player” for 30-second samples of àll of the new album’s tracks! If you’re one of those music fans who need to see a band in live conditions to be convinced of their worth, I’m affraid you may have to wait a while to witness ‘em play at one of our (Belgian) venues. Of course, you might always invite the band to come and play in your local club (contact ‘em at insane-band.com – link available on their MySpace page). As for my personal appreciation of the album…well, I already told you I feel the production could’ve been focused somewhat more on the keyboardist, right? Regardless of that little detail Addicted does fairly well overall…albeit not to the point of being added to my year-lists…but I díd truly enjóy giving the album the necessary spins in the cd-player! 90/100 Tony. |