| CD REVIEW Chine |
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Band: Chine Originally known as Chaeostribe, this South-Swedish Futuristic Thrash/ Death Metal band from the town of Helsingborg (situated at the seashore some 55 kms North from Malmö) was formed in the first days of 2006 with a devastating line-up comprising two vocalists (Adrian Boschetto and Fredrik Andersson, each with an aggressive vocal signature of his own: the one rather low and guttural, the other of a screamed nature…and the two occasionally meeting each other mid-way), two guitarists (Andreas Weis and Jens Tellman, one of whom usually plays the lower rhythms while the other lays wacky leads on top - Weis with a prior tenure with Poseidon), on top of the rhythm section (bassist Emil Sandil of Kayser and Poseidon repute has since been replaced by Tommy Erichsson, of Ragedate; drummer Jesper Sunnhagen also played with Poseidon). They immediately attracted the attention of Klas Ideberg (Darkane, Terror 2000), who entered Helsenborg’s Musikhuset Studio with them to record the band’s 3-track debut demo Promo ‘06 in February! The band followed that release up with a series of local gigs. In March of 2007 they again hooked up with Ideberg…and Peter Wildoer (Darkane, ex-Arch Enemy) to record another 3 songs for their self-titled 2nd demo. In December 2008 the quintet changed their name to the shorter Chine, and not even two months later they were able to announce that Casket Music was soon to release their debut EP…material for which was recorded at Not Quite Studios (drums, again by Ideberg & Wildoer) and Wirecell Studios (probably the band’s own home studio, where they recorded everything else, recordings done by Weis, Tellman, and Erichsson). The mini-album opens with “Scarbato” (the only re-recorded track off the two demos) wich immediately sets the mood for what the listener is to expect from the rest of the album: tight, technical, and explosive Thrash/ Death with a futuristic touch due to the lead guitar parts (occasionally you’d swear to hear additional keyboards/ synths put in on top) and interesting vocal parts thanks to the vocal duality of the singers! Check it out for yourself at myspace.com/cultofchine, where the guys posted a total of 4 samples for you to enjoy (none of which is the short instrumental “The Grace Of Deception”). With only 6 newly recorded tracks, the album would’ve lasted a mere 21 minutes, so the guys decided to add the track “Semi-Auto Sonata” (off the second demo) to their official debut! And if the sound quality of the third track on that demo was of the same quality, they might just as well have put the third track on it as an additional bonus track! Great stuff, and I can’t wait to hear what the guys might bring on their debut full-length! 90/100 Tony. |