Band: Freund Hein
Title: Bourbon Triggered Death Machine
Label: Twilight Records
Distribution: Bertus / Twilight
Release date: September 23rd 2011
Review: CD

Facts: from Austria, formed fifteen years ago, creators of three self-released EP’s (Craving For Valusia, 1997; Subversive Revolution, 2001; and Coincidentia Oppositorum, 2002) and one full length (Chaos Immanent, 2006), and acting under one of the sweetest monikers ever, ‘freund hein’, named after our common friend with his scythe (who needs to get out of his pathetic winter sleep soon for being much too inactive lately on global view! WAKE UP! And do something before it’s too late).
(sorry, I couldn’t control my misanthropic self…)
Another fact: Bourbon Triggered Death Machine was produced by Matt Bayles – think: Soundgarden, Mastodon, Burnt By The Sun, Isis, Steak Number Eight, Vendetta Red and many more…
And another: the first release this is, with new vocalist Dirty Harry.
Final fact before subjectively reviewing: forty five psychotic minutes of duration.

In comparison to the past, the chaotic approach seems much more ‘directed’ and ‘structured’, and less the confusing which-way-will-we-go-way. Way no, no way. Yet no no no, no straight-forward conceptual boredom without visionary goals to achieve, no no no…
B.T.D.M. has several positive elements (at least for those who do agree – I will just mention some as-objective-as-possible ideas), like the very nice riffing, the carefully worked-out combination of groove and melody, and lots of rather original additions (I think about some specific hooks or breaks, eccentric yet interesting rhythms, and the use of fx, organ and piano). Besides, the band adds lots of jazzy and avant-garde elements, which does give the whole a rather progressive touch, yet the organ-sound brings one’s mind to the psychotropic sixties and earliest seventies.
Unfortunately I do miss any intensity and identity. The first has to do with the Rock’n’Roll-approach: energetic all right, yet too much alike in general. It starts getting evident, in spite of the technical performance, and therefore somewhat dull after a while. The vocals too, even though they do fit to this type of Groove / Thrash, are too superficial. The lack of identity has to do with the band’s search for the right sound. Stripped off of any the additional characteristics, the basics remain rather empty; yet again this might be the most ideal direction for joy and fun – because indeed this album is amusing; it is meant to be so, and it does succeed. So don’t take it too seriously…

70/100

Ivan Tibos.