It's time to explain things, and to separate man from little boys: this entire trend, this fashion of Old School Metal really stinks!

In the greater part of the cases, it's merely cloning works from bands from the 70s and 80s, nothing different from that, feeding on the idea of "I really don't want to create something new". This is the WORST mistake a band can do; the greatest sin against our forefathers, because in some interviews, all of them said the same thing: you must do things on your own; not copying what is already done. And NO, nothing will change this law. It's just the nature of the things.

But there are some ancient bands still active, still doing that same nasty and aggressive as always, as the Swedish quartet GEHENNAH, active since 1992, and still spreading the Black/Thrash Metal gospel on "Too Loud to Live, Too Drunk to Die".

In these years, nothing has changed greatly on their sound identity: they play as a Black/Thrash Metal version of MOTORHEAD, with clear influences of VENOM and BATHORY on their earlier works, where the Punk Rock/Hardcore adrenaline and essence is extremely clear. But hold your horses, dear nephews and nieces: the rule above doesn't fit on the band's case because they have identity, and are here between us years before this 80 Metal fashion came. In direct words: they are leaders, not followers. And one more interesting feature: they don't use radical rhythmic changes, so the comprehension of the songs is truly easy.

The production fused the nasty sound quality their work needs to exist with a very good level of clarity. And the things really sound raw and aggressive (due the instrumental tunes they use), but in a way we can understand what they are doing.

Their 13 songs are all fine, but I dare to point some great moments on the album: the aggressiveness of Punk dripping from "Still the Elite" (with some very good riffs and solid rhythmic session), the distorted and simple "Too Loud to Live, Too Drunk to Die" (nasty vocals and very good guitars once more. The influence from Punk Rock is extremely clear), the charming and bitter "Scumbag" (with tempos in a not so fast way, but that hook us by our ears), the fast attack of crushing riffs called "Gehennah Will Destroy Your Life", the totally slam dancing hymn "Tonight We Fight", the proto-Thrash Metal song "Low on Cash, High on Speed" (if you can't feel the MOTORHEAD feeling on the tempos and vocals, you're really deaf!), the ironic and really hooking "We Stole Your Song", and the destructive vibes from "Unholy & Unpleasant". And don't worry, because their songs barely are above 3 minutes, so it's easy to hear and understand.

And let me tell you a thing, dear nephews and nieces of mine: these guys can be all of the decadence, and none of the success, but their work needs high praises.

Forget all clones, because GEHENNAH came to reduce them to shreds!<