Worldwide Hypnotize
Re-Armed
Thrashing and a massive full spread assault with deathly tones and an infesting grinding have been the soul food of the decade lasting Death Metal band of RE-ARMED from the cold lands of Finland. The shifts between extremities in Metal music helped them develop their high musicianship skills and in a way affirmed them as a true promise and a force to be reckoned with in technical Death Metal. Near the end of last year, RE-ARMED were officially inserted to the vast bank of bands of their new German label of Massacre Records. "Worldwide Hypnotize", their debut album, was released right afterwards. When I checked out the news, something in me told me that it might be worth checking it out and here I am now writing about it. With all my admiration for old Swedish melodic Death Metal, I think that RE-ARMED aren't close to that category even with several melodic hints throughout the release. Nonetheless, it didn't that matter as I commented earlier in the paragraph, the members of RE-ARMED showcased their true worth as musicians and no one will take that away from them.
Unfortunately, "Worldwide Hypnotize" for me is just another type of mixed technical Death Metal album sharing its diverse elements along with some melodies and a few lead guitar outputs but not as hefty as the IRON MAIDEN influenced Swedish Death Metal of the early 90s. To their favor, RE-ARMED were better produced than some of the older Swedish stuff, yet there is no production that seals the deal on its own. Right from the beginning I could feel the strong energies the music has and how another talented group of musicians gets to perform in such a high quality. However, I will put their skills on their instruments aside for now, because what troubled me about the release was the material they presented.
As always I like a good solid aggression, especially when a band like RE-ARMED penetrates my brain hard, or breaks my neck, with an army of intelligent riffing and rhythms commanded by brutish vocals. On the other hand, when the most excellent bits and pieces that I could come up with that really touched my soul like "Deathtrap", "Feardrops" and the massive opening battle of "Natural Backlash", I have to say that I was disappointed in a way and therefore prove that individual musicianship isn't everything. Most of the high charged rhythms were pretty much coming and going while not showing anything that mind blowing even with the wild energy those display. In my opinion, the creators' hearts should have been channeled through the music and sorrowfully it didn't happen here on this album.
6 / 10
Had Potential
"Worldwide Hypnotize" Track-listing:
1. Natural Backlash
2. Save Yourself
3. Feardrops
4. Hoax
5. Worldwide Hypnotize
6. Deathtrap
7. The Bridge That Leads Nowhere
8. King Authority (Honor to Serve)
9. Trance
Re-Armed Lineup:
Tommi Helkalahti - Guitars
Mart Mardisalu- Drums
Kärtsy Hatakka- Bass
Jouni Matilainen- Vocals
EP Mäkinen- Guitars
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