DISMEMBER – Listening-Session in Stockholm / Nov 5, 2005
(written by Patrik Wirén)

After 17 years of top class Death Metal Stockholm's DISMEMBER could easily make good records in their sleep. But there's a difference between good and great and these guys know it. With their seventh album they show us why they still deserve our full attention and respect.

It's a surprisingly warm November afternoon in Stockholm as a bunch of metal-heads from the European music press find their way down the stairs of Vampire Lounge, a club located in the southern parts of the city. We nod friendly at each other, grab a beer and wait for the upcoming release from DISMEMBER to blast out of the stereo. Since the last recording, "Where Ironcrosses Grow" (2003), offered a reawakening for the band if you ask me, there are some pretty high expectations to live up to.

So, did they deliver the goods? Of course they did. As the first note hits my ears it's obvious that the all-or-nothing-attitude is still intact.

What we hear is classic, primitive yet super tight Death Metal - what else did you expect? Since 1988 DISMEMBER have been more consequent than most acts that have been around this long and the latest release - so far without a title - is no exception from the rule. It starts off with the uncompromising sound of "The God That Never Was" and from there on there's no escape from this Death Metal monster. The track is like a punch in the face and you can't help yourself from asking for another one. It hurts, but in a good way.

To be honest, anything else than this energetic, full-force beast coming out of the speakers would have been a disappointment, considering the history of the band. The other songs - "Shadows Of The Mutilated", "Time Has Nothing", "Autopsy" (yes, it's a tribute to the band), "Never Forget, Never Forgive", Trail Of The Dead", "Phantoms (Of The Oath)", "Into The temple Of Humiliation", "Blood For Paradise", "Feel The Darkness" and "Where No Ghost Is Holy" shows that practice makes perfect when it comes to being brutal.
A track that stands out from the rest is the instrumental "Phantoms (Of The Oath)" - loaded with classic riffs it really shows that the members have a place in their hearts for the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.

"Musically we're trying to do better with every album", explains drummer and producer Fred Estby after the listening. "Most of us are in our 30's and we have got to prove ourselves a little bit more every time. We fought hard with this album", he says.

With age comes wisdom and the quintet - which apart from Fred consists of Matti Kärki (vocals), David Blomqvist (guitar), Martin Persson (guitar) and newcomer Tobias Christiansson on bass - is smart enough to realise that you can't live on old merits. These Swedes are not about cheap nostalgia and seem to live by the motto that no band is better than their latest album.
Lyrically the CD, which is their debut on Regain Records, is mainly about religion. The insanity of it, that is.

"Yeah, it became very hostile towards religion. I have always written lyrics like that, while Matti has been more into war and serial killers. This time we decided that we had had enough of the crap going on in the world today and decided to write about everything that pisses us off."

In a world that constantly changes DISMEMBER represent the reliable, someone you can count on when you're looking for decent death metal in a world filled with hooky choruses. They're a bit like Motörhead, but for the ones who need something more extreme. Fred agrees.

"Me and David, who have done most of the music throughout the years, are terribly conservative. We realised a long time ago what kind of riffs that will work and which ones that will have to go. No, you won't hear cheesy guitar licks on a Dismember album, but at the same time the band have to keep on moving in order to keep things interesting."

Even though the steps sometimes are rather small, there are always new goals to achieve. The secret is to never be completely satisfied.

"When people call me a good drummer I always disagree. I always want to be better than I am. It's important to remember; you can always be better."