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EVIL
Shoot The Messenger

Mighty Music (2015)
Rating: 6/10

Now here’s a band that may bring back a few memories to some of you metal oldies. Danish metallers Evil (who have probably one of the best band names in the history of metal!) formed back in 1982 and achieved cult status when they issued a fantastic debut mini-LP called Evil’s Message in 1984. The release showcased Pearl Angel’s excellent vocals and Freddie Wolf’s sonic bass drum, and it hinted at great things to come. However, after releasing a live video the following year Evil completely vanished.

But now, as the opening album intro title states, ‘It’s Here’, and 33 years after their formation Evil release their debut full-length record!

This time around the band is bereft of Pearl Angel’s vocal rasp and musically they adopt a more potent, cutting edge style of power metal, with Wolf playing all instruments and writing every lyric. The vocal duties are handled by ex-Artillery frontman Søren Nico Adamsen who lives up to his name putting on a masculine performance which is supplemented by the sizzling guitar work.

It’s only natural the band is going to sound different to its original incarnation, but I never expected such a fiery comeback. The opening song is ‘Darker Side Of Mother Nature’ which is a full on molten metal disturbance that has no time for nostalgia, but instead exists as a weighty juggernaut that reveals itself with a driving opening chug and marching bass. If anything, Evil has cast off any lingering cobwebs from the past in one mighty swoop of its metallic fist, and with a stunning melodic chorus it feels as if the band wants to take this opportunity by the scruff of the neck.

With an almost thrashing style, ‘Darker Side Of Mother Nature’ is instantly memorable and leads us into the equally satisfying rattle of the title track, which is a full-on speed metal romp featuring hasty drum gallops. Adamsen ups the ante here; his rappy chops suggest that he has no time for breath as he rattles out the lyrics with thrashing humour. Again, it’s another unexpected foray into the weightier side of metal and it’s a change which may upset a few die-hard fans. Freddie Wolf clearly doesn’t care about that though, as ‘I Could Be Your Hero’ comes slamming into the fray and boasting a groove-metal strut.

‘Big Show’ continues the tongue-in-cheek lyrical stance and of all the tracks, it’s the only one which starts to make me question the band’s direction. There’s an almost playful jaunt about the rhythm, and while there are some nice vocal effects and frisky leads I,’m not all too convinced. Nevertheless, all is forgiven – sort of – when the trudging semi-ballad ‘Keep It True’ comes traipsing in. Lyrically, it’s relatively poor and yet musically extremely catchy in that it’s dressed up like some mid-to-late 80s obscure, sickly sweet glam ballad with a biting vocal sneer. ‘Move’ and ‘World War 666’ follow suit; the former is another massive, punching stomper boasting snarling whispers vocally, while the latter is another steady thrasher.

For me, in spite of some cracking tunes there’s just too much, inconsistency with this album. Maybe it’s because it’s taken so long to write but at times the direction of the band has to be questioned, as do some of the playful chunks. While remaining youthful in its stance, I’d expect this sort of racket from a bunch of teenagers just discovering thrash, such is the naivety exhibited. I don’t necessarily agree with the press release that this is “classic heavy metal in the vein of Accept and Judas Priest”, and it is certainly a world away from the Evil of the mid-80s, so my advice would be to tread with caution on this one.

Neil Arnold

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