Underground Spotlight: DEUS OTIOSUS (Denmark)

Deus Otiosus - "Murderer" (Denmark)

Danish death metalers, Deus Otiosus, offer a ripping blend of old school death metal and classic thrash on their debut album, “Murderer” (released via American Line in South America and on FDA Rekotz for the rest of the world).  Everything grooves as only old school death can, and the vocals are quite intelligible, especially when you consider this particular style.   Deus Otiosus lists Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary, Possessed, Deicide, Asphyx, Pestilence, Entombed, Grave, Slayer, and Bolt Thrower among their influences.  This listener definitely gets a pungent waft of the aforementioned artists (especially vintage Morbid Angel, Death, Pestilence) from “Murderer”, but also the acidic, coppery scent of burning thrash metal, a la “Ride the Lightning”...and that’s a good thing.

Deus Otiosus is refreshing in the sense that their music retains an organic feel throughout their debut.  Instead of bland technicality (or Pro Tooling all the life out of the music), the Danish metalers primarily focus on maintaining a slamming groove, which really works in their favor.

And what is Deus Otiosus currently plotting for the future?  Guitarist, Henrik, says:

"Right now we are busy working on the songs for our second album. We already have some material written, which is being rehearsed and arranged right now. I think our second album will be a quite natural continuation from "Murderer" further emphasizing it's strengths - a strong character and recognisability in every song and a good variation in the dynamic and atmosphere in between the songs. We'll be sure to send you our next album as well.  Thanks for the support!"

Highlights include the infectious riffage of “Wall of Violence” (with a special cameo appearance from JACK himself:  “Gimme the bat, Wendy”…you’ll know what I mean) and the uber death metalish “No Life”. 

Go here to check out their music: 

www.facebook.com/deusotiosus.dk

www.myspace.com/deusotiosus

http://www.reverbnation.com/deusotiosus

Line-up:

Anders Bo Rasmussen - Vocals
Henrik Engkjær - Guitars
Peter Engkjær - Guitars
Jesper Holst - Bass
Søren Bentsen – Drums

Album Review: Trouble - "The Skull"

"Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, save perhaps two.”
- Fredric Chopin

We're very familiar with Smith and Murray, Tipton and Downing, and Gorham and Robertson (or Moore or Snowy White or Sykes).  But what about Wartell and Franklin?  It seems this guitar tandem remains in a realm more obscure.  Perhaps a lot of people would think of this duo as "B-listers".  An undeserved grade, I assure you, and disrespectful to boot.  Their riffs crept along like lumbering gods, invoking images of Lovecraftian doom and darkness.  In contrast, their dual guitar harmonies floated above the riffage, triumphant while still retaining an ominous air.  Wartell and Franklin are perhaps the band's most valuable asset, creating the peak musical moments on Trouble's solid sophomore effort, "The Skull".  

As mentioned before, "The Skull"'s highlights are mainly the guitar work (the harmonies in particular), but it would be silly to overlook the rest of this talented Chicago group.  Of exceptional note is vocalist, Eric Wagner.  He has an extremely unique and identifiable voice.  This works in the band's favor a majority of the time, but (like a good deal of vocalists and beer in general) it's not hard to see how this can be an acquired taste.  The rhythm section of drummer Jeff Olson and bassist Sean McAllister do a fine job of providing ample support for the bludgeoning doom.  They really don't take a bake seat to the rest of the music, but they are not inclined to showboat either.

Trouble is known as a great band of the "doom metal" style, a genre which is characterized by down tuned guitars, a fat, slow burning groove, the almighty RIFF, and shameless Black Sabbath aping in general.  This may be personal taste, but I feel some of  "The Skull"'s best moments happen above 90 bpm.  When they decide to take a departure from the doom and pick up the pace (e.g. the second track, "Fear No Evil"), everything just really, really clicks.  Perhaps it's personal taste, but the album would be even stronger with some more uptempo tunes.  

All in all, you can't go wrong.  Trouble is definitely a classic band and worth checking out.

< Below are two youtube video links of Trouble performing live on public television in 1982.  The two songs are off their first album, "Psalm 9" (which is also excellent).  I know this is a review of their second album, and it would make sense to include videos which feature some tracks off "The Skull", but I don't care.  These videos are just too awesome.  Also, it shows just how good these "doom" metalers can rage at a brisk tempo (Assassin). >

Trouble picking up the pace on "Assassin" 

Title track off their first album, "Psalm 9" 

"The Skull" (Metal Blade Records, 1985)
Track listing:

1. "Pray for the Dead" – 5:54
2. "Fear No Evil" – 4:12
3. "The Wish" – 11:35
4. "The Truth Is, What Is" – 4:37
5. "Wickedness of Man" – 5:46
6. "Gideon" – 5:10
7. "The Skull" – 5:50

Credits:

• Eric Wagner - vocals
• Bruce Franklin - guitars
• Rick Wartell - guitars
• Sean McAllister - bass
• Jeff Olson - drums

Highly Recommended: Dark Moor, Mercyless, and Toxik

Dark Moor - The Hall of Olden Dreams (Arise Records, 2000)
An excellent release from Spanish power metalers, Dark Moor.  The album is heavy on great songs and very light on filler.  "The Hall of Olden Dreams" features great playing all around, but the M.V.P. is easily vocalist Elisa Martin.  I'm surprised she hasn't become a bigger name in the metal world.  Like I said, the music is great, but she really takes things to a whole other level.  From what I gather, she has since left Dark Moor along with a couple other members featured on the album and has formed a new band, Dreamaker.     

Dark Moor - Somewhere in Dreams




Mercyless - Abject Offerings (Vinyl Solution, 1992)
French death metalers, Mercyless, caught be by surprise.  A friend recommended the group to me (in particular their debut album, "Abject Offerings").  When I first heard the band, I thought they were a contemporary group doing an "old school death metal" throwback type of thing.  Wrong!  "Abject Offerings" is of the old stock, released in ye olde 1992.  Killer songs and riffage, with guitarist Stephane Viard busting out some great leads in particular.  

Mercyless - Abject Offerings





Toxik - World Circus (Roadrunner Records, 1987)
Now this is some crazy stuff.  I first came across this band in the book "Mean Deviation" by John Wagner.  In a nutshell, Mr. Wagner had a little blurb in his book about Toxik, citing them as one of the tech metal bands around in the late 80's with really over the top guitar solos, courtesy of Toxik shredder Josh Christian.  It's over the top and then some.  Vocals kind of remind me of Alan Tecchio on Watchtower's "Control and Resistance".  Toxik's music, however, is a little more straight forward and slamming.  "World Circus" has been recently reissued on Metal Mind Records with some spiffy new packaging and bonus tracks.

Toxik - World Circus