Good afternoon folks.. Hope everyone’s CHRISTMAS was kick ass!! This is the last review I will be doing for 2012 and this one is kind of… well different. Let’s get down to it shall we?
So if you have never heard of Meldrum before, don’t worry you aren’t the only one. I never had before this review either. Sent to us I was told to listen to it.. so I did… then I did the research of it.
Well lets go with the history shall we? Meldrum is a heavy metal band that was started by Michelle Meldum in 1999 in Sweeden. In 2000 they recorded their debut album “Loaded Mental Cannon” However due to trouble with the record company, it didn’t show up on the shelves until 2001. In 2005 they managed to get some great gigs with Black Label Society, and Motorhead.
In 2007 they released their second album “Blowin Up the Machine” which had Lemmy from Motorhead, Gene Hoglan and Linda McDonald (formally from Phantom Blue” guest on the album.
Seeming like they were on the break of things to come they were writing and recording their third album “Lifer” in 2008, however due to a major illness which a few days later lead to Michelle Meldrum’s death, the album and everything to do with Meldrum was to be put on hold.
Michelle was a major part of the band and in May of 2009, Meldrum and their former Vocalist Moa Holmsten, performed in a benefit concert for Michelle’s family.
On November 20th 2012, the remaining members of Meldrum went on and released the album “Lifer”, four years after it was supposed to be released, as a tribute to Michelle Meldrum.
So, as you can see here, this is going to be a little different style. I’m sorry folks but I will not be giving this album a score out of 10 for how it sounds, I will just be giving my review on the album. Out of respect for the remaining members of Meldrum, my review style is changing for this album only!
The album starts of in a shocking style! I wont tell you how… but just say… the word that they go to describe as a “Term of Endearment” IS NOT what I would have guess as it. From there the song hits hard and hits fast… it blasts out the riffs and the lyrics are very hard core. It sets the tone for the album and it doesn’t let down! The vocals are
growly and you are able to actually hear the lyrics properly!
From start to finish this album is really good! Not perfect, but really good. The chemistry of the band mates works really well. Guitar work is really well done, some solos com in a bit short, and the drums, may not be perfect all the time do get the beat going and keep the rhythm flowing. Bass you don’t hear much of it but when you do, it is there in a crunch that compliments the guitar work. Honestly I’m glad they put out this album.
Coming in at 10 songs for about 50 mins of solid music you hear songs from giving someone a hard time because they “think” they are that great in the music industry, to “Money Shots” they have quite the range of things to sing about for sure! Meldrum is hard core to the max!
If there was any complaints I’d say… vocals aren’t always perfect, but there are spots where it really makes up for the ones that don’t quite make the song! There are spots that catch you off guard and sound out of tune, but actually mix with the song really well.
There will be no best and worst on this album. Would I recommend the album, if it was to support Michelle’s family, then yes, if you like the gruff female lyrics with a hard guitar crunch behind it, to give it a fully metal feel, then I say YES!
Folks I have listened to this album for the past few weeks and it has been pretty sweet to listen to it while riding on the train it hasn’t wanted me to smash my head into the window wishing I wasn’t listening to it, and each time I listen to it, it seems I hear something else new that I didn’t notice before.
For a tribute album, I have to say they did remembering Michelle Meldrum justice and more! Thank you Meldrum for brining this out for the metal heads out there to remember her by!
R.I.P. Michelle Meldrum (1968-2008)
If you want this album you can find it here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lifer/id579206627
For now this is PK saying ROCK ON! Happy New year to all you metal heads, and we will see you on the next show!
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