REVIEW: DEATH SS - PANIC

 

DEATH SS - PANIC (Lucifer Rising Recs. , 2000):

Technical Data:

Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Neil Kernon for Auslander.

Recorded at Rodgers Studios, Mantova.

Cover Art Concept: Steve Sylvester. Design: Enrico Lauricella

Track List: 1-Paraphernalia, 2-Let The Sabbath Begin, 3-Hi-Tech Jesus, 4-Lady of Babylon, 5-The Equinox of The Gods, 6-Ishtar, 7-The Cannibal Queen, 8-Rabies is A Killer, 9-Tallow Doll, 10-Hermaphrodite, 11-Panic, 12-Auto Sacramental

Strongest Death SS album up to the date, at least talking about riffs and sound !. A short intro called "Paraphernalia" with some keyboard sounds and voices in english and spanish leads us to "Let the Sabbath Begin" a song destined to be a new  Death SS classic. The hard rock/heavy metal sound of this band is more evident here and the voice of Steve Sylvester takes new and very different directions (similar to Alice Cooper/Trent Reznor/Kevin DuBrow and many more). "Hi-Tech Jesus" is still more rock and roll with interesting double bass drumming (almost mechanical). I think that what makes this band really special are the hooks that their songs have, you listen to them one time and you are singing the choruses along the record. It is interesting to see how they can mix this more rocking songs with darker ones like "Lady of Babylon" (with Francesca Cassio´s female vocals) or "The Equinox of the Gods" (lot of keyboards here). Originality is what comes to my mind here, because nowadays there are only a few bands trying to do this style of music and trying to experiment with the songs at the same time. Favorite tracks: "The Equinox of the Gods", "Ishtar" and "Tallow Doll". Contact: www.deathss.com