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1. Hormones from the dead |
Label: No Escape Rec. (aus) Released: 26.10.2004 Print: 500 MCD's 300 MCD's re-press Recorded: Schweinesound Studio february 2004 Order MCD now! |
Bandpic and Line-up we used on this release:
back
Line-up from left to right:
Paun Chy (d), Barr L. (g), C. Umbrous (b),
F. Atty (g), Soli D. (v)
Reviews: back
Musketeer of death
On the "Hormones from the dead" EP the Swiss slobs
of Embalming Theatre exhilarate us with 11 short catchy gore death/grind
masterpieces. A lot of dirty melodies and filthy grooveness predominate
the sound; still it all has a very brutal effect. Most of it is played
in mid-tempo style with some faster splurges. The guitars are rich and
clean and excel in attractive straight-to-the point riffs. The rattling
drums have a snare sound that’s even worse as Metallica’s
Frantic; still they are hell for leather. The vocals are some filthy grave
death grunts. The whole splatters out you sound machine. Worth mentioning
is the hilarious clapping part in "Buried alive III" Suffocation
in the sand-box", never heard it before and in some kind of way it
really fits in between all brutality. Besides, in the CD-booklet you can
read where the inspiration of the songs come from. If you regularly follow
the news there’ll probably some fact you’ve heard of in the
past. All in all a top-notch release.
My last chapter
The Swiss gored grinders of Embalming Theatre just keeps getting better
and better. Still true to the cause - creating brutal-as-hell goregrind
with lyrics inspired by actual events. Showing that you don't have to
make up stories about brutal murders or sick events, it actually happens
for real - Stuffing babies in your cupboard (Six Little Corpses), amputating
your own penis (Hallucinating Genitals-Ejector), eating your cell mate
(Locked Up With Hungry Cannibals) etc...
The vocals are very interesting, like a mix of growling, grunting and
gurgling. Damn cool and original. Brutal and heavy string-work, mangling
into oblivion. And then we have the drumming... Embalming Theatre's drum-work's
not what we're used to.
I don't know what to say expect that this is absolutely marvellous! Original,
brutal, raging and just freakin' pulverizing grind.
Metal-observer
The two albums of MANIAC KILLER and THE DAY EVERYTHING BECAME NOTHING,
which had been published at the same time by No Escape Records, warned
me that I should expect from this label nothing but the wildest perversions
of the art of sound generally referred to as Death Metal. Actually, I
would have been very disappointed if the name EMBALMING THEATRE only stood
for a rock band. It doesn’t, of course, since EMBALMING THEATRE
go full speed ahead and present us anger-fueled, utterly merciless Death
Grind. Again I feel reminded of unforgettable cult bands such as CARCASS,
NAUSEA, SINISTER, BROKEN HOPE or TERRORIZER, but I guess nowadays it’s
an almost impossible mission to sound unique in this genre. Since that’s
the one flaw which so many of those bands have in common, it’s more
than anything else the technical skills that make a difference. No doubt
that EMBALMING THEATRE will meet your expectations there, and these Swiss
guys do know how to build up a wall of massive sound. They fire with all
they have and don’t just get to the point, but also blow you away
while doing so. For many of you this might be a bit short and not more
than an average performance of a newcomer band, but for die hard Grinders
this certainly is a band worth to check out. That’s why I consider
it as legitimate to recommend EMBALMING THEATRE to the most brutal headbangers
among you. Enjoy these 15 minutes!
(Online August 30, 2005) Alex E.
Ich war von den beiden zur gleichen Zeit veröffentlichten
Scheiben von MANIAC KILLER und THE DAY EVERYTHING BECAME NOTHING hinsichtlich
des No Escape Labels schon vorgewarnt und auf die wildesten Auswüchse
todesmetallischer Tonkunst gefasst. Genau genommen wäre ich sogar
schwerst enttäuscht gewesen, hätte sich hinter EMBALMING THEATRE
eine Rock Kapelle versteckt. Alles Hirngespinste, EMBALMING THEATRE treten
das Gaspedal ordentlich durch und präsentieren uns wutentbrannten
Death Grind der erbarmungslosesten Machart. Abermals lassen solch unvergessliche
Kult Bands wie CARCASS, NAUSEA, SINISTER, BROKEN HOPE oder auch TERRORIZER
grüßen, aber es ist wohl eine fast unlösbare Aufgabe in
Zeiten wie diesen noch absolut eigenständig zu klingen. Ist es doch
gerade dieses Manko, das so viele dieser Bands auf Schritt und Tritt verfolgt
und so zählt in erster Linie die technische Beschlagenheit. Diese
ist bei EMBALMING THEATRE ohne jeglichen Zweifel vorhanden und über
zu wenig massive Beschallung kann man bei den Schweizern nie und nimmer
klagen. Sie schießen aus allen Rohren und verstehen es in ihren
kurzen und stets auf den Punkt gespielten Songs blendend eine brachiale
Schallwand aufzubauen. Für viele unter Euch ist dies wahrscheinlich
zu knapp bemessen und eine durchschnittliche Darbietung einer Newcomer
Band, für die Die Hard Grinder aber mit Sicherheit ein absoluter
Geheimtipp. Deshalb ist es mehr als legitim, diese Band an die brutalsten
Headbanger weiter zu empfehlen und mit den etwas mehr als fünfzehn
Minuten schon jetzt viel Spaß zu wünschen. (Online 30. August
2005)
Lords of Metal
That's about time! More than ten years after Austrian outfit Pungent Stench
arrives on the scene, Embalming Theatre finally proves that Switzerland
has their bunch of dirty minded musical freaks too. After a somewhat doomy
start, the perverted death rattle that fills 'Hormones Of The Dead' kicks
in. Song titles such as 'I Want My Gay Boyfriend To Eat My Alive' of 'Hallucinating
Genitals-Ejector' will probably make the connoisseur wonder what samples
the band has collected to give the release body. The music is far from
difficult, the vocals sound sick and especially the handclaps in the last
song are sheer genius. A gore metal must have, definitely. Rating: 84/100
(Richard G.)
Supreme Brutality
I'm not familiar with any of Embalming Theatre releases prior to this
one but something tells me that I ought to because Hormones From the Dead
is a very interesting MCD. The band plays dirty but catchy deathgrind
with all that includes from bizarre samples and blastbeats to guttural
growls. As you can imagine there's nothing new under the sun, but as I
often say it doesn't really matter as long as the music is good and it
is. All the songs are relatively simple, but none the less very good and
memorable.
One song I found really amusing was "Buried Alive III: Suffocation
in the Sand-box" which features this goofy clap part that just makes
you laugh because it sounds so awkward. Hormones From the Dead may not
contribute with anything innovative but none the less it's an exceptionally
good album that can stand several listens without getting dull. As I started
out by writing I'm not familiar with any Embalming Theatre besides this
MCD, but one thing is certain the band just got them a new fan.
Teufelstomb
A single year since the release of their debut full length offering, Switzerland's
Embalming Theatre are back, yet again, with even more old school sloppy
grinding gore death. Since the release of Sweet Chainsaw Melodies, these
musical surgeons have been very busy, recording material for no less than
five split releases, so where they found time to write and record 11 new
tracks is beyond me, but they pulled it off in the form of Hormones From
The Dead. The longest track on this effort is a mere 2:27 and all of the
songs are short and to the point, the way old school grinding death metal
in the vein of Hideous Mangleus/Blood/Repulsion should be. The only major
difference between the material here and on their debut full length is
the guitar tone has changed and is much much clearer and not hidden amongst
the sloppy production of their previous release. Whether this is a positive
or a negative depends on whether you're more into sloppy gore or if you
prefer a cleaner produced sound, personally, I don't care either way,
I think they still sound great. The vocals also stick out a bit like a
sore thumb with the cleaner guitar tone, as they sound like they were
recorded off an FM radio transmission, which is great for the sloppy gore
production, but a little goofy for the cleaner sound, but oh fucking well,
Embalming Theatre is still a sonic swift kick to the nuts. The greatest
part of this release is the final track, Buried Alive III : Suffocation
In The Sandbox, which contains the most absolutely brutal innovation in
extreme metal; the introduction of clapping as an instrument. Yes, you
heard me right, clapping. Not only does it sound hilarious, it's also
infectious, now every time I hear it I can't help but clap along to the
clapping parts. Extreme music needs more clap-alongs. If you loved Sweet
Chainsaw Melodies be prepared to enter an orgasmic state, as this is basically
that release taken to the next level. As long as you can handle the slight
change in production, you should love this release. Everyone else, pick
up Sweet Chainsaw Melodies and once you're overwhelmed by the stupid fun
it induces, pick up Hormones From The Dead and clap away.
Unchain
EMBALMING THEATRE's full length release of '04, Sweet Chainsaw Melodies
(Razorback Records), didn't do the disco for me. All the elements were
there... heavy tunes, good playing, groove, deep vocals, but it was kind
of like American cheese. Disgusting and unsatisfying... a bit too "by
the numbers" and lacking the attitude that makes most Razorback releases
the barrels of monkeys that they are. I don't know what the guys in EMBALMING
THEATRE have been doing over the past year, but whatever it is, they should
teach JUDAS PRIEST how to do it because that last album is LAME. The EP
starts off with the title track which, from the first notes, is creepy
as hell. Dismal clean guitar with guttural vocals that sets a sombre mood
before launching into a quick blast that, somehow, still maintains the
same feel. The main riff of this song is just a killer. Straightforward
with a plain melody, the whole song just kills. That creepy feeling pervades
the entire release and it is what really makes Hormones From The Dead
the exceptionally good disc that it is, and one that I find myself listening
to over and over. EMBALMING THEATRE aren't going for the over-the-top
gore factor, or trying to be ultra-technical. They are writing good songs
with memorable riffs, two things that are lacking from many a gore/death
release these days, and they are at their absolute catchiest at the end
of the song "Buried Alive III: Suffocation In The Sandbox,"
which features a clap part that is so goofy and infectious that not only
will you laugh out loud when you hear it, but you'll walk around the house,
singing and clapping it to yourself over and over.
I wasn't excited when I first pulled Hormones From The Dead out of the
mailer it came in, but having listened to it over and over, I am really
looking forward to their next full length. - Al Kikuras (Rating: 9/10)
Vampire-magazine
Sick, deranged and brutal lyrics and for the mainstream repulsive covers
are some of the trademarks grindcore and deathmetal have. Most of those
trademarks are related to horror-movies and based on fiction, but Embalming
Theatre brings to surface the cruelty men are capable off for real. They’ll
make you question the true dept of sickness of our species, or perhaps
even of yourself. All tracks on “Hormones From The Dead” are
based on true stories, news-facts. What separates you from the dead?
Since they started out in 1995 Embalming Theatre has released the “Sweet
chainsaw melodies” cd (Razorback Records) and numerous splits. “Hormones
From The Dead” (No Escape Records) has already been re-released
on the “Excuisite Cadaveric Hormon Cocktails” lp (Power It
Up) which also contains songs form the split –cd they did with Tortured
Incident. Consider this review as one of the a/side of that album too.
The 11 songs on this mcd are a mixture of grindcore and deathmetal. Although
the compositions are more grind orientated, the clear production makes
it sound a bit more deathmetal like. The opening track “Hormones
From The Dead” has some real catchy tunes. Besides that, the surprising
intro with clean guitars and grunt give the extra bit a track to remember
needs. “I Want My Gay Boyfriend To Eat Me Alive” is a song
about the cannibal from Germany who got permission from one to kill and
eat him. This is one of the tracks the sublime vocals come to its right
the most.
The mid-tempo rage like Cerebral Turbulency uses a lot can be heard in
“Six Little Corpses” (about six babies found dead for months
in an apartment in Japan). Bouncing like a maniac we skip through “Failed
and Nailed”, a blaster with some melodic element to mention another
one of the highlights on this piece. In a few words you could say Embalming
Theatre has a great vocalist and plays grindcore in a diverse way. The
riffs are not too complicated, yet that element brings along some catchy
tunes that stick to your brain. The clear production could have been a
bit rougher if you’d ask me.
Embalming Theatre was already climbing up the ladder, but with this release
they’re definitely skipping a few sports in the right direction.
You’ve got to check them out!
THE BLASTBEAT
This is the 3rd cd that I received from the mighty gore grind label No
Escape Records from Australia. Though the band is Swiss, they're definitely
worthy to be on the Aussie label, as well as Razorback Records (which
No Escape has started to become a "brother" label to, but are
working on not becoming Aussie Razorback). This is probably one of the
most solid gore grind releases I've heard in a while. Not sounding like
typical gore grind that's been clone 532895327853 times this has a more
metal feel to it with catchy riffs, non gurgly vocals but more of an infected
low death growl that's dying to spew it's pus all over it's next victim.
If you're sick of other typical gore grind bands, or those bands that
seem to have nothing but a constant blastbeat at 300bpm, then I highly
suggest this.
Live 4 Metal
Everybody’s favourite Swiss morticians are back in the operating
room with another sick slab of surgical sound. They had a busy year in
2004 and put out plenty of split splatters with the likes of Birdflesh
and Kadaverfucker. Rather than unleashing a full-length follow up to Sweet
Chainsaw Melodies, this fresh release is actually an EP. However there
is no need to feel stitched up (oh sorry I couldn’t resist this)
as you get 11 tracks vomited forth in 16 minutes here and naturally, things
are all done in the worst possible taste. I’m particularly pleased
this wasn’t a cardboard promo as the liner notes give a great insight
into the themes around the songs. For instance Hallucinating Genitals
Ejector is about a German (quelle surprise) teenager who tried a drug
called Atropin, tripped out and amputated his penis and his tongue. You
certainly wouldn’t have guessed that by the song title alone. Perhaps
some are more self-explanatory though, such as I Want My Gay Boyfriend
To Eat Me Alive. Well you must have followed the news story about this
cocky deep throat dismemberment, which took place in (ahem) Germany recently.
Musically this is well-produced and thoroughly competent stuff. The title
track sweetly comes in with a guitar riff that sounds like it has escaped
from Master Of Puppets. However the vocals change the mood and sound like
James Hetfield cursing his band members after realising what a piece of
shit St Anger was. In other words it’s far from pleasant but it
grooves and grinds like a bitch on heat. The drum sound is amusing and
clatters away like a cowbell attached to a spanked bovine as it charges
across the field. Samples are on the whole ok but the one accompanying
that Gay Boyfriend song is too long for its own good. Dying Funeral Procession
has a nice one from Michelle Soavi’s Dellamorte Dellamore, a film
that goes hand in hand with the rotting tune. Tracks like They Drowned
In A Lake Of Blood and Six Little Corpses sound like Grimm nursery tales
or cautionary odes to the sickness in this world. The one question I have
about all this is, just how do you make a dead hormone?
The Metal Forge
Real life events fuel creativity
Swiss gore grind metallers Embalming Theatre return with their follow
up to 2003’s long player Sweet Chainsaw Melodies. Titled Hormones
From The Dead, this mini CD is a collection of 11 tracks clocking in at
just under 17 minutes. Fast and furious grind indeed!
Fairly simple and effective riffs become battering rams when backed with
200 mile an hour blast beats with a snare drum that sounds somewhat like
the snare drum on St. Anger at times. It’s mixed up with a few tempo
changes here and there that definitely add a new level of dynamics that
the band lacked on previous releases. The riffs are heavy and the guitar
tone sounding like something well and truly of out the book of old school
metal.
Whilst the aural assault is one aspect of gore grind, the more important
aspect is the one that puts gore grind acts into their own little pigeonhole
in grand scheme of metal - lyrical content. Some acts just regurgitate
medical text books while others take the path of writing almost horror
movie like lyrics. For this Swiss quintet, reality is the source of their
inspiration. The booklet for Hormones From The Dead not only contains
the lyrics for each of it’s tracks (should you wish the growl along
with them), it also contains a brief description of the events in recent
history (dating back to April 2002) which have been the source of creativity
for the band’s lyrics. Song titles such as I Want My Gay Boyfriend
To Eat Me Alive, Cadaveric Sandcastle and Hallucinating Genitals-Ejector
really do give an insight as to just how fucked up people can be. In fact,
it’s interesting to read just what events have sparked such song
titles. The descriptions aren’t too graphic, but it does make you
wonder about humanity sometimes.
This mini CD is definitely a step forward for Embalming Theatre. The gore
remains true to form but the production quality has been lifted and there’s
no doubt that the tempo changes make the world of difference. It’s
short and sweet!
Braindead
Here's what's probably the best swiss band since Exucleration... The band
delivers a very particular blend of grind and death metal, really basic
but effective, with a rotten, heavy old school sound, chain saw-like guitar
riffs, pounding drums, low growling but articulate vocals and a great
deal of humor too (especially in their selection of movie samples)...
As I already said about this band before, they pretty much remind me of
Blood, something heavy, roaring, direct and well, brutal but kinda fun
at the same time. I really like what they do with the lyrics too, just
short, darkly humorous tales inspired by everyday news and real-life horrors...
This time, packaging layout and art are also really beautiful, I didn't
overly like the art of their first cd on Razorback Records, but this time
I think it looks great! This is solid work... definitely worth getting
excited about...
Warprayer #161
* EMBALMING THEATRE – “Hormones from the dead” CD: Whoa,
the Swiss grindcore institution of EMBALMING THEATRE –
http://www.embalmingtheatre.ch – just published 2 new releases,
but please allow me to start from the beginning. A while ago, I didn’t
enjoy them that much, but since their recent outputs (split 7”es
w/ UNHOLY GRAVE [’02], TERRORISM [’03], SEWN SHUT [’03],
BIRDFLESH [’04], “Sweet chainsaw melodies“ LP [‘03])
blew me out of my concrete sox, I’m absolutely looking forward for
new EMBALMING THEATRE material – it’s as easy as it can get.
When all’s said and done, let me tell ya something about the music(k)ness
in general: EMBALMING THEATRE annihilate the speakers of your stereo with
nothing but ultra fast, razor-sharp, merciless grindcore with low growling,
guttural vokills – old school grindcore by the book! The lyrics
deal with lots of really (!!) nauseating topics, but what sets EMBALMING
THEATRE apart from the tons of average, bloodthirsty goregrind units,
is the fact that their lines are based on reality! Alone the imagery that
these lyrics contain the ugly truth is kind of perverted, but other than
that: We’re living in a sick and heartless world, so why should
I be shocked anyway? Whatever, these 11 diabolic anthems, which are available
with an absolutely magnificent drawn cover and are over in just 16:36
minutes, will nail you right up to the next wall – I promise!!
Powermetal
Rating: 79/100
Reviewed by: Thomas Nielsen, January '05
Swiss Embalming Theatre have slowed down a little bit since 2003’s
“Sweet Chainsaw Melodies” and have started to rely on a more
varied and groovy (at times even catchy) grind style.
The themes are as gory as ever, however, and the same can be said of the
vocalist’s effort (on this album his name is Soli D. - the entire
band changes names with each release for some odd reason).
Compared to “Sweet Chainsaw Melodies”, “Hormones From
The Dead” wins extra points for the greater extent of variation
and a better production.
Recommended tracks: “Hallucinating Genital-Ejector”, “They
Drowned In A Lake Of Blood ”, “Buried Alive III: Suffocation
In The Sand-Box”
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