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DEW SCENTED ‘Issue VI’ Nuclear Blast (2005)
The first review I ever did for Get Ready to Rock was back in 2003, and it was for "Impact" - the fifth studio album of the German thrash Metal outfit Dew Scented. I can still remember being quite impressed, not only by the very powerful production of that album, but also by the band's ability to use all the right 80's thrash metal formulas without sounding retro or boring. "Impact" might not have become one of my favourite releases of all times, but it definitely gave promise for better things in the future.
Well, time goes faster than most of us want to believe or even wish for, and it was not long ago that I received the band's latest effort, entitled "Issue VI", released once again by Nuclear Blast. I was indeed quite intrigued to catch up with the band's progress, especially since I have never managed to see them live during these last two years. Having once again Andy Classen ‘messing about’ with their sound was indeed a very smart decision on the band's part. Stage One Studios did welcome the band's constructive ideas and their willingness to create a stronger and more mature album this time round. Did they manage to achieve that with "Issue VI"?
I don't know if it's because of the addition of Alexander Pahl (bass) and Marvin Vriesde (guitars) to the band's line up, or due to the experience that has been gained over the past two years while touring with a variety of different bands such as Destruction, Deicide and Amon Amarth, but the members of Dew Scented have managed to record their fastest, most aggressive album to date. The melodic guitar parts and the impressive guitar solos that I liked so much about their previous effort are still here, but it now seems that the quintet is also interested in creating more technical/complicated compositions for their fans and that is indeed a sign of maturity. If you want to know what a good solo is all about, try listening to the one from the opening track "Processing Life". The band has once again looked for inspiration in the works of Slayer, but I dare say that their guitar solos are far more advanced than those that are normally presented to us by the legendary US outfit.
The best way of getting introduced to the unique talent of Uwe Werning (drums) is the tenth track of the album, entitled "Vortex". This is, as far as I'm concerned, the best composition of the album and not far from what Malevolent Creation have been recording throughout their long and impressive career. I would also recommend that you listen quite carefully to songs like "Rituals of Time" and "Ruins of Hope" before you decide whether "Issue VI" deserves to become part of your record collection.
The more I listen to this album, the more I realise that it is not simply because of sentimental reasons that I am really fond of this band. Dew Scented have managed to preserve their Thrash Metal identity, without introducing hard core elements to their sound, as bands like The Haunted and Soilwork did ages ago. What you will get from "Issue VI" is an honest approach to the style of music that many of us grew up listening to in the early 80's.
****
Review by John Stefanis
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