KORODED To Have And To Unhold
Silverdust (2006)
The first thing that struck me upon listening to this album was its similarity to Machine Head. Once I had made that impression it was difficult to disabuse myself of the notion and so I used it to compare the two bands.
Like Machine Head, the material on Koroded's 'To Have And To Hold' is varied in tempo and, to a somewhat lesser extent, in style. There are fast tracks, slower tracks and a half-ballad on track 8, 'In Love With Memories'.
I have to be honest and admit that hardcore is not my favourite style; however neither do I hate it and can, I hope, assess it's worth objectively.
Koroded are typical hardcore in some ways - most notably in the fast riff-driven tracks on the album. However, these guys also have more to offer than a mediocre hardcore band - although they are riff-driven, their guitar sound has a black metal edge which is unusual for bands of this ilk. The vocals vary between being a raw rock snarl (not unlike Rob Flynn's) and a cleaner sound.
The album kicks off with two faster tracks, Zero Minus Zero and Scaretrade.
The third track, Unhold, is much slower in style. This pretty much follows the pattern of the whole album apart from track 8 (In Love With Memories) and the final track (People Of The Abyss). As well as their similarity to Machine Head, Koroded have a certain chugging sound which puts me in mind of Pantera.
I would imagine that the black metal edge would appeal to many hardcore fans but the band's hardcore roots may not appeal to black metallers.
The overall impression I have gained from the album is one of angry young men railing at everything that is wrong with the world, this is supported by the soliloquy on track 7, 'The Night The Earth Stood Still'. There is nothing wrong with that in its way, but it left me unmoved. I suppose that may in part be due to my own prejudices - I spent the passion of my youth listening to eighties thrash and perhaps that left my energies spent as you can only stay angry for so long. I listen to those albums now and smile to remember myself as a young teenager - I don't feel the same way about them as I did then. I listened to the album with interest but it didn't seem particularly innovative and I can't say that it set my world afire, I'm afraid.
Koroded are a German five-piece with three previous full-length albums under their belt and a smattering of other material. They are touring the UK in April of this year and full details are available via the website.
**½
Review by Amanda Hyne
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