ALBATROSS — Dinner Is You (review)

EP · 2010 · Heavy Metal

4/5 · 2010-09-28
UMUR

"Dinner Is You" is the debut release by Indian heavy metal/thrash metal act Albatross. "Dinner Is You" is a 4 track EP released by Demonstealer Records. The first track called "The Great Plague Of The 21st Century" is an intro while the remaining tracks are more regular compositions.

On "Dinner Is You" Albatross play a heavily King Diamond influenced horror themed type of heavy metal with thrash metal elements. The band´s technical skills are on a high level and the tracks are adventurous and powerful. While lead vocalist Biprorshee Das sings in a high pitched vocal style in the vein of King Diamond a couple of times during the EPs playing time, he is actually a very skilled vocalist who understands how to vary his singing style to keep that department of the music entertaining. He whispers, talks and sings in several pitches. The instrumental side of the music is great too. A combination of traditional heavy metal, power metal and thrash metal is a valid description. A powerful rythm section who changes tempo and rythm style several times during tracks, great melodic guitar solos and those excellent vocals as the icing on the cake.

Lyrically the EP is a concept horror story and again it´s hard not to think of King Diamond. The story is about a guy called The Master who suffers from the Kuru disease. The Kuru disease is an incurable degenerative neurological disorder found in humans, that makes the contaminated person laugh uncontrollably. Alledgedly the disease was transmitted via cannibalism. A pretty bizarre disease that Albatross have been inspired by when writing the lyrics for "Dinner Is You". The Master has a nasty habbit of eating his invited guests (hence the title of the EP) but is brought to justice for his cannibalistic crimes and from what I understand judged to be eaten himself by cannibals living in the jungle. Not before he has killed the judge and served him for lunch to the unknowing people in the court room. Unfortunately for the person ( The prosecutor) who delivers The Master to the cannibals, The Master is in liaison with the cannibals and The Prosecutor ends up being eaten by The Master and the cannibals. A nice little bizarre horror story for you there.

The sound production is fully professional and powerful. The EP was recorded and mixed by guitarist Raj B and he has done a great job. It´s interesting to note that the EP was mastered by no other than King Diamond guitarist Andy LaRocque.

"Dinner Is You" is a great introduction to the world of Albatross. Yes they can more or less be called a King Diamond clone, but when the quality level is as high as it is here, I have very few issues with that. Actually I find "Dinner Is You" quite a bit more entertaining than the last couple of albums by King Diamond and I hope the band will continue with the high energy level and thrashy ideas, which are some of the elements that I find very enjoyable on this EP. I know that the word "clone" might scare some people away, but believe me when I say that this EP is worth your time. While Albatross, sound a lot like King Diamond (more than might be good for them in the long run), there are signs that the band could develop a more unique sound sometime in the future and that´s something that could take them even further IMO. They certainly have all the right tools to succeed. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.

more than 2 years ago
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Barenaked Whores wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Thanks a bunch for the kind word and support. Big up!

- Biprorshee Das.

rdore2000 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Thanks guys, we need all the support we can get :). We'd love it if you guys order the CD anywhere in the world for $6 only inclusive of all charges (yes, including delivery charges).

Please mail our label at [email protected]

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Yeah it´s a great release.