Hedfirst - Scarismatic

Year of Release: 2005
Label: Metal Mind
Catalog Number: MMP CD 0317
Format: CD
Total Time: 00:00:00

Poland's Hedfirst dive headfirst into their assaultive metal on Scarismatic (although the title track is a dark, spooky, bit of atmosphere). Harsh death-like vocals (Przemek "Bayer" Witkowski) scream out of from the brutal pummeling of the usual assortment of guitars (Kuba Tomaszewski, Janek Fronczak), bass (Lukasz Wojtasik), and drums (Arek "Egon" Lukasiak).*

As this style goes, Hedfirst have all the right parts in place, though the lyrics don't exactly make sense when read too close. You can get the sense of what they mean. Yes, it's likely because they are a translation from Polish to English. Believe me, I know if I were trying to translate my English to Polish, it'd probably not scan well either. There are times I'd call it a heavier version of early Metallica, if I bit less classy. A heavier version of Master Of Puppets say? or even what they were doing on Garage Days Revisited, I guess, though there, the heavier stuff were covers, so?more like those influenced Metallica. Others name-check Vader, their Polish brethren (not the Dark Lord of the Sith of cinematic lore). The death vocals aren't of the what-the-hell-is-he-saying-it's-just-howling-hellwinds variety; I mean, I can make out actual words (and not just those of the "four-letter" variety). But, because there's something? obscure about the lyrics? well, I'm not sure exactly what he's raging against. Mindless sheep blindly following organized religion, maybe? Or straying from same and getting sucked into the dark realm? I'm not sure; could go either way.

This isn't progressive in any way. I mean, never mind that it's not progressive rock, it doesn't take the thrash metal style into any new directions. I mean, I'm not a thrash expert, but even I can tell that this is stereotypical thrash metal. Frankly, if you were going to find randomly some artist to represent the genre as an example, this would be it. Not an example as the penultimate artist, or even of the worst. But the average, typical ? MORT, I guess -- Middle of the road thrash. It's just there, like a lumbering, threatening beast that will try to bash you into submission without the extra passion that would truly leave you a quivering, gelatinous mass of flesh and bone and blood. Rather, you will walk away from the encounter bruised and bloodied, but neither tragic victim nor triumphant victor. And, if this isn't your style -- and I can't say that it always is mine, though sometimes it is -- after a while, it just becomes one pounding blur of screaming, chugging guitars, testosterone-saturated yelling, and thumping drums.

And by awhile, I really mean after the second track (and thus a song-by-song review isn't really necessary). Am I getting old? I must be. I ask, not because I expect you to answer -- 'sides, a woman never reveals her age (I'll be 82) -- but because I find that right now my ears hurt listening to this. And this isn't the first play-through, mind, but only listening again after a long while and now I know why. It hurts! It hurts and it all sounds pretty much the same track to track. Oh, a thrash expert I'm sure would find the subtle variations, point out that the progression of notes here differs from the one there, that the hi-hat and toms were used x number of times per measure here and y times there? and I suppose if I could listen to this over and over and over again, I would, too. In fact, I must say the percussion opening to "Truth Against Truth" is pretty cool, and this track does emerge from mass of sound, revealing some intense drumming. Although, this whole release is intense, so that's saying something. (And I should also say, I guess, I was lying about my age?).

But to me, variation should be apparent without having to delve deep into the abyss. One should only have to dive deeper to find hidden aspects, subtleties ? not find what makes the track different from the one before and after it. Maybe variations in speed would be the apparent difference. What hurts, I realize, is the persistent buzz saw sound the of the guitars. "Scars" kinda shakes the rhythm up, varying the speed and mood, but? at track nine, it comes "too late."

But, they're tight? oh yes, very tight. They chug along as if clamped in a vice, leaving very little room to stray away. And it's cathartic. I mean, hell, this is why sometimes this style is my cup of tea? or in this case, I guess I should say bile?

So? not great, not awful, just? there. If you love this stuff, can't enough, and just revel in the experience of musical brutality and must have everything you can get your hands on, then you won't be harmed by diving headfirst into Hedfirst. But for those love this stuff, but want variety in their passion? you will need to look elsewhere for the next new thing in thrash.

*Since this album's release, Wojtasik and Lukasiak have left, bass and drums now handled by Przemo and Dudzik, respectively.
Tracklisting:
Scarismatic (0:52) / Primal Hate (2:51) / Truth Against Truth (3:30) / Time For Fight (3:11) / Broken Root (4:31) / Defeat (4:43) / Dead End? (3:30) / Sleepers (3:39) / Scars (3:43) / Wasted (2:23) / The End Is Always The Beginning (6:10)

Musicians:
Przemek 'Bayer' Witkowski - vocals
Kuba Tomaszewski - guitars
Janek Fronczak - guitars
Lukasz Wojtasik - bass
Arek 'Egon' Lukasiak - drums and percussion

Discography:
Hedfirst (2003)
Scarismatic (2006)

Genre: Thrash Metal

Origin PL

Added: February 17th 2007
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.hedfirst.com
Hits: 3400
Language: english