Who said that heavy metal has to be downtrodden and miserable? Well, no-one did, but these guys from Finland with the Swedish sound manage to bring cheeriness to a totally dark and extreme experience. From the vocalist’s “Welcome to Rottendam” at the start of the title track, we’re treated to a boisterous, old-style but melodic and driving death-thrash metal assault. There was never a more apt lyric than “You’ll never rest in peace”. It’s dark fare but there is boundless energy and power. The sound is crisp and clean but the vocals are harsh and the instrumentals are brutal. Like a whirlwind, this album is a non-stop riot of thumping, clanging and fast metal. The guitar work on “Hedonist” is anarchic and extreme. There’s a little sample but whilst there are frills in the guitar work, this is ultimately a no-nonsense affair, combining the all-embracing intricacies of death metal with bucket loads of technicality and thrashing surges.
Dark as it inevitably is, there’s a theatricality about the production of “Rottendam”. It’s like listening to a death metal version of Carach Angren. Such is the incessant bludgeoning that the toned-down ending of “Apocalypse Postponed” comes as a complete surprise. My ears were tuned to constant battering. But it’s the briefest of interludes, as “Freakshow” recommences the process of sawing through our nerve ends. “Freakshow”, as the title suggests, is eccentric and has the catchiest riff and chorus line. It’s heavy, dark and delightful.
Reading the literature about Re-Armed, they seem to be the permanent support band, having no doubt entertainingly accompanied Suffocation, Arch Enemy and Cryptopsy amongst others. Unfortunately I missed their mini headlining tour last year, as I’m sure they would be good value. The energetic vibe that you might expect in a live show is here on this thirty minute blast. This is the second album by Re-Armed, but more significantly they’ve been around for thirteen years. The musicianship is tight and confident. “Rottendam” is dark and extreme, but also has a freedom which makes it enjoyable to listen to and share.
(8/10 Andrew Doherty)
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