Author: Rok Klemše
Artist: GMB
Label: Self-released
Release: year_month
Length: 28:00
Rating: 3.5/5
I was only writing a few days ago about the reawakened Kranj extreme metal scene (the debut EP from death metal crew Armaroth), and here I am with another storm from the Kranj underground in my hands. Armaroth’s sister band GMB, led by Klemen Govekar, guitarist in both groups, has just put out its first demo, Gore Obsessed Violent Exhibition. The title alone makes it pretty clear which altar GMB pray at – old school death metal!
The thunderous intro of the first of three tracks, Nebelscheinwerfer, confirms it. It emerges from a foggy bend and lights up like, well, a car fog light. But that fog light is the last thing you’ll see before GMB run you over like King’s Christine. The girl and the guys make it clear from the very first second that they play proper old school death metal: no frills, no overcomplicating things, no bullshit. GMB kick off like Obituary on their debut Slowly We Rot, and Nebelscheinwerfer is a real tribute to those dirty, groove-soaked Celtic Frost »worship« riffs. The vocals of David Orehar confirm just how big an influence those legendary American hicks are. He sounds primitive and retching like John Tardy, but just as I’m thinking this sounds way too much like Obituary, GMB flip the script and shake things up – they throw in a little thrash kick and some “cupa cupa” influences that could even pass for early grind.
The demo carries on grinding along with that same variety on the aptly titled Painapple Express, which hauls you off to the land of pain with a great mix of greasy groove and sped-up sections, carried by the colorful drumming and Govekar’s guitar, which cuts like Leatherface’s chainsaw. Rrrrrrrrrrrr! Despite the demo-quality recording, the instruments come through clear and distinct; the bass rattles the way it should, the drums are varied and dynamic, doom-slow one moment and rabid as a rhino with rabies the next, and the riffs are greasy and massive one minute, then “hammer-ons” and “pull-offs” slice like a scalpel the next. No solos. But nobody misses them.
After the three studio tracks, GMB add five live recordings from the band’s home base, Trainstation Squat in Kranj. They show that the band delivers a proper death metal slaughter live too, and despite the slip-ups, it sounds honest. Gore Obsessed Violent Exhibition is a real »blast from the past«, and if this demo had come out in the early nineties, it would surely be a sought-after rarity today. The influence of the Florida giants mentioned above is everywhere, though thankfully it isn’t overwhelming, and with even more effort GMB could become the dominant force in Slovenian death metal. The demo perhaps lacks a slightly clearer vision, a more focused direction and a bit more work on original material, but GMB are on the right track. With their (hopefully) upcoming studio releases, the last thing burned onto the cornea of your eye will be the final fog light of the killer car beast.
Lineup
David Orehar – vocals
Klemen Govekar – guitar
Nika Krmelj – bass
Anže Podobnik – drums
Production
Darči Kruševac
Tracklist
1. Nebelscheinwerfer
2. Painapple Express
3. Land of the Dead
(bonus)
4. Nebelscheinwerfer (live)
5. G.O.V.E. (live)
6. Painapple Express (live)
7. Evil Dead (live)
8. Land of the Dead (live)
