© Vile Music/Iron Glory 2001
JULIE LAUGHS NOMORE
From The Mist Of The Ruins
Swedish prodigies JULIE LAUGHS NOMORE have again returned to unleash yet more burly Metal on the undying masses of salivating fans. Its these fans who shall not be forsaken either for these rising new masters of inventive neo-Death Metal have concocted another exotic brew even more sadistic and varied than the their stunning When Only Darkness Remains sophomore effort. Now perhaps there are those who somehow had their head in the sand and missed the aforementioned release. For them, only death is sufficient but redeem your cursed souls and get your grubby mitts on this newest musical blitzkrieg and you shall be absolved.Originality in today's Death Metal market is something to be commended and JLN have certainly established themselves as a group of innovative musicians. The fusion of Power Metal, Death Metal and slight hints of the newer breeds of Black Metal have been exploited to their fullest potential. The resulting product is another stellar piece of corrosive Metal chaos that destroys even the most hardened veteran listeners. The band have extracted the more brutal elements of the last album and further refined their visions of multiply influenced Metal glory. With vocals that shift from the most monstrous of evils to a proud, fist-raising Power Metalism, From The Mist Of The Ruins capitalizes as much from its rich texture of vocal styles as it does from its brutish, skull-fucking, sonic barrage of thuggish riffs, mind-snaring melodies and intricate hooks. With another exceptional production to back it up, this is fine Swedish Metal mastery. One wonders how they do it; that is, break out of the current genre and create a new hybrid that is this stone solid.
From The Mist Of The Ruins is not necessarily an improvement over the band's prior release nor did it need to be, as that album was one hell of an ass-kicker. What this album has a bit more of is the suddenness of catchy anthems and choruses. Of note however is the improved lead playing which really adds yet another admirable quality to the band's music. I like the prior album more for its novelty and weighty production, this one for its magnetic qualities and uncompromising brutality and commitment to variety. There is simply no going wrong with JLN at this point in their careers. The vocals rule, the guitars rule, the bass and drumming rule - in short, the whole goddamned enchilada rules and must be devoured at once by all.
The only thing I am sorry for about this album is that it only contains 8 songs for this is tasty, powerful Death/Power Metal that must be mass produced and consumed at regular intervals. Now the only thing else we need is a stateside tour from this band and perhaps a seat in the office of Death Metal affairs and all shall be appeased.
Hats off to the band again for creating another dominating piece of vicious Metal. The future is now in your control.
