Music Makers : Intendo
Tim Murphy, Ross Chergosky, Eric Andersen and Chris Murphy
The CD : The Guns of August - 2003
Songs:
1 : 1914 (2:08)
2 : Lessons God Teaches to Kings (2:06)
3 : Death be not Proud (3:13)
4 : Last Crusade of the Old World (3:01)
5 : Dress Rhersal for Verdun (2:52)
6 : Oderim Et Metuant (3:56)
7 : The Peculiar Thud of Bullets
Striking Human Bodies (2:55)
8 : It Could not be Stopped (2:33)
9 : The Guns of August (4:45)
10 : An Enemy then Flying (4:11)
11 : Polite even in Death (2:30)
12 : 40 or 8 (instrumental) (3:45)
13 : Indigo Sky (4:04)
14 : 1918 (4:22)
15 : Dusk of War (instrumental) (2:01) |
Intendo
Intendo
Intendo
Intendo
Intendo
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The cover of the CD is a photo of almost endless rows of war grave crosses. One of the visible consequences of war. With 'The Guns of August' war is addressed with the time frame of 1914-1918 which was the great one that was thought to be the war to end all wars. As we all know, the cycle of war has not ended.
A landslide of heavy metal with numerous transitions. Strong raspy vocals, speed rifts, rolling drums and striking thematic moments. The album of songs are more so a pulsing mindscape response to the situation of war. Not a blood, guts and glory type of film score or a hard core anti-war rally of songs.
The album opens with ' 1914 ' and the words " Start the war! " Guitar work drives forward with hardy vocals "you crossed my heart . . . you saw my soul . . .I was enslaved" Speed guitar and rolling drums "I will spend your sin". Nice close.
Side step with 'Lessons God Teaches to Kings' with a heavy stride forward.
'Death be not Proud' opens strong and holds together well. "I realized - touched me in fire - take what I am". You'll find a soft roar and the guitar work breaks loose to close out the song. With 'Last Crusade of the Old World' rolling drums and bass marches along the landscape with slick guitar ushering in the lyrics for a last crusade. 'Dress Rhersal for Verdun' brings forth lines "its not over. . . the wolves,they crawl through my eyes. . . its not over" with a closing grief cry of the guitar. 'Oderim Et Metuant' with cymbals and guitar work does move along well.
"love me or try to kill me" with a soft to heavy speed closing. With "The Peculiar Thud of Bullets Striking Human Bodies" one will find some speed guitar and back bass. Some softer vocals move "It Could not be Stopped".
With the song 'Guns of August' we have the center piece for this dinner table of metal where a glass of wine may spill red to white. 'An Enemy then Flying' has nearly a two minute instrumental lead in before breaking into full stride. Then there is 'Polite even in death' which has a somewhat haunting vocal line with a thrashy edge. An accoustic stroll along the outskirts of this heavy battle field is found with the instrumental '40 or 8' and 'Indigo Sky' eases on similar ground with softer vocals and guitar which breaks away along the horizon. The end of the album rises up with '1918' - "if I die asleep. . . I don't want to awake".
Accoustic exit with 'Dusk of War'. Instrumental foot steps closing the door on this chapter. . .the end. The
heavy music crowd may wish to compare the album with their live
performance. A sequence of songs to take in as a complete set of
musical expression along with the lyrics to comtemplate.
Impressions : A rolling storm of music,a dark metal sphere kicking up the dust of war. A smart slow dance may be possible. Not a head banger in the metal core sense. At times a stroll along sabbath avenue and the cross walk of gwar.
Perhaps a backlash date with the coroner.
Rating: Four slices of heavy metal with two eyes on the midnight hour.
No top 40 lite rock charts for these songs.
Intendo is based in Minnesota
www.makeintendofamous.com
By Philip Kramer