INTERVIEW & ALBUM STREAM: "Waker" from Copenhagen, Denmark's sludge metal bastards BARRICADE

The Copenhagen, Denmark-based sludge metal bastards Barricade is back with their second full length album ”Waker”, which is a fierce stew of social indignation and a musical pedal to the metal. First and foremost, ”Waker” is the proof of a band with something to say and a sense of renewing its own expression while setting the bar high for the alternative metal scene.

”Waker” will be released September 30th via the band’s own label Black Grain Records on LP/CD/Digital and today you can check out the album in full with our exclusive stream, as well as short interview.  

SL: Can you give us an insight into how you started playing music, leading up to the formation of Barricade

We all started playing music when we were young teens in the early mid 90`s and discovered bands like Nirvana, Metallica and Pantera.  Some of us Tejs, Lars and Jonathan grew up together and have been playing together for a long time in various bands and genres. Barricade was born in 2010 and Patrick joined in as a second guitar later that year.

SL: For folks unfamiliar with your band, is there any bands on the scene past and present that you would use as a reference point band to describe your band, and who or what continues to inspire you and push you to try new things?

Well we have very different influences and bands we like. Our musical background is very different stretching from Grunge through hardcore all the way to death metal – but let’s say that we have listened to a fair share of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Mastodon, High on Fire, Raised Fist and Red Fang.

SL:  What can you tell us about your upcoming record and where do you feel it sits within the context of current doom scene

We don’t see ourselves as a doom band. We prefer sludge metal. We have some short slow parts in some of our songs, that have a little doom inspiration. Don’t know were the Doom definition comes from? :)

Our new record is a kind of “new” start, in that form that we use to have 2 drummers, but we parted ways with our second drummer about a year ago and decided to continue with one - which resulted in a new sound that is more heavy and slow but still with our aggressive hardcore inspired attitude.

SL: Does anything spring to mind when you think about the completion of your upcoming record and how is the mood in the camp at present?

We are happy and proud that we made this record. It has been tough and hard work not least because we did almost everything ourselves. We did the recording in a realy nice big pro studio and Patrick (guitar) did the mix and mastering. Lars (guitar, vocals) did all the artwork and graphics. The video was done by our drummer Tejs. So it’s been a long but exciting process. Now it’s done and out in a few weeks, so the mood is good and positive and we hope people will like our new record.

SL: What stands out as your overarching memory from the recording sessions?

This time we had a more “real” feeling to it than we’ve had before. This time we did two weeks of non-stop recording sessions on vintage gear with Emil Sauer, a very skilled pro recording engineer and producer. Emil gave us a lot of inputs and did a great job on working with the basic sound. We had the real feeling of being in the studio. So a very different process than our previous releases where each of us would have short sessions of recording you know layer on layer etc.

SL: With a solid gold album in the bag, how is your schedule shaping up over the next 12 months?

Thanks J We don’t have a lot of plans for now. It’s hard to get gigs and tour in Denmark at our level and music genre. Hopefully we can get some cool support jobs for bigger acts when they come to Copenhagen. We are planning to do a small EU tour early 2017 and festivals next summer.

SL: Finally, do you have any final comments/word of wisdom you’d like to bestow upon us?

Thanks for doing this interview. Stay true to yourself and work hard for what you believe in. Love your fellow man and animal despite all the differences you may have. Teach your kids that everyone is right. Music for all – hate for none. Cheers

”Waker” will be released September 30th via the band’s own label Black Grain Records here , and the album will be accompanied by a string of live shows in DK and beyond.

  

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Suicidal Tendencies – “World Gone Mad”

By Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 30/09/2016

Label: Suicidal Records

 

It flows in a virtually flawless manner and I do believe “World Gone Mad” will be remembered as one of their best records, ever.  This one’s a home run with a bullet. 

 

“World Gone Mad” CD//DD track listing:

 

1). Clap Like Ozzy
2). The New Degeneration
3). Living For Life
4). Get Your Fight On!
5). World Gone Mad!
6). Happy Never After
7). One Finger Salute
8). Damage Control
9). The Struggle Is Real
10). Still Dying To Live
11). This World

 

 

The Review:

 

This record’s a battleship.  The crew, Suicidal, are armed and ready.  The waters they navigate are treacherous in a “World Gone Mad.”  I’ve listened to this record three times so far, this is what we’ve been waiting for -- a rock solid return to their punk roots and a celebration of their metal soul.  Most of all, though, I feel like “World Gone Mad” is a document of our times. 

 

The record drops at the end of September, right in the middle of a crazy presidential election, at a time when terrorism is at its screaming worst, and racial tensions are at an all-time high.  And this record reflects all of that. And more.  “World Gone Mad” has a dark and ominous tone that creeps through the record.  Track four, “Get Your Fight On”sums it up lyrically – “…just look around, the world’s gone crazy…if you’re waiting on a hero we’ll all be dead…”  This record has heart and soul.  There’s a vibe of continuity that’s almost unsettling here, guiding the listener in very calculated fashion.   It has purpose and direction.  This is S/T at the very TOP of their game.

 

“World Gone Mad” is a proper return to the sound they perfected in the 80’s that straddles their punk roots ala their debut record and the metal edge coupled with Muir’s critical humor and societal eye of “Lights…Camera…”  The band sounds fresh, tight and reinvigorated with the addition of Dave Lombardo on drums.  I say this for a reason.  The drumming stands out on this record like an exclamation point and at times rallies the band with a cohesiveness I haven’t heard in quite a while.

 

“Clap Like Ozzy” sets the tone for the rest of the record:  Warpath.  Mosh fest.  Fast punky guitar and drumming the way it used to be.  Overall, the songs on this record, especially “Clap…” and “Living for Life” seem like polished versions of songs that could’ve been on their first, self-titled record.  I can’t emphasize this enough.  Muir and band have reconnected with S/T’spast in a way I didn’t think would happen again.  And it sounds real, not forced, genuine. 

 

“The New Degeneration” might be the most honest indictment of today’s kids I’ve heard so far.  Where’s the rage and anger?  Where’s the demand for change?  Why the canned rebellion and not a call for action, true action instead of slaving to social media and the like?  You can hear Muir’s questioning, Muir’s anger in this song.

 

I mentioned “Living for Life,” before.  It stuck with me because it has a Dead Kennedy’sgroove to it, S/Tstyle.  Again, a song that could’ve easily been on their debut record.  Lombardo’s drumming makes this song and it shows.  This is where the band rallies around Dave, taking the lead and setting Muir up to go in for the kill.

 

 

I could keep describing songs but the truth, is, there’s not a bum track on this record.  It flows in a virtually flawless manner and I do believe “World Gone Mad” will be remembered as one of their best records, ever.  It’s already made my best of 2016 list.  Band chemistry is killer with this lineup.  This one’s a home run with a bullet.  Buy it.

 

“World Gone Mad”is available to pre-order here

 

Band info: official || facebook