Label: Svart Records Releasedate: 16-10-2020
The Swedish multi-talented musician Henrik Palm, known from bands like IN SOLITUDE, GHOST and ISOTOPE SOAP, is back after three years of silence! The new release is called “Poverty Metal” and it is out via Svart Records.
What makes Henrik Palm unique is his contribution to many bands, his eclectic taste in music and also his attitude to not stick to any genres in general. So, “Poverty Metal” is the perfect depiction of his interpretation and this attitude. I wouldn’t use the word ‘style’ or ‘genre’ when talking about this release because this one doesn’t follow a certain pattern but it is more or less the overflow of the immense creativity and the emotions he has. It definitely has a more experimental and even doom-y vibe to it compared to the debut “Many Days”. However, the main message is the same: Nihilism, negativity and hatred for humans. So pay extra attention to the lyrics to get a good taste of this album.
One nice surprise was hearing the Twisted Sister cover Destroyer. I have heard this cover live a few times and so hearing it brought back some nice memories of Henrik Palm shows! Apart from this, the female vocals in Given Demon and Concrete Antichrist add a nice dimension to the overall structure of the album. In this sense, from the production to the arrangement of songs, everything flows f*cking perfectly! Nothing is stagnant or overdone, every song brings a different atmosphere and will resonate differently.
Very rarely do I get to listen to a record with such diversity and hints of ‘weird’! This has it all; punk, doom, death rock (In Solitude vibes are here and there for sure!). So, without a doubt, “Poverty Metal” is in my list of the favorites of this weird year. I must say that the timing couldn’t have been better as well. Definitely recommended to anyone who doesn’t care about genres in general. Kudos to Mr. Henrik Palm and everyone involved! This will be on repeat for a while.
Line up for this album:
- Henrik Palm – vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, mellotron, piano, percussion, Rhodes
- Daniel Moilanen – drums and percussion
- Johan Törnqvist – backing vocals, guitars, synth, piano
- Kicki Karlsson – backing vocals
- Sofia Rydahl – Rhodes, keyboards
- David Lundberg – keyboards
- Benke Höckert – 2nd bass on Destroyer
- Tor Sjöden – lead drums on Destroyer
- Martin Ehrencrona – handclaps and FXs
- Jocke Proos – air bass and sunglasses
Tracklist
01. Bully
02. Sugar
03. Concrete Antichrist
04. Given Demon
05. Destroyer (Twisted Sister Cover)
06. Nihil
07. Nihilist
08. Last Christmas