By: Anders

Posted: Dec 18, 2005

I kinda lost interest in Swedish Clawfinger after their "Use Your Brain" album back in 1995, I was in search for more brutal stuff at that period, and their rap-metal didn't do as much for as it used to, around 10 years have passed since then and the band has been through this and that, and even disbanded for a period, if I remember correctly. They are anno 2005 signed to Nuclear Blast and ready with their new album "Hate Yourself With Style".

Clawfinger is still a quite pissed off band, with a lot of opinions of today's society and they speak out loud about it. Though they have become more stylistic and deliver their attack more well-weighed and not as direct and hard-hitting as it was the cause with e.g. 'Nigger' and 'Do What I Say'. Even though there still are punch and power behind both the musical and verbal attacks, it takes a listen or 2 more this time around, but after that, it has caught on, and it becomes hard to let the album go again.

Good heavy riffs, punchy and crunchy and captivating, catchy as hell and driving the music forward very effectively. Even heavier bass lines keeping the rhythm tight and going and hardhitting and effective drumming laying a good back-bone for the musical assaults. I reckon the drums are programmed, but they sound very good and natural, neck-snapping, precise and hitting hard. The thing which always has made Clawfinger stand out, is the vocals and lyrics from Zak Tell, and they are of course in the center of this release as well. Aggressive, emotional and quite atmospheric at times, a killer effort from Tell, very effective and again very captivating, due to all the good hooks.

This album is a real grower, getting bigger, better and more hardhitting together with the amount of spins it gets. If you're into aggressive metal with an edge and a message this is something for you. Musically a blend of hardcore and plain metal, with a reminiscent touch of pop-choruses at times and a good screamed hardcore alike vocal. With titles as 'Find The Faggot In You', 'So Sick Of Myself', 'Right To Rape', 'Hypocrite', 'God Is Dead' and the title track and the themes they touch, an introspective an interesting album has been made. Good and saying lyrics on very actual themes, supported by heavy music with a punch, this is Clawfinger when they are best.

Rating: 8½/10

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