Artist: Screwgrinder
Band Members: Tuomo (vocals & guitar), Kossu (bass), Jonesi (drums)
Location: Turku, Finland
Average Rating: 1.5
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Artist: Screwgrinder Band Members: Tuomo (vocals & guitar), Kossu (bass), Jonesi (drums) Location: Turku, Finland |
There are currently 2 Reviews of this Demo.
Average Rating: 1.5 |
Reviewed by garth (added 11/18/99):
I think Screwgrinder have got a solid start. The strongest point of the band, to me, is the drummer. The beats are solid and at times groove (most evident on the track, "Twisted"). The vocals are mixed a bit too much out in front on most of the tracks, and don't seem to be able to choose between melodic and aggressive. I think Tuomo's got some good riffs and should focus more on his guitar, and maybe find a more powerful singer for the band. My favorite of their five tracks is "Loungsleeper," the most consistently metal track. "Twisted" runs a close second in my book, but I'm a sucker for a groove. They definitely have a way to go, but it's good to see Screwgrinder trying to kick ass half-way around the globe. I would definitely get rid of the "Screw U Guys I'm Going Home" track, though, especially as the first taste of the band. And "Quiet" needs to kick more ass, or needs more dark, moody atmosphere. Think Nevermore's Dreaming Neon Black next time you guys record this tune and kick more ass with it. But, in the end, in spite of the poor sound quality of the recordings streaming through my computer speakers, I enjoyed Screwgrinder's stuff about as much as the latest Megadeth album, so I'll give them the same rating I gave MegaDave...
Reviewed by Musashi (added 11/18/99):
What a way to start. If I had my way, I would want the first Metal Judgment demo review to be of the next, undiscovered Pantera. Screwgrinder is not it. Nevertheless, their submission is a good vehicle by with to set forth some of the basic ideas and concepts behind a good demo.
I listen to demos and look at the packaging with an eye towards getting the band signed to a record label. In this case, we immediately have a problem concerning the format. I am an advocate for new technology, however I feel that embracing new technology at the expense of the tried and true formats can be a mistake. Luckily for Screwgrinder, I think they made the correct choice of using the MP3 format. As a rule, I would say put your demo on CD. Tapes are still good but fading rapidly. MP3 is, in general, a poor choice for demos for several reasons. First, not everyone has access. This will be less true every day and eventually be a ridiculous statement but, for now, more people have tape players and CD players than have computers running MP3 players. Second, I think it is still safe to say most people have better sounding stereos than computers. Even if people have MP3 players, they don't have them hooked up to fancy stereo systems. Again, this may change rapidly. Third, MP3 players aren't as easy to use. Maybe if you are running the newest, latest computer with the fastest connections, you can easily switch between songs, fast forward and repeat, however most people have to suffer through the downloading and repeated clicking to switch songs.
"As a rule, I would say put your demo on CD." On the plus side, it is really cheap and easy to do MP3s. The MP3.com website is nicely laid out with a photo of the band (a really bad one) and little blurbs and descriptions to go along with each song. Putting all that content into a CD booklet would cost you a lot more money. Considering the quality of this demo, I think Screwgrinder made a good choice to go the cheap way. Putting these recordings on a CD would have been a mistake.
The next problem with Screwgrinder is the "artwork." Please take the time to get a good photo of your band. I don't care if you go and buy a polariod or a disposable camera from the drugstore, but take a picture where you can be seen. Wait for a sunny day and go outside. You don't have to spend a lot of money. But at least be in focus. Sure, if you want to go for some cooler artwork, then go for it! Get your girlfriend to put on a leather outfit and take some hot pictures of her (or use the ones you've already got!). Use that cool picture of a dragon your friend drew on your notebook in homeroom. For demo purposes, I prefer a candid snapshot of the band where everyone can be seen in focus. Save the cool artwork for the website and the concept album. Of course, if you have a "look" then you should spend the time and money to really get that across to the best of your financial and creative abilities. If you are a band like Gwar, Slipknot or Kiss you can't send a demo out with four guys standing in front of a swingset. You have to go and put on your makeup, masks and costumes and pull out all the stops and put together a more professional looking package.
Now let's talk about sound quality. I don't know why, but people seem to have this notion that because it's digital it sounds good. That's a lie! The beauty of digital is that you get out what you put in. If you record a crappy sound it doesn't matter if you record it digitally or on your boombox, it's still a crappy sound! When it comes to demos you don't have to record it on the best equipment. You should just record it well. It's like writing a letter; you don't need fancy stationery, you just need to make your point, use good grammar and write neatly.
"The beauty of digital is that you get out what you put in." Screwgrinder's list of influences: Korn, Marilyn Manson, Sepultura, Cypress Hill, Limp Bizkit, and Deftones. On the page it says, "it could be described as an amalgam between Korn, Soulfly and Deftones." That is kind of true. If you were to play your Korn, Soulfly and Deftones albums at the same time with pillows stuck in your speakers, you would think you were listening to Screwgrinder. Seriously, I think what we have here are three kids from Finland who are listening to themselves for the first time on tape and giving themselves high-fives. That's great. I think thay will look back on these recordings in a couple of years and be slightly embarrassed but, hopefully, will see that they have improved greatly. I don't want to discourage these youngsters at this early stage. They have evidenced potential, motivation, and initiative.
"Screw U Guys I'm Going Home" is the intro. This song can best be described as one guy sitting on a keyboard while another guy does a "beat box" and a couple of other guys talk incomprehensibly amongst themselves. There are some white guys who are good rappers, none of them are in the band Screwgrinder. A good rule for demos is to ALWAYS PUT THE BEST SONG FIRST. I don't think this is their best song. In fact I see no reason for having it here, other than they are amused by the sound of their voices on tape. It's not metal and it's not good. It is the type of thing that might be funny if it was a hidden track on a CD about 15 minutes after the album ended and you were REALLY stoned.
"Loungesleeper" is probably the best of the 5 songs. It has a good feel to it. The riffs are good, if a little generic. You get a sense that these kids can rock and play fast and hard. They should focus their energies on perfecting this aggressive sound. Unfortunately, I think the singer detracts from the band. Screwgrinder should get a dedicated singer who can really add some energy to the songs.
"Screwgrinder have evidenced potential, motivation, and initiative." "Twisted" shows that they are trying to be creative with the time signature (some would say 15/8 or a measure of 4/4 followed by a measure of 7/8). Although it is a little sloppy, I applaud their effort. It shows that they are thinking. I still don't like the singing or the mix. It's the littles clues and details that show that there are some creative forces in the band. I think bands like King's X, Rush and Dream Theater that play with odd time signatures are great. Hopefully, this is the start of some interesting and exciting experimentation from Screwgrinder.
"W.Y.S.I.W.Y.G" sounds like a bad euro-gothic band from 1985. I really don't approve of this Bela-Lugosi-is-Dead sort of sound. It ties "Quiet" as the worst mixed song of the five.
"Quiet" - Sure, you go to a party and get stoned and jam on the acoustic guitars and the bongos. It happens. But for God's sake, don't record it and put it on the internet! I think this is the sort of poetry that Abyss used to write when he was sixteen. Definitely not metal. Definitely not good. Play this shit to your mom and your girlfriend because they will tell you how "nice" it is. I'll tell you the truth - it sucks. Even if it was really deep and meaningful, I can't even hear the words.
"'Twisted' shows that they are trying to be creative with the time signature ."
Like I said, I do not want to sit here and tell these kids they suck. I feel that they are young and overflowing with positive metal energy. I think they should learn to record better sounding demos, write better songs and present themselves as a kick-ass metal band. (Of course, if these guys are 35 years old and have been playing together for 10 years, then I change my answer to: SUCKS!) I think as human beings we all have a fascination with seeing and hearing ourselves perform. Screwgrinder's demo is more fascination than good musical production. They have to go back to the shed, practice and perfect their sound.
"I feel that Screwgrinder are young and overflowing with positive metal energy." I like the name and some of the ideas. 1 skull for the good effort.
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