Metal Storm logo
A Hymn To Subjectivity (Episode I)


Written by: Lucas
Published: 15.02.2008


So here it is. My first blog ever. Wow. What a jolly new experience. Anyway, I thought I'd use my superspecial and extra-exclusive Staff powers (which come in a tightly wrapped in bubbled paper with a bonus DVD and the ability to post a blog) for the good cause, for a change.

Don't expect daily diary entries from me though. I reserve those for my Myspace page -> search for prettypinkpussy91. What I want to do with these blogs is to publish a couple of reviews for bands that have no place on MetalStorm. In other words, to write reviews for bands that are not metal.

Draw your own conclusion from that. If you do not like any music besides metal I’d like to say goodday and goodbye. To the ones that are interested, hello (a bit late, but still, hello) and welcome.

One more thing, the bands and albums selected for these review-blogs, are mostly my personal favourites. No objectivity, or at least as little as possible. Who cares about it anyway? Also: no deadlines. I already got enough of those. So expect (slightly/really) biased and irregular reviews in these blogs. Still interested? Fool. But thanks, and have fun with them. (Oh yeah, you are supposed to listen to them after reading. )

Kent – Du & Jag Döden

In my memory, which looks an awful lot like a swiss cheese, I remember checking this band out because the frontman of Shining, Kvarforth, mentioned them as one of his most played and favourite bands. Since I am a great sucker for Shining and always want new music and have a broad taste in genres, I had no choice but to check them out.

Any Swedes among us may be confused now. What the hell has Kent got to do with Shining? Shining create some of the most bleak, misanthropic music the ears of the world have been submitted to. Kent is one of Sweden's most popular rockbands and every new single is a garantueed radio-success.

So what do the two bands have in common? What could possibly interest a man like Kvarforth in Kent? The thing is, if you listen closely to the music of Kent, you will hear a lot of sad undertones. Hell, their music is a sad undertone. It might even be some of the saddest music I have ever heard.

Perhaps the formula is simple, but oh-so incredibly effective. Polished guitars, clean bass, simple drums and most importantly: a great singer. His vocalwork is absolutely outstanding and I am yet to hear a pop-singer that has such a piercing sadness in his voice. He earned my respect. Above that all, the album is blessed with a very transparent production. All of this effectuates a tranquility unheard.

This transparent sound evokes the darkest and deepest emotions that my little body contain. They sound just so.. innocent. It is a feeling that cannot be translated into words. It revolts my stomach, it drowns me in mourning. Imagine a choir of angels slowly descending and surrounding you, then taking you up to the heavens. A new life awaits you, yet you must leave your old life behind you. This conjures a confusion and a clash of emotions so strong, it almost becomes a physical nausea. A mixture of euphoric joy and serene melancholy, to create the perfect white bliss.

At least, that's my personal feeling about this album. I got a bit carried away, and perhaps it nobody else agrees. No worries. To at least give this review some objectivity, think of a Coldplay and give them a Swedish vocalist. They share much of their sound, except Coldplay does not even come close to what Kent does. So well, if you are in for something new and like depressive music in all its forms, definitely give this band a shot. They are damn well worth it.






Written on 15.02.2008 by If you're interested in extreme, often emotional and underground music, check out my reviews. I retired from reviewing, but I really used to be into that stuff.


Comments

Comments: 17   Visited by: 154 users
16.02.2008 - 02:43
jupitreas
hi-fi / lo-life
cool blog idea.
i think ill check this band out (and post my opinion afterwards).
Loading...
16.02.2008 - 03:31
jupitreas
hi-fi / lo-life
OK, so I heard it... And enjoyed it very much!
It also reminds me like hell of something, but I cant put my finger on it at the moment. If I remember Ill let you know.
I'd say they sound very new wave influenced, unlike Coldplay (which is a band I cant stand).
Loading...
16.02.2008 - 03:57
jupitreas
hi-fi / lo-life
... and i figured it out.
Comsat Angels. I see a lot of influence from this band in Kent.
This is actually praise btw, since the Comsats were a brilliant band. They were more overtly bleak than Kent though, since the Swedes have a knack for hiding their forlorn mood behind a more accessible sonic structure.

Still, I think you would enjoy "Sleep No More", "Chasing Shadows" and "My Mind's Eye" by the Comsat Angels.
Loading...
16.02.2008 - 12:33
Lucas
Mr. Noise
Ah, a reply! Nice! I will check Comsat Angels out!
----
SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
Loading...
16.02.2008 - 15:41
Thryce
Retired Staff
I just figured out you're talking about the same Kent who had a lot of radio success in these areas with the song "If You Were Here" ("Om Du Var Här") quite a few years (must be about 11 or 12) ago. That song comes off the album "Isola", which also features the other song I know from them, namely "747".

Frankly, I didn't know Kent are a Swedish band, nor that they normally sing in Swedish and only have an English version of two of their albums. Would love to hear those two mentioned songs in Swedish one day.

EDIT: don't know if you know, but "Du & Jag Döden" is Swedish for "You & I Death". Maybe that helps you further in giving those emotions an appropriate place...
----
Your favorite band sucks.
Loading...
16.02.2008 - 16:07
Lucas
Mr. Noise
Written by Thryce on 16.02.2008 at 15:41

I just figured out you're talking about the same Kent who had a lot of radio success in these areas with the song "If You Were Here" ("Om Du Var Här") quite a few years (must be about 11 or 12) ago. That song comes off the album "Isola", which also features the other song I know from them, namely "747".

Frankly, I didn't know Kent are a Swedish band, nor that they normally sing in Swedish and only have an English version of two of their albums. Would love to hear those two mentioned songs in Swedish one day.


They have re-recorded two of their albums in English, but quite unsuccesfully. I haven't heard the English songs, but I think they would lose a lot of their 'touch' in Engish.
----
SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
Loading...
17.02.2008 - 12:55
Torelli

Wait...what!? Kent...here!?

The lyrics is in the line with the music. In 18 years, you can count the "positive" songs on one hand. And they seem to get more bitter for every record they realise. In think Kent is either a love or hate band. One the love side you have people who thing they are lyrical geniuses and Jocke is the best vocalist ever heard. On the hate side, they think the vocalist is "whiny" and the lyrics is a bad attempt for so-called-poetry, a band only for angsty teenagers.
Loading...
17.02.2008 - 15:41
Lucas
Mr. Noise
Written by Torelli on 17.02.2008 at 12:55

Wait...what!? Kent...here!?


Haha. If will read the future episodes of this blog, you will have more of those moments.

Quote:
The lyrics is in the line with the music. In 18 years, you can count the "positive" songs on one hand. And they seem to get more bitter for every record they realise. In think Kent is either a love or hate band. One the love side you have people who thing they are lyrical geniuses and Jocke is the best vocalist ever heard. On the hate side, they think the vocalist is "whiny" and the lyrics is a bad attempt for so-called-poetry, a band only for angsty teenagers.


And on what side are you?
----
SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
Loading...
17.02.2008 - 20:28
Torelli

Written by Lucas on 17.02.2008 at 15:41



Haha. If will read the future episodes of this blog, you will have more of those moments.



Good, I look forward to it. It's always good when someone doesn't limit themself to tr00 music, as they tend to miss good music along the way.


Me veiw of Kent? It depends on my mood actually. They are hugelly overrated, atleast by the swedish press(nearly every magasine rate every album 5 of 5 or 4 of 5). Still, I respect them for making there own music. They do have a quite a fanbase of those in the early teens(that also like to state Kent as an insperation for their "(razor)poetry" ). But one shouln't jugde a band based on their fanbase, besides, their are plenty of people in their 30s or 40s who listen to kent aswell.

I like specific songs they have done, rather then a hole album. For example we have Musik non stop(swedish version), an awsome song with cathcy basslines and even an hint of disco flavor! Then we have "Dom andra"(the others) which also is a good song, with an incredible cathy melancolic whistling! We also have the crown of swedish teenage angst, "Om du var här"(If you were here). That song is a quilty pleasure of mine.

But oh well, their latest album is kind of good actually( "Tillbaka till samtiden"). Somehow, I think it reflects the swedes hidden biterness quite well.
Loading...
17.02.2008 - 21:09
Lucas
Mr. Noise
I haven't heard the latest.. the only one I've heard is Du & Jag Döden, and perhaps a bit of Hagnesta Hill too. I want to check out their other stuff, but they only sell the english versions here. Havent found others around here, though i have not done my "extensive-super-search" yet.
----
SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
Loading...
17.02.2008 - 21:31
Warman
Erotic Stains
I don't listen to Kent but I can enjoy their music sometimes. Still, I've always admired them. It's probably the only famous mainstream band in Sweden I have great respect for. Why? Because they're unique and have become famous for actually making music which stands out from the masses and doesn't sound like anything else in the mainstream scene.
----
Loading...
23.02.2008 - 16:20
GT
Coffee!!
As Warman I can enjoy their music from time to time but it's not something I listen to on a regular basis. It's good though and when you listen to it you have no doubt that these guys knows how to handle their instruments and write lyrics.
Nice idea for a blog by the way
----


Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
Loading...
25.02.2008 - 21:11
Lucas
Mr. Noise
Written by Warman on 17.02.2008 at 21:31

..Kent..

Written by GT on 23.02.2008 at 16:20

..Kent..


I quoted you both cause I have a question, even if you both don't really listen to the band: what should I get next, considering I own Du & Jag Döden and love it's tranquil bitterness? (And I don't want any english titled albums from them) Recommendations?
----
SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
Loading...
28.02.2008 - 09:22
GT
Coffee!!
Written by Lucas on 25.02.2008 at 21:11

Written by Warman on 17.02.2008 at 21:31

..Kent..

Written by GT on 23.02.2008 at 16:20

..Kent..


I quoted you both cause I have a question, even if you both don't really listen to the band: what should I get next, considering I own Du & Jag Döden and love it's tranquil bitterness? (And I don't want any english titled albums from them) Recommendations?

Honestly I don't know. The only times I listen to the band is when it's on the radio in the morning, so I have no idea what their albums are called or which is the better one to get, but I can ask around.
----


Dreams are made so we don't get bored when we sleep
Loading...
28.02.2008 - 17:55
Warman
Erotic Stains
Written by Lucas on 25.02.2008 at 21:11

I quoted you both cause I have a question, even if you both don't really listen to the band: what should I get next, considering I own Du & Jag Döden and love it's tranquil bitterness? (And I don't want any english titled albums from them) Recommendations?

Vapen & ammunition is without doubt their most popular album but I think Verkligen and Hagnesta Hill are supposed to be the best according to the critics. Me myself, I have nothing against the singles from the latest one: Tillbaka till samtiden. Sorry for not giving a more specifik answer.
----
Loading...
28.02.2008 - 21:10
Lucas
Mr. Noise
Alright, I'll download some samples etc. from the albums you mentioned and I should be able to figure it out. Thanks both.
----
SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
Loading...
29.07.2008 - 21:32
LeChron James
Helvetesfossen
greatest myspace name ever.
----
Kick Ass, Die Young

Less is More
Stay Pure
Stay Poor

Music was my life, music brought me to life and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz in my head that only I can hear.
Loading...

Hits total: 6649 | This month: 21