RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER „Buried in the Front Yard”

Music: Thrash
Country: USA
Website: http://www.rumplestiltskingrinder.com
Duration: 34.24
Cool Songs: ALL!!!

With one of the weirdest names in metal, Pennsylvania’s ‘Rumpelstiltskin Grinder’ (from here on known as RsG) have unleased their debut full length on the mighty Relapse label. Having not heard these guys before, I was open to anything that this might throw at me – with a name as convoluted as theirs and an album entitled ‘Buried in the Front Yard’ adjectives such as ‘Gore’ and ‘Grind’ were the most obvious descriptions that came to mind. As It happens, this is not the case. Turns out that ‘RsG’ have their foot well and truly planted on the old school THRASH pedal whilst maintaining a very healthy sense of humour within their lyrics and song titles. Oh yes, this is very good.

I’ve never been a huge fan of ‘Humour Metal’ – bands like ‘Macabre’ are highly rated but for me, they’ve never really cut it musically. Having said that, ‘S.O.D’s ‘Speak English or Die’ remains a classic staple to this day. And like S.O.D, the best thing about ‘RsG’ is their ability to pen a killer tune based around that all encompassing rush of old school thrash! ‘Buried…’ is a perfectly timed (35 minutes) eight track affair (something that also smacks of old school Thrash aesthetics) and represents the second authentic ‘nod’ to the 80’s style that we’ve witnessed this year – the first coming via the storming ‘Municipal Waste’ album ‘Hazardous Mutation’. ‘RsG’ don’t play the crossover, punk element as much as the Wasters churn out, yet the attitude, dynamic energy and clever tongue in cheek delivery is very much the same. The other thing that sets RsG apart from the likes of MW and other old school thrash luminaries is that they don’t actually adhere to the well worn template – in this way ‘RsG’ are able to avoid the pitfalls of sounding redundant and accusations of flogging a seriously dead horse. There is enough twist and turns on ‘Buried…’ to suggest a fresh thrash approach has been discovered here.

There’s also plenty evidence on ‘Buried..’ that ‘RsG’ are killer musicians. Both Guitarists can shred like madman. Matt Moore (Red Candle Records, XXX MANIAK) rolls out those ultra tight riff patterns with unrestrained abandon, twisting and contorting them into new grooves throughout the whole album. Then there is the lead work of Ryan Moll; Smokin’ is word that comes to mind. Perfectly placed and a serious lesson to all who want to know how a solo should be constructed and woven into a song. This album really is an attack of the mad axemen all the way!!

I’m also really impressed with vocalist/frontman Eli Shaika. Clear and concise, the guy actually fronts like a breath of fresh air in that he enunciates his words rather resorting to the typical and oh so generic metalcore screams of the current day. Eli’s is a more aggressive ‘spoken’ like approach but he does reminds of a lot of old school thrash vocalists – Hetfield (circa Puppets of course), Kurt Bretch, Mille Petrozza etc, but also somehow he establishes his own style of delivery.

With a killer ‘thick on the riff’ production, ‘Buried …’ is a great, great listen. I love their sense of humour (hell, they even have a track called ‘Orange & Black Attack’, not only the bands motto, but also a slight dig at an early Stryper album) and the fact that the band is talented enough to add a freshness to the classic Thrash sound. This band doesn’t take themselves too seriously and as a result they’ve conjured a metal album that is not only tons of fun to listen, but one that other like minded bands should use for ‘thrash research’ before even considering their own attempts!

note: 8.5

Tracklist

Stealing E.T.
Orange & Black Attack
Grab a Shovel (We've Got Bodies to Bury)
The Day Merman Met Todd “The Harpoon” Wilson
Unleash the Troll
Grinder
Let the Fools Cheer
Ode to Tanks