Pro-tape edition limited to 150 copies – 75 purple and 75 black copies, incl A3 Poster. Death Metal/Death ‘n’ Roll from Sweden
CULT Swedish death metal feat. Johan Liiva (Carnage ex Arch Enemy) and Max Thornell.
Guest leads and co produced by Michael Amott (Arch Enemy). Extensive liner notes,old pics and the original 1992 coverart!
There are two things, which you should know before listening to Furbowl albums… First is the fact that this Swedish band had the worst moniker EVER in the history of death metal music and secondly, this is what Johan Liiva was doing before he joined the more famous Arch Enemy (note that he also participated in early creations of Carnage… shit, ain’t that man a legend??). Music wise though Furbowl hasn’t got anything in common with the bands I just mentioned.
If you’ll ever listen to the great “The Nightfall of your Heart” demo you may find cool, slightly progressive way of playing death metal there; definitely the music on this tape was very original and different, with some really weird melodies or annoying keyboards he, he! “Those Shredded Dreams” gives you basically the same, as Furbowl has re-recorded three of the demo songs on it, re-arranging some bits of the songs, but mostly keeping their character. New tracks from the other hand are something totally different and even more challenging to the death metal listener. So, what do we get instead then? Well, if anyone calls Entombed a father of so called death’n’roll, he may have to change his opinion, because Furbowl on their 1992 debut LP played that style already! Yes! And it does sound so naturally, fresh and is full of dense energy that the album is like a hard kick in the arse!
Surely Furbowl members have been listening the same bands Entombed did at the time and it’s quite intriguing that both came up with such music – although mind that “Wolverine Blues” was released a year later! This music still has a strong death metal base of course, in this case I would say it was Entombed’s “Clandestine” first and foremost. But that is completed by the rock riffing (Johan has cited The Cure as one of their biggest influences) – you could bring also such doomy bands as Black Sabbath or The Cult here; whatever – Furbowl simply has this strange mushroomy feeling he, he. Anyway, the effect is absolutely brilliant I think and the album is one damn good listening.
The opener, “Damage Done” is 9,5 minute long, vicious and aggressive track with many catchy fragments and a bit progressive middle part that brings to memory those slow, keyboard based fragments from their debut demo. Despite its length, “Damage Done” isn’t too complex, this song is quite simple actually but has a lot of energy and definitely is the most energetic from the album. I really like the solo and that epic riff that follows it! “Those Shredded Dreams” has just six songs and three of them are re-recorded / re-arranged compositions from the demo. “Nothing Forever” is first of them and it’s a bit faster and more straight forward track, but again has a lovely melodic solo in the middle part, that would make Entombed guys jealous. That song (its structure, etc) has been changed from the original a bit, but only for better.
“Razorblades” starts with a bluesy bass-played motif, which with those weird clean vocals makes rather disturbing impression. The song transforms into very slow, doom-like composition, but surely it’ the weirdest of all the songs from Furbowl debut full length. One may ask what have they smoked while recording this song he, he… Or maybe it’s just classic doom metal influence that inspired their psyches?
Another demo song is “Desertion” and it is actually one of my favourites from the album. It’s very simple and short, but has a great feeling and chorus. Last demo song is called “Sharkheaven” – song with the worst lyrics EVER in the history of death metal; inspired by the movie “Jaws” (not “Jews” hehe) and sharks, it’s really hilarious to read “down at Miami Beach, nothing is out of reach for the great white beast waiting for it’s feast”… Ha, ha what a clever poetry. But music wise I love this track; it’s almost classic Swedish DM tune, slightly melodic, mid paced and with brilliant riffs and vocal parts. And it proves that it was good decision to get these demo songs re-recorded on the full length. They’ve got a proper production now and sound really great. To some point, the band got rid of some of those weirdest ideas they had, made these songs bit simpler, but more catchy. And that’s good.
And finally the closing title track comes, which is another great epic of the album. During its seven minutes you’ll find many various parts, including an outro played on "(satanic) violin (of doom – ha, ha!!!)" and very progressive riffs played with the accompanying of keyboards. This song will show you how different Furbowl was from the majority of other Swedish death metal bands. Actually at many fragments you may ask yourself if they’re death metal band at all?! But definitely this album has its charm, sense of humor and is worthy having in the collection; even despite that awful front cover. I must recommend it to all Entombed fans; I’m sure they’ll find Furbowl as interesting and surprising. You may find getting the first pressing of “Those Shredded Dreams” difficult or too expensive; in that case I recommend buying the re-release from VIC Records, with some additional tracks. But a real jewel in my collection is limited to 500 copies vinyl pressing from THE CRYPT Productions, with three LPs; one includes the album, another has two demos from 1991 and 1992 and the third vinyl has got promo 1993, Venom cover and live recordings. Not all songs have the best sound quality, but all together it is one of the best released compilation vinyls I’ve ever got (did I mention three panel gatefold with many old band pictures, alternative front cover, bio, lyrics, old interviews and fuckin huge poster???). That is a real feast for Swedish death metal maniac / collector. Recommended!
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