Chain Collector
Forthcoming Addiction
8.2
Nobody does supergroups, side projects, or spinoffs like the Scandinavians. Today's review focuses on the 4-song mini release from Chain Collector, who contain three members of Green Carnation, including the distinctive pipes of Kjetil Nordhus. Rounding out the band are Anders Kobro (drums) and Endre Kirkesola (bass/keys), also of G.C., and Goran Bomann (Carpathian Forest) and Kjell Jacobsen on guitars. This collaboration delivers high-quality melodic metal, as if that was ever in doubt. I'm not sure if these are four cuts from the upcoming studio album, or just a demo, but the production is certainly worthy enough. The mix is heavy and guitar oriented. I hesitate to use the "melodic death" descriptor, as Kjetil is a pure singer, with a mild drone to his voice that faintly reminds me of Layne Staley. Regardless, three of four songs would easily fall into that subgenre were there some growling involved. The first track, "Wicked Mask", is cut from the same cloth as recent Soilwork, Raunchy, and Mnemic, with groove chords, shredding solos, etc. "Winter Process" slows the pace, with a plodding middle, reminiscent of Light of Day, Day of Darkness, sandwiched between more upbeat melodic death riffs. "Crucifixion" is a vast departure from the trail the first two songs carved out, sounding very much like a new Green Carnation song. Soft, quirky guitar lines are the backdrop for Kjetil's somber crooning. Gradually the pace builds to a slow thrash gallop, with electronics used very sparingly in the background. The last song, "Fallen Angel", is by far the hardest and most intense, hailing from the Callenish Circle school of slashing riffage. Due to the pedigree of the members of Chain Collector, I'd expect nothing short of top-notch modern metal. They live up to these expectations. I'm usually not much of a fan of EP's and mini releases, but this is definitely worth a listen and a few bucks. I impatiently await their full-length debut.
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