Review Summary: Cheers to the victorious dead!
JP Anderson is anything if not prolific. With numerous albums released underneath
The Shizit and
Rabbit Junk monikers Anderson has left a wide wake of various genre's of music behind him, and now the man behind “hardclash” has turned to viking/folk metal. Hints of this direction could be seen in many tracks, particularly on
Project Nonagon with it's distinct metal vibe, and in late 2010
Grave Before Slave was released.
The viking theme is readily apparent as the opening strings and creaking of ships greets the listener on “Mofar Son Of Mofar”and as the music builds Anderson's signature growl really shines in a new light; once heard in this new setting it's hard to imagine why he hasn't been doing this type of music all along. While the track isn't particularly special (in comparison to the rest of the E.P.) it plays to the audiences awe and wonder, it conjures up those childhood adventures of being pirates on the open seas quite readily and unabashedly.
Of the five tracks present on
Grave Before Slave “Dominion Burning” is a gem, though some might say it tries to hard to adhere to the viking/pirate theme. With lines like
But whiskey and freedom gang the gither/So let us drink and conspire together the song is truly catchy and demands a flagon of one's favorite brew be raised in recognition; this is pure fun, and well executed to boot. The transition between tracks is smooth and natural, each track tells it's own tale and then moves on in a Chaucer-esque fashion befitting the music. Everything about the E.P. works well together, and as “Return To The Mjolner” comes to a close the listener will be clamoring for more of this different take on the genre.
With Wolves Under Sail Anderson has created another wonderful outlet, and another amazing release for fans.
Grave Beyond Slave is short, epic, and fun. Nothing on the E.P. over stays it's welcome, and the fact that it's also free on the bands Facebook adds another incentive to the already extensive list of reasons why any JP Anderson fan, or fan of the genre for that matter, should check it out.
