Artist: Japanische Kampfhörspiele
Title: Bilder Fressen Strom
Type: Album
Label: Unundeux Records

“JaKa” are at it again, fresh off their 54 track EP release last year (yes I said EP!), 2010 brings another release of 27 tracks (28 for the vinyl release!) presented throughout a generous 42 minutes. The German Grind Punks spread their political and social commentary again with this well presented package. I always find some of their vocals a little oddball and “spazzy” for want of a better word, then you also get the really nice low end grind vocal too. ‘Die Schlachtung’ (The Slaughtering) is one of their most “epic” tunes at over 5 minutes, but what you get is cool, there is a considerable amount of straight ahead death metal displayed during this track also. Not just a battering, there are plenty of time changes, light and shade moments in terms of aggression and an overall feeling of “you must listen to this properly or it will pass you by”. There is quality in two of my favourite tracks, namely ‘Supermacht’ (Superpower) and ‘Milchkrieg’ (Milk War). These tunes still provide the disjointed rhythms but there is quite a bit of metal and solos too, but grind still remains supreme in general on the album. The aforementioned track (Milk War) has a tremendous metal groove and the sound samples had me checking outside to see if there really was a storm, I suppose in a sleep deprived state anything is possible! This is a ripping metal tune, solo’s like Dimebag Darryl’s style, i.e. tremolo action and string bends galore and this is one of the two instrumentals on the album! The basic trend of the album is – longer than 1 minute, then it’s more a metal song, anything less than 1 minute, then it’s more a grind track! Of course the exception is ‘Jochbeinbruch’ that is an industrial tinged travesty, I just don’t like the industrial sound. Hmm, they keep on pulling out masterpieces though, ‘Wie geht nochmal ficken’ is a pure slow chunky death metal track, its such a refreshing change that an album has so much diversity and influences running through it.

There not much more to say, JaKa are a unique variation of grindcore/grind-punk. But one thing I can say is that they have pulled out the sword from the stone on this album; there is a lot more death metal (even if the better variations have no vocals!). JaKa have plenty of attitude with trademark grind and death riffs, drum beats, samples and spills. My personal observation sees JaKa as a unique entity of eccentrics, great! Their music fills a void from the standard go-for-it-as-fast-as-you-can approach, plenty of thought and vision. ‘Bilder Fressen Strom‘(Pictures, Food, River) is another interesting release from these German grind-punkers.

http://www.japanischekampfhoerspiele.de/
http://www.myspace.com/jaka
http://www.myspace.com/unundeux

Paul Maddison

MTUK HOME