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Graf Orlock / Grey Skull - Split [12 inch] (Cover Artwork)

Graf Orlock / Grey Skull

Split [12 inch] (2005)
Dood

Reviewer Rating:


Contributed by: RTTH
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Published on January 8th 2006


First thing to say about this is how beautiful the actual album is. This release is vinyl only. The first pressing, (which I have) is transluscent, smoke-colored vinyl. Rather than a traditional sleeve, it comes in a die cut backpack sleeve. The lyrics are in the form of a homework assignment sticking out of the backpack, complete with a teacher's comments on grammar and such. However, this record is as beautiful sonically as visually.

Graf Orlock is Side A, blasting your ears in with brutal cinema-inspired grind. Musically, this is a pretty standard hybrid of hardcore and grind. Where Graf shines is the use of samples and lyrically. All their lyrics are taken/based on movies, and the samples they use correspond perfectly. I also have a particular liking for their vocalist. Normally I find grind a bit tiresome, as it seems the singers rotate from the extreme ends of the high/low vocal spectrum. Graf's vocalist moves nicely from the highs to lows and back again, never reaching the extreme ends that get old very fast.

Grey Skull, on Side B, is some of my favorite punk/hardcore. Upon first listen, it doesn't seem too different from the horde of similar bands out there right now, but the more one listens, the better it becomes. All the instruments on their own wouldn't be anything special, but they all work together so well, it blows my mind. The vocalist is passionate, both in terms of singing and the actual lyrics. In fact, the lyrics are so passionate it comes off a bit haughty, but it can be forgiven.

I strongly recommend this record, as it just seems to get better every time I listen to it.



People who liked this also liked:
Jesu - LifelineConverge - No HeroesHave Heart - The Things We CarryThe Loved Ones - Keep Your HeartPropagandhi - Potemkin City LimitsPaint It Black - ParadiseModern Life Is War - My Love, My WayBane - Give BloodKid Dynamite - Kid DynamiteTragedy - Tragedy

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    Anonymous (January 10, 2006)

    Crimethinc is such a fucking joke. Graf Orlock sure is awesome though!

    Anonymous (January 9, 2006)

    This website needs to review more vinyl.

    Anonymous (January 9, 2006)

    the first paragraph is useless, i can tell that by just looking at the picture.

    but needless to say, i loved this thing.
    greyskull is the best HHIG ripoff ever, while graf orlock is just one of the sweetest "grindcore" bands out right now, just because their songs are about awesome movies.

    Anonymous (January 9, 2006)

    Best record of last year, get this shit...

    Anonymous (January 9, 2006)

    awesome packaging.

    etwiels88 (January 8, 2006)

    The art for this album is fucking sweet

    Jesse (January 8, 2006)

    See also:

    VAGUGE VAGUE VAGUE

    Yeah, you like it. Tell us what's good about it, not that it's good. "I LOVE THE LYRICS!" Then what are they?

    bobbett (January 8, 2006)

    that case looks awesome.

    Jesse (January 8, 2006)

    This review reads like a two year old wrote it. This reviewer uses short sentances. I've gotten quite bored with this review. I couldn't make it very far into it. I had to stop reading. This reviewer should read more reviews. This reviewer should write better reviews.

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