Customer Reviews

Clawfinger

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is new excitement over the Swedish/Norwegian quartet Clawfinger. The group has a new producer, American Peter Reardon, who has worked with Coolio, Scarface and Geto Boys. The new sound is evolutionary, but unmistakably Clawfinger.

Clawfinger's first CD, "Deaf Dumb Blind," was acclaimed as one of the best debuts at a time when metal rap was exploding in popularity, especially in Germany. Rammstein fans loved it. Clawfinger's second CD, "Use Your Brain," was generally criticized for only narrowly expanding on the musical merits of the first. With the third CD, and a new producer, the band finally lives up to its expectations; they have widened their musical outlook and introduced new sounds and new mixes. In the first track, "Two Sides," Indian rhythms furnished by vocalist Antoinette Saigh are tastefully added to heavy guitar riffs and Zak Tell's hard, direct vocals. The song is about alternates to any one religion - there is always another perspective and a different opinion, including non-religion. Since the topic is directed to a western audience, the artistic addition of eastern sounds is very effective.

Clawfinger's intelligent lyrics with deep social implications offers an alternative to the empty lyrics of most pop music. However, they can be criticized as too easy to understand, overly explicit. But poignant social criticism is often more effective when simple and direct. The complicated lyrics in the single "Nigger" were so seriously misinterpreted that the band was actually called racist. Marilyn Manson, a highly misunderstood band, uses complex, metaphorical lyrics. Though Manson's and Clawfinger's criticisms of society are similar, Zak Tell's lyrics are extremely direct. They remind one of a book by Noam Chomsky - so well documented and ultimately simple as to be undeniably true. But unlike Chomsky, the words by Clawfinger really are simple. There are a few strong metaphors on this CD, as in the track "Don't Wake Me Up," but you wont find the beauty of Manson's poetry. (Interestingly, "Nigger" was left off the US release of "Deaf Dumb Blind." The Americans got the substitute "Get It," a very hard piece about anger directed toward conservative rulers.)

With some of the hardest heavy metal riffs anywhere, you may get this CD for the wonderful sounds. But you may love it for the intelligent, direct lyrics delivered with the rage of a truly compassionate, educated band.

I bought this CD in about May, and I only stop listening to it to hear some Rammstein. Clawfinger has a great sound that almost puts even RAMMStEIN to shame! If you like Rammstein, DEFINETLY buy this CD!

I heard "Biggest & The Best" on WAAF 107.3 (the best radio station in Massachusetts) and thought it was great and when I bought the CD, I found out that it was not the only good song. An added feature that this CD has is that when you pop it into your computer, it lets you actually MAKE your own songs using sounds from different instruments. So, even if you hate the music they made (which you won't), you should at least buy this CD so you can make your some music that you will like!

This is the best album since Deaf Dumb Blind. Their secound album (called Use Your Mind) wasn't that good, but this one presents new sounds of industrial combined w/ heavy, heavy metal. In combination with Zak's voice: Superb. But nothing for easy-listeners. As this album isn't as good as their first one (DDB), I'll give 4 stars.

"Two sides" and "The biggest & the best" kick ass! However, the rest of the cd kinda blows.

I'm sorry, they may be sweedish, but the lyrics are in English. The lyrics are also terrible. The music isn't bad but the lead singer is so self-rightious I could puke blood. His arrogance overshadows the whole thing. This cd is mind numbing.