Album Reviews : BeserkerfoX – King Kong on Crack EP

BeserkerfoX hail from Melbourne and are one of many new and upcoming bands who offer a simple,  yet charismatic array of influences from Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy and At The Gates.

In all honesty, when I first saw the title of this EP ‘King Kong on Crack’, I was expecting a quirky upbeat thrash rendition of something resembling Municipal Waste or Anthrax. This was most likely due to the hilarity of the title and the albums cartoonish artwork. No surprise I was completely wrong on that theory and was blown away with what I actually heard.

When I first heard the opening track ‘Self Professed Kings’ my ears were subjected to a hypnotizing riff which accompanied a percussion bongo instrument resembling an Indian or middle eastern flavor. This infusion of somewhat worldly music is soon destroyed as the track explodes with lead vocalist, formally know as Muzzi introducing the track with his gut wrenching death metal growl reminiscent of Amon Amarth’s Johan Hegg.

I can clearly hear influences of Amon Amarth and Arch Enemy in Muzzi‘s vocal range, but sadly it doesn’t have a long lasting effect on me. I wasn’t completely unsatisfied with the vocals,  but there were moments when it did lack finesse and variation.

Musically speaking however this EP is choc full of influences which range from melodic, death, thrash to even quaint folk metal elements. These influences are varied and in somewhat short bursts, but are there if you have a keen ear.

It’s only an EP, I know, but with what the band have to work with is pretty impressive, more so since the majority of the EP was recorded by guitarist Ashish Kumar which is documented on a short video on the EP when you upload it to you PC or Mac.

The war themed ‘Flag of Blood‘ continues a very simple approach with heavy riffs and drumming in an abundance. Again, vocals are alittle dry in their delivery but the song does finish off with a hefty guitar dual from guitarists Ashish and Anannd, respectively.

Finally we come to the last song of the EP ‘Veritas‘. A more straight forward approach with its hard hitting  guitars and drums introducing and inevitability finishing the song in a blaze of glory, albeit with a minor acoustic jam half way through.

To be honest its nearly impossible reviewing EP’s. Especially when a band like BeserkerfoX are so new to the scene and are still wet behind the ears compared to the major or semi major bands in the scene at the moment.

From what I’ve seen so far, the band offer some great humor and this will go down well with the younger generation. Much like Melbourne’s adolescent power metal heroes Vampora, humor is used whenever possible. Just by taking a glimpse of BeserkerfoX‘s live photos and documented videos you know they’re in it for fun and don’t take it to seriously.

BeserkerfoX have done extremely well from both a recording and promotional view point. You have to give them credit for going out on a limb to record their music in anyway possible and have clearly busted their balls to get their name out into the scene in any way possible. Having said that they still have a long way to go. 5/10

Band: BeserkerfoX
Album: King Kong on Crack EP
Year: 2008
Genre: Metal
Label: Unsigned
Origin: Melbourne, Australia
www.myspace.com/beserkerfox

Tracklisting:

1. Self Professed Kings
2. Flag of Blood
3. Veritas