Sawthis
Youniverse
Bakerteam Records
2013
Sawthis are a modern Thrash combo, from Italy, that changed their name from Sothis in recent years and have been going on for almost a dozen years now, with this release actually being their third.
The band has a long touring history with many mid-weight names and a few formerly big ones that have fallen from grace. Playing many live dates has rubbed off on them so they are fluid and tight, but their latter day Fear Factory inspired and slightly stoned out rock ‘n death, attitude makes them a bit predictable and pedestrian. If one takes the worse aspects of post thrash – Machine Head, Slipknot and latter day In Flames and Soilwork, (ie when they forgot all about death metal and became emo-core) this is pretty much the sound of Sawthis. Oh yeah and the singer – has the obligatory “dread-locks. Haha, tha’s always a bad sign – if a band member’s head looks like a pineapple!
Apparently “Youniverse”, is a concept album, concerning itself with the theme of multiple personality disorder... according to the press-release, but in all honesty, it would have to be about the lack of identity. Every Swedish-nu-death cliché is presented here, in inferior copies and while, a couple of copies try to differentiate themselves somewhat – they ultimately fail miserably. Even Rob Cavestany of Death Angel can’t save them from sucking, as he guests on a song (“The Disturbed”).
Ehm, third rate copies of some better known bands, with inferior, but bearable production, their groove metal is unlikely to do anything on its own, since they are not backed by a large company, now until/unless they manage to be picked up by one, their future looms above them in the most uncertain fashion I would imagine, like a Damocles sword. Possibly forever destined to remain on the “league” they are in, which is not exactly – the “champions league” but rather the followers...
The band has a long touring history with many mid-weight names and a few formerly big ones that have fallen from grace. Playing many live dates has rubbed off on them so they are fluid and tight, but their latter day Fear Factory inspired and slightly stoned out rock ‘n death, attitude makes them a bit predictable and pedestrian. If one takes the worse aspects of post thrash – Machine Head, Slipknot and latter day In Flames and Soilwork, (ie when they forgot all about death metal and became emo-core) this is pretty much the sound of Sawthis. Oh yeah and the singer – has the obligatory “dread-locks. Haha, tha’s always a bad sign – if a band member’s head looks like a pineapple!
Apparently “Youniverse”, is a concept album, concerning itself with the theme of multiple personality disorder... according to the press-release, but in all honesty, it would have to be about the lack of identity. Every Swedish-nu-death cliché is presented here, in inferior copies and while, a couple of copies try to differentiate themselves somewhat – they ultimately fail miserably. Even Rob Cavestany of Death Angel can’t save them from sucking, as he guests on a song (“The Disturbed”).
Ehm, third rate copies of some better known bands, with inferior, but bearable production, their groove metal is unlikely to do anything on its own, since they are not backed by a large company, now until/unless they manage to be picked up by one, their future looms above them in the most uncertain fashion I would imagine, like a Damocles sword. Possibly forever destined to remain on the “league” they are in, which is not exactly – the “champions league” but rather the followers...