HARROW
"Embrace
the World" (Power Records)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
I wish I'd been able to tell you about Harrow way before now. Unfortunately, the band called it quits on May 4, 2000, as explained on their website (listed below). Unfortunately, I just discovered this gem but I am pleased to present it to you now.
"Embrace the World" is a terrific heavy metal record, complete with vocals that remind one of Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson, guitars that rival K.K. Downing and Phil Campbell, and songwriting that is on a par with the big names. Harrow sounds a little like Black Sabbath meets Iron Maiden meets Black Label Society. And it sounds great.
Lyrically, the band is intelligent and sincere. According to the liner notes, "Embrace the World" "tells the story of Earth, carrier of our lives and the Sun, supplier of energy. It also tells about life and death, nature and pollution, government and war, religion and truth. We produced a special sound for all this, a clear and transparent sound. We even added symphonic atmospheres to get the right moods." As weighty and as challenging as all that sounds, Harrow makes it work. You can bang your head with no concern about inanity here.
Harrow produced at least five albums before their self-destruction in 2000. "Embrace the World" makes me want to go back and explore all of them.
Harrow: Henry Wijering - guitars, vocals, shouts; Erik de Boer - guitars & keyboards; Frank van Gerwen - lead vocals and shouts; Martin Kuipers - drums & percussion; Freddy Meyer - bass.
For more information, check out http://www.harrow.nl/studio/indexband.html.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This
record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it
will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the
cover makes you wanna hurl.
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Copyright © 2002 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 13 Jan 2020 21:26:19 -0500.
