Rough Edge: Lock Up CD Reviews

LOCK UP

"Pleasures Pave Sewers" (Nuclear Blast; 2000)

The key word for "Pleasures Pave Sewers" is raw. Showing no restraint and absolutely no remorse, Lock Up is a one-time, mega-talented side project that emphasizes spontaneity over technical perfection. The results are brutal, in-your-face, and deliriously cathartic.

Deliberately under-produced, "Pleasures Pave Sewers" is extreme metal stripped down to the bare essentials and the executed with amazing violence and purity. Who needs fancy production when the forceful rage of Lock Up cuts through the speakers with amazing clarity?

"Pleasures Pave Sewers" is a trend-free blast of extreme death metal that excites as well as satisfies. Remember the days of Repulsion, Slayer, early Death, and Dark Angel? Lock Up bring the past to life with their own blend of sheer force and the band can rightfully join the ranks of Cryptopsy, Bloodbath, and Slayer for achieving the highest intensity ratio per millisecond in recent recorded history. The thirteen tracks of "Pleasures Pave Sewers" clock in at an economical thirty minutes and expend their damage like cluster bombs over desolate ground.

With Shane Embury and Jesse Pintado providing the harmonic fury it's easy to see why Lock Up sounds like Napalm Death; only twice as fast! The supremely talented Nick Barker provides more proof that he just might be the best drummer in metal. The legendary Peter Tagtren's vocals lend a furious slant that brings Lock Up over the top.

Lock Up is Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy) on vocals, Jesse Pintado (Napalm Death) on guitars, Shane Embury (Napalm Death) on bass, and Nick Barker (Dimmu Borgir) on drums.

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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