Burnaby, B.C's death/thrash Tribune is releasing their latest album today "Elder Lore/The Dark Arts". Metal and progressive rock resounds within. The vocals of Bryan Baker range from deep guttural chants, a distinct form of singing, and animalistic screams in the style of extreme metal. The theme for this album could be the “inhuman”, “the unexplained”. Shot gun, steady, guitar riffs violate each song, galloping bass lines are upfront, and melodic tendencies soften parts throughout.
Hypersexualizing women as objects/monsters clutches the narrative of hegemonic masculinity and triggers in “Chemistry Arrives”. In this storyline women are evil forces causing dangerous cravings among a narrator who hungers domination and conquest. Some form of self-reflection is mirrored with saturated female sexuality being “everywhere on TV screens and in my dreams”. This uncontrollable immersion of lust is torturous. The artwork matches, colorful and demonic, with a beastly woman crouched on skulls and another exposing her vulva with vines entwined around her. Is this song a supernatural exploration where women are not human but cast as unearthly temptress subjects? Or is this song an expression of deep seated misogyny? I’m hoping it is the former, not the latter, the writers and fans wish to embrace.
The best track on the album is “The World’s Greatest Cynic”. I’d like to hear more songs like this on their next album. The vocals are heavy, the sound more powerful, and the lyrics intelligent. Questioning war and hegemony is a popular theme in metal and when done this way, effective.
3/5 Dragon's
- Deeanna Danger -
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