Album Review: Birdflesh - Sickness In The North
Reviewed by Daniel Phipps
Formed in 1992 and with a discography which has a word count probably longer than this entire review, Scandinavian grindcore merchants Birdflesh are ready unleash another pile of grinding goodness titled Sickness in The North and again coming courtesy of Italian label Everlasting Spew records. Just by judging this new album's rather colourful artwork which contains burning churches, sharks, Christmas trees among other things it's got everything in place to be a crazy release.
Sickness in The North provides its audience with 23 tracks of grindcore battery and it has a lot going for it, it has speed, it has groove, it has a fun side let's put it this way your not going to get bored and if you do then, your probably a dull and joyless person. On top of the ripping fast paced grind Birdflesh offer a triple vocal attack with each member of the Scandinavian band getting time on the mic at points.
What's really enjoyable on Sickness in The North is the continued energy found within each track. From the more frantic straight up grind tracks which given the 23 offerings in total you will find plenty of them, you also find more of a thrash/hardcore/crossover vibe packed into the package at various points, it’s a ball of all out energy and fun all throughout its run time. The production on the album is solid and no matter what’s going on everything comes through clear (but not too clear it’s still got that grit to it).
Birdflesh gives you a solid, well crafted and fun new record. If you want a collection of catchy yet utterly vicious grind then you can do far far worse than Sickness in The North. It remains extreme whilst still maintaining a punky edge to it which makes it a really easy listen. A solid all round must add album to my personal collection.
