Rapture

Once Impaled Nazarene came out of the blue and out of the zoo (remember their formidable intermezzos on their debut). They did not need much time to release an all-time classic, at least from my point of view. “Ugra Karma” was, still is and will ever be a true milestone. Nine reviews with an average of 91% speak a clear language. Too bad that the gang did never reach this form again. Only every now and then, they served up a song that could compete with the material of their discography’s highlight. “Rapture” houses one of these songs. I am speaking of “6th Degree Mindf**k”.

Its lyrics are lovely as always (“First degree, one simple step, just burn your skin with a cigarette“ – the following degrees are very pleasant as well) and honestly speaking, the general song structure does not differ from the other songs. However, here they use their formula truly masterly. Despite its almost pathological insanity, this mindf**k is catchy, furious and intoxicating. There are more songs that leave their aroma, „Iron Fist with an Iron Will“ or „Healers of the Red Plague“. All of them are based on brute, punk-drenched rawness and those who expect a certain atmosphere will be disappointed. Impaled Nazarene just hammer on the head of everyone who stands in their way. They are successful in doing so, but this monotonous way of proceeding is not the most interesting spectacle.

Lyric-wise, the band borders on self-parody. We learn new things about rectums, a certain phallus and, naturally, goatvomit and gasmasks. How exciting! Some may find it funny, I think it’s a bit stupid. And this word also comes to my mind when I have to say something about the musical approach. „Rapture“ does not suffer from a lack of energy and the uncompromising attitude deserves respect, but this is no excuse for a completely one-dimensional celebration of murderous velocity. Okay, I would not call the album stupid in its entirety, because the single songs usually reach a solid (sometimes good) level. Nevertheless, I ask myself whether minimalist riffing and robotic drumming are really the last word on the subject. Especially the lack of atmosphere is regrettable. “Ugra Karma” demonstrated that total violence and a creepy mood are not mutually exclusive (“Cyber Christ”).

And what about Mika Luttinen? Well, he screams and screams and screams. Furthermore, he screams. Does his one-pitch-approach reflect his limitation or his dedication? I don’t know. At the end of the day, the material does not profit from his performance, but he also does not ruin the songs. By the way, there is exactly one song that breaks out of the high-velocity-and-nothing-else motto. Significantly, it’s the closer. Too bad that its riffs are rather boring. Anyway, despite its somewhat flat and emotionless production and the aforementioned deficiencies, “Rapture” does not fall through the net. It’s no masterpiece, but some songs are well done and spread a beastly vitality – even 25 years after its release. (And I am sure the band loves the score of my rating.)

This “Rapture” is probably the album that confirmed the cult status of Impaled Nazarene. The albums before were probably considered smaller underground pieces but, as the time passed by, finally the crazy Finnish masters of punkish black metal were able to received the right attention from the musical panorama. It’s useless to say what you can receive from an album by Impaled Nazarene…here it’s all about the speed, violence and riffs.

As you know, the perfect combination of the punk influences with the black metal is the main characteristic of this band and this album follows the same style. “Penis et Circes” is probably the manifesto of this album with the refrain ‘Hail Satan, master, weeping Christians burn at stake’ that has become history, considering how much a band on this genre could mock the serious black metal scene. “6th Degree Mindfuck” and “Iron Fist With an Iron Will” show all their impact on the punk up tempo with open chords riffs and always a hint of melody. The vocals by Mika are always extreme and schizophrenic. A trademark.

“Angel Rectums Do Bleed” is just punk with black metal vocals and it’s definitely faster while “We're Satan's Generation” shows some of the influences from thrash metal we could have found on the most recent efforts. The bass drum triplets and the riffs are just great and this song displays also a good songwriting united to the always brutal approach. The Ugra-Karma period seems closer thanks to “Goatvomit and Gasmasks” and the following “Fallout Theory in Practice”. Apart from being two awesome titles, they also show massive riffs and relentless semi blast beats (faster up tempo).

After the screamed chorus of “Healers of the Red Plague”, it’s time for “The Pillory” to increase even more the speed. Actually, there isn’t a lot to say about these songs because they are more or less on the same style. The riffs are always dirty, crazy and rotten while the drumming is raw as fuck and “in one way”. “The Return of Nuclear Gods” is another track that has made history in this genre for its furious progression and the “catchy” refrain. With “Vitutation” the punk tempo returns and everything seems rawer in this sense. The only track that differs a bit is “Phallus Maleficarum” with its slower march and its more audible melodies to end the album.

Reaching the end of this album is risky for your mental sanity and your ears too. The impact and the sheer brutality of Ugra-Karma will never be beaten but this album, is some parts, reminds us those days. By the way, this Rapture contains some of the most famous tracks ever composed by this band, surely it’s a very good effort and it’s recommended to any Impaled Nazarene fan who still doesn’t own it.

I think this is one of Impaled Nazarene's best albums, probably even the best one. (Note that I still haven't heard Suomi Finland Perkele) I like their first two albums, but in Rapture the Finnish goat rapists finally figured out how to play their instruments AND found the style that suits them best. The result can't be described as Black Metal anymore (not that they ever were really black metal), no, not at all. There are obvious BM influences, a lot of Thrash metal (Sodom, anyone?) and of course - Goats! 'Nuclear Metal' really says it all. Rapture is not an ultra-fast blastfest like Ugra-karma, instead the music is a lot more riff-oriented and you can actually bang your head to the rhytm.

The riffs on here are memorable and fun (hmm, Sodom again?), the vocals are the fucking screaming goat-sodomizing hell we all know well and love. There are tons of killer riffs in nearly every song, especially 'Angels Rectums Do Bleed', which is a blackened speed/thrash hymn. The album starts real violent with 'Penis Et Circes' - one of the few songs with blastbeats on the album. 'Healers of the Red Plague' is a fast to midpaced thrashy song, one of the coolest in the album. Check out the anti-Commie lyrics - "Back in the days of Vietnam, the cure was called napalm!". 'We're Satan's Generation' is another hymn-type song, some great riffs and great silly I-don't-give-a-fuck lyrics here. There are also lots of midpaced tracks, like '6th Degree Mindfuck' (totally sick lyrics) or 'Iron Fist With An Iron Will', which may seem a bit boring on the first listen, but after spinning the CD a couple of times I found myself enjoying them greatly.

That's enough for now, I really should be working. Rapture is the only tr00 Nuclear Metal album and the perfect choice to play on your home stereo if you're planning to spend the evening sodomizing a goat. If you don't buy it you're not a true Nuclear Metal fan! And I bet you don't like goats, too!