Konkhra - Reality Check
4 Years have passed since the release of Konkhra's last album Come Down Cold. As we know by now, that album did not become quite as popular as the classic Konkhra albums Sexual Affective Disorder and Spit Or Swallow. Personally I wasn't very impressed with Weed Out The Weak either, and it seemed that front man Anders Lundemark's tactic of hiring famous people didn't work out as one could have hoped. Machine Head drummer Chris Kontos played drums on Weed out the Weak and James Murphy (Testament, Death, and Obituary) played guitar on both Weed Out The Weak and Come Down Cold. Today Konkhra is back with the original line-up here on their fifth album Reality Check.

Reality Check certainly is an improvement compared to Weed out the Weak and Come down Cold. Konkhra are back in business with their groovy death thrashy music. Reality Check is a war themed album, and the cover art shows a burning city. War seems to be a popular theme for metal albums these days. The album was recorded in Lundemark's own Starstruck Studios, and has an overall good production.

The opener Warmonger (I wonder if the title refers to a certain Mr. Bush) is a heavy hard pumping track with a groovy feeling all the way. It gives a good picture of the rest of this album. The music is brutal yet very melodic and catchy at the same time. Lundemark's vocals are great, and there are some pretty cool guitar riffs in the song. In the middle of the song there is a riff which sounds exactly like a riff in an old Kim Larsen (Danish pop musician) song. My guess is that this is a coincidence rather than a tribute to good ol' Kim Larsen, but who knows.

One of the best tracks on the album is The Lions Are Hungry. It is a mid-paced and very heavy track with complex riffs and a I-want-to-head-bang-when-I-hear-this groove throughout the entire song. In the end there is an extra heavy part where Lundemark screams "The Lions Are Hungry". Another strong track is Fear Of God. It is also a powerful and well composed song with great drums and guitar work.

Reality Check is a nice comeback for Konkhra who once sat on the Danish death metal throne. They don't climb back onto the throne with this album. Reality Check is not a new Spit Or Swallow, but Lundemark and company deliver a solid performance, and things look promising for the future for Konkhra. Fans of the old Konkhra should definitely check this album out. Good work Konkhra - keep it coming!

Written by Anders
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
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Ratings

Anders: 7.5/10

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Comment by Anders (Anonymous) - Thursday, December 4, 2003
10/10 sorry.....this album just rules...











Review by Anders
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Released by
Code666 - 2003

Tracklisting
1. Warmonger
2. Lions Are Hungry
3. Reality Check
4. Eye of Horus
5. Hellhound on my Trail
6. Fear of God
7. The Coming of (R)age
8. Grapes of Wrath
9. Parasite
10. Day of the Dog
11. Lowlife
12. The Blackest of Dawns


Supplied by Target


Style
Death/Thrash Metal

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Konkhra - Official Website

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