Kong
Phlegm
[Peaceville]
This strange all-instrumental band emerged from the Netherlands in the late 80's and is probably most known for appearing on the Volume 4 Peaceville compilation with Darkthrone, Autopsy, Paradise Lost, and My Dying Bride. Phlegm, released in 1992 as Kong's second full length album, was the last truly metal (at least in most aspects) outing the group recorded; soon after they dropped the label for MFN (and eventually Roadrunner) and "progressed" into some sort of abstract techno/dance music which I can't really find any redeemable qualities in at all, although I'd imagine advocates to that type of style might consider it the best work they've ever done. Regardless this is a unique and abstract production and there are many moments that I found rather brilliant, in addition to a few that I probably could have done without.
"Jungle rave" metal? In its entirety Phlegm is made up complex musical arrangements where the four members often play riffs that appear completely indifferent to one another, although somehow it collaborates into some massive and powerful songs. The guitars are heavy and the tracks usually have an industrial feel with some well-incorporated samples and odd beats. These Quadraphonists were clearly a long way ahead of their time, but somewhere along the line I think they inevitably pushed it too far and brought in too many outside elements. I didn't find folk fiddles, African percussions, and organ sounds to be particularly enhancing characters in this band's later work.
"Horse L." is an extremely commanding opener and my personal favorite, with flailing solos and a nice lead into three more good songs. Track 5, "Stockhouse," I find rather annoying as it's basically screeching monkey noises for four minutes but "Yak" puts the album back on course and "Bela Soul" particularly has amazing riff in it. At this point Phlegm probably slopes off a bit until the final song.
"Jungle rave" metal? In its entirety Phlegm is made up complex musical arrangements where the four members often play riffs that appear completely indifferent to one another, although somehow it collaborates into some massive and powerful songs. The guitars are heavy and the tracks usually have an industrial feel with some well-incorporated samples and odd beats. These Quadraphonists were clearly a long way ahead of their time, but somewhere along the line I think they inevitably pushed it too far and brought in too many outside elements. I didn't find folk fiddles, African percussions, and organ sounds to be particularly enhancing characters in this band's later work.
"Horse L." is an extremely commanding opener and my personal favorite, with flailing solos and a nice lead into three more good songs. Track 5, "Stockhouse," I find rather annoying as it's basically screeching monkey noises for four minutes but "Yak" puts the album back on course and "Bela Soul" particularly has amazing riff in it. At this point Phlegm probably slopes off a bit until the final song.
© 2001 hando