The rap metal stalwarts are back with another slice of music designed to make you think. Better start doing that, before they all die!
Would Eminem exist without Vanilla Ice? Probably not! Or at least it would be more difficult to leave the trailer park behind. Would Rammstein exist without Clawfinger? Definitely not! Not with that distinctive sound, anyway. The balance between mechanical riffs, industrial samples, and rap-infused vocals. They even snagged the producer to have a similar sound.
Their surgically-crafted sound is comprised of the aggressive riffs of Ministry, the hip-hop influences of Suicidal Tendencies (and Faith no More), the punk attack of Agnostic Front, the sampling expertise of The Young Gods, and the political and social awareness of Rage Against the Machine (and the singer is also named Zak). Put all those ingredients in a blender, and what comes out on the other end is Clawfinger. Obviously, the band’s sound is completely fresh and incisive. Not derivative or dull.
So, why are they not as celebrated as many of the aforementioned artists? The reasons may vary, but it could be attributed to shifting trends, bad timing, and the market being flooded with many similarly sounding artists. Particularly during the Nu-Metal craze of the late 90s and early 2000s, of which Clawfinger is a primary influence.
But what’s actually important is that they are back, doing what they do best! In the process, they managed to outlast most of the competition and copycats. The brain-melting riffs are unaltered, the rhythms are still grinding, and the lyrics are as incisive as ever. This is actually one of the things that distinguishes Clawfinger from other similarly sounding artists. The message Zak delivers is as important as the musical ideas that ebb and flow behind his vocals.
Even though they’ve released three singles, “Save Our Souls” in 2017, “Tear You Down” in 2019, and “Environmental Patients” from 2022, Before We All Die will be their first full-length release since their 2007’s Life Will Kill You. 19 years may seem like a long time, but we can’t afford to reminisce about it. Now, they are back and more direct (only one of the 12 tracks is four minutes long), and even more focused on their attack.
The pandemic didn’t dim their views of the world. If anything, they’ve made them more clear-cut. The humor of deceptively/ironically titled songs such as “Sad to See You Sorrow,” “I Need You,” or “Biggest & The Best” is certainly missed. This was substituted by a sharper, leaner, and more direct message. Come to think of it, even the colourfully titled “Wipe My A**” or anti-racist tirades like “N*gger” would get cancelled in this post-pandemic, extremely conscious world we live in.
Always uncompromising and proudly swinging their middle finger to the status quo. Peeling back the layers of cynicism and contradiction of our society, with every note they play
Before We All Die is set for release on February 20th.
PHOTO BY: Peter Bjoens
CLAWFINGER
