Stinking Lizaveta - Scream Of The Iron Iconoclast
Monotreme Records
Stoner/Doom, Jazz-Infused Improv Metal
16 songs (60:48)
Release year: 2007
Stinking Lizaveta, Monotreme Records
Reviewed by Ross
Man, does this take me back or what! Mahavishnu Orchestra, Velvet Underground and others that were around at the time of Woodstock, Hendrix, The Summer Of Love and the wearing of flowers in your hair, but I’m afraid are just a befuddled blur in the dark crevices of my mind. Stinking Lizaveta play the sort of stuff that is just right listening to when sampling wares recently purchased from your friendly Moroccan or Lebanese Herbalist. You need to be in a frame of mind to see, feel and smell this style of music; kinda like hearing colour and Scream Of The Iron Iconoclast exudes some of the most psychedelic colours I’ve heard in a long time.

Scream Of The Iron Iconoclast may catch out many who, when shelf surfing their local record store, envisage a CD full of Headbanging Metal. What you have here is Improv, Avant-garde, Jazz and some Doom laden riffage mixed with hedonistic abandon to create a weighty tome of eclecticism that will scorch your brain to a crisp. No lightweight material here, this is thinking person’s Metal that demands your full attention. I think what grabs you is the openness of the music, the production sounds like you have stepped into their practice room or the band are playing in your bedroom; it’s like you are right there with them, listening to them as they jam their way through their creative processes. It’s a warm sound, like you’re with a bunch of friends that have formed a group and asked you to come along and tell them what you think. And there you are, listening intently, and because they’re your friends, you listen with more enthusiasm than you would with ‘Just another band’. Scream Of The Iron Iconoclast had my attention from the first feedback wail and crunchy riff of Gravitas and kept a firm grip on it until the closing drumbeat of Nails. So engrossed was I in the music, I was more than half way through the album before I realised there were no vocals, I was also quite staggered to find that Stinking Lizaveta are just a three piece – Extraordinary!

Scream Of The Iron Iconoclast is Stinking Lizaveta’s fifth album, but not having heard any of their previous creations, can’t compare it to any of them. If their previous creations have led an uncompromising path to this, then I can’t really see them being picked up by any major label soon. Forever to remain hidden underground, refusing to jump on whatever bandwagon is rolling through Metal Town or pampering to any mainstream fad or trend-de-jour. Stinking Lizaveta are heading in a direction known only to themselves and I have no doubt that there is a legion of fans out there who will blindly follow them whichever direction they take. I don’t think brothers Yanni and Alexi Popadopoulos (Guitar and Upright Electric Bass respectively) or drummer Cheshire Agusta will be too broken-up about the lack of mass recognition and continue to produce their own brand of Stoner/Doom, Jazz-infused, Improv Metal, putting quality and substance over marketability and mass popularity.

To get the best out of this album you’re gonna have to dedicate time to it, to listen to it, to get into its groove. It’s not the sort of album you can sling on for some background sounds whilst you go about your life. This is for kicking back with some beers, JD, Southern Comfort or any other mind altering substance of choice and letting the music seep into your inner being. You can preview some of their work on their Website and their MySpace page. Scream Of The Iron Iconoclast will most certainly not float everyone’s boat but if it does, sail on.
Killing Songs :
Gravitas, Yagan's Head, Soul Retreaval, Indomitable Will, That's How I Feel, Nails
Ross quoted 77 / 100
Other albums by Stinking Lizaveta that we have reviewed:
Stinking Lizaveta - Sacrifice And Bliss reviewed by Goat and quoted 70 / 100
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There are 2 replies to this review. Last one on Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:27 pm
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