This Finnish all-girl rock crew have it nailed -- almost -- when it comes to belting out a killer collection of punk-tinged hard rock that is so close to perfection, it's frustrating. The only thing really lacking here is a supercharged guitar sound. It's not that the guitars sound bad, rather they would completely transform this album if they rang out with the power of the likes of Skid Row or mötley Crüe instead of the predominant AC/DC-like tone they currently have. Listening to the likes of "Rockstar" or "Escort"might be an enjoyable affair now, but it's hard not to think of how immense they would sound with a Dave Sabo-esque six-stringed savagery behind them. It would change "All over you" from a head-nodding, foot-tapping rock 'n' roll album into a fist-pounding, frenzy-inducing hard rock behemoth. I'm not talking about changing the riffs -- the songwriting is exceptional -- but rather giving the guitar that sound that forces gritted teeth, clenched fists and a cry of "Fuck yeah!" at the slightest hint of a chord being hit. The vocals are right up there with the best of rock's female screamers, the production borders on the perfect and, all-in-all, this is a stormer of a debut album that would get full marks if not for what I've just mentioned above. Just... please... floor us with that guitar next time! - John Norby
Okkultokrati play Stockholm this weekend at m/event.php?eid=166505000033481">DeadFest and if it's anything like when they played Göteborg a few weeks back, I imagine my RSS reader will be full of statements such as "holy shit!" and "screw it, I quit!" the very next day. Or maybe not, seeing as how Stockholm's denizens tend to be unimpressed, jaded elitists. Anyhow, whether or not dozens of mediocre bands will spontaneously dissolve after being devastated by Scandinavia's current genre leaders, it's an event not to be missed. I obviously can't make it as I'm back home, halfway 'round the world, but at least I can still jam the band's superb new EP "Ingen veit alt". Five new tracks, including a Reagan Youth cover ("No class"), a tune with the very timely title of "Witch house" and then one that ups the nomenclature ante even further: "Triumph of meth". If the tag of "apocalyptic metal/punk sludge" sounds appealing, you can't do better than this.
Barbe-Q-Barbies