Forklift Elevator: Killerself

Having lumbered themselves with one of the worst band names in music history, Italy's Forklift Elevator return with their second album, Killerself. Since their debut James Hetfield alike Enrico Martin has been dispensed with, the new man behind the mic being Stefano Segato. Often a weakness in many an Italian band's armoury, this fresh addition to the band is actually a major weapon in the Forklift attack, the aggression in his biting, snarling, assault masking any possible accent and surprising with its authenticity. In fact Segano's addition has upped this band's game, a confused thrash assault honed into a thrash-groove metal payoff that genuinely hits hard.

As with most of the releases from Italian label, logic(il)logic, Killerself sits in the strange place of being ever so slightly too short to be a proper full-length album, while being a smidge too lengthy to truly class it as an EP. Seven tracks are listed, but with opening cut "Life Denied" a minute long scene setter, what we're left with is a taster, albeit a reasonably long one, of what Forklift Elevator might be able to achieve. The track it segues into, "Bagger 288", suddenly knocks you sideways, guitarists Marco Maniero and Uros Obradovic jabbing and stabbing out jagged little staccato riffs, bassist Marco Daga and drummer Andrea Segato corralling a killer groove without ever trying to tame it. With Stefano's vocals as aggressively assured as they are, it's a tasty introduction and while not stepping too far from the same blueprint, "The 8th Sin" confirms this is no one off; classy lead guitar stabs introducing a little colour into proceedings as an Exodus or Testament like approach is married to the more forceful punch of Pantera.

Possibly due to the briefness of the 'album' as whole, the main weakness shown is a lack of variety, FE's desire to build the groove, sit on the groove and thrash it up, evident in the slightly slower "Deception" and similarly mid-paced "Black Hole". The latter at least varying the tempo within the song to offer a little difference, while a brief spoken section also provides a short diversion. However by the time the Sabbath meets Metallica of "I Executor" and swagger-strut of "Hidden Side" play out, you are left craving something just a little more individual; even if each and every track stands up well to isolated scrutiny.

There are still minor issues that could do with tweaking here and there, but in general not only is Killerself a solid effort from a young band, it's also a significant step up from their debut. Now, if they could only ditch that utterly ridiculous name, Forklift Elevator might just be set to really make the breakthrough with what comes next.

Track Listing
1. Life Denied
2. Bagger 288
3. The 8th Sin
4. Deception
5. Black Hole
6. I Executor
7. Hidden Side

Added: August 5th 2017
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Forklift Elevator on facebook
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Language: english

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