Sunday 25 May 2008

The Organization - The Organization (1993)


Any band that features members of Death Angel, except Mark Osegueda, is going to be worth a listen. The O, as they became known, came at a strange time however and would have been better suited to the late '80s, early '90s alternative metal climate instead of being born during a time when bands such as Nirvana and Soundgarden were exploding. The Organization are difficult to pigeon-hole without being overly diverse. Imagine Death Angel circa 'A Room With A View', heavier and more groove-based with a funky flavour. The O are not a thrash act, 'Free Burning' has a traditional metal feel and a lighter Corrosion Of Conformity influence, 'Lift' soars with Cavestany's vocals and only 'Withdrawal' remains the only brooding chug. The band are naturally clever at creating a riff, at times their invention brings to mind Mordred without the samples and jazzy instrumentation but the band aren't afraid to throw in a saxophone wail, or Thin Lizzy soulful melody. Unfortunately, despite a follow-up record, entitled 'Savor The Flavor' the band were never going to replace Death Angel, despite the members preferring the flexibility within The Organization sound. A Death Angel reformation was always around the corner when the core of the band were brought back together during the Swarm project, but The Organization and their brace of records, despite remaining relatively obscure, are still refreshing to the ears and part of that fated Death Angel time-line of events.

7/10

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