RAGINPIT MAGAZINE

One Man Army and the Undead Quartet - Error in Evolution
Release Date: May 27, 2007

Track Listing:
1. Mine For the Taking
2. Knights in Satan's Service
3. Such a Sick Boy
4. Supreme Butcher, The
5. Sun Never Shines, The
6. See Them Burn
7. Nightmare in Ashes and Blood
8. He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)
9. Heaven Knows No Pain
10. Hail the King
11. Killing Machine - Live in Stuttgart
12. Public Enemy No.1 - Live in Stuttgart
13. So Grim So True So Real - Live in Stuttgart

About a year and a half ago the world was turned on its ear by the release of 21st Century Killing Machine, the debut album of One Man Army and the Undead Quartet. Johan Lindstrand, formerly of the Crown, formed the band after having written most of the album himself. 21st Century Killing Machine was a hit with fans of the genre and the group has recently returned with their follow-up album Error in Evolution. The album is similar in style and feel with a slight change in the line up. Bassist Valle Adzic (who was spreading himself a little thin with other projects yet still engineered and mixed the album) was replaced with Robert Axelsson.

So, I know you’re asking - does this album hold up to the first one or has OMAATUQ hit the sophomore slump? Read on and find out.

The album starts out with the blistering track “Mine for the Taking” which sets the pace for the entire album. Fast, upbeat, and just an all around pleasing track both musically and lyrically.

The following song is “Knights in Satan’s Service” which any self respecting metal head knows was a supposed acronym for the band KISS. While the lyrics of the song have absolutely nothing to do with the afore mentioned group, that should not deter you in the slightest bit.

Then is the track “Such a Sick Boy” which seems to follow the story of a young man that goes on a terrorizing killing spree, with himself included in his victim list.

Next comes “The Supreme Butcher” a roller coaster ride through the thoughts of a lunatic madman on a killing spree, fast and brutal, just how I like my metal.

After that is “The Sun Never Shines” which starts off at a mid tempo, then rips into a frenzy of aggression. Lyrically, it seems to me, it’s about how whenever something goes wrong, the devil is the one that is blamed and it’s kind of saying, “Hey guys, give the devil a day off and take responsibility for your own actions.”

Next track is “See Them Burn” a mid tempo song throughout, yet still angry and aggressive - a nice change of pace.

Following that is “Nightmares in Ashes and Blood.” While the title sounds like some satanic ritual, it’s a neck breaking fast song about a solider who is the only one left after the rest of his squad is destroyed and how he tries to cope with it.

However, I have to say the subsequent song is my favorite track on the album. It is the band’s rendition of Alice Cooper’s “He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)” from Friday the 13th VI. The keyboards of the original give way to detuned guitars and Alice’s trademark lyrics are now growled. In my personal opinion, this is the second best cover song I have heard in my life, second only to when The Crown covered Sepultura’s “Arise.”

Next comes “Heaven Knows No Pain”, this song changes tempos between verse and chorus and seems to tell the story of a madman who kills women for his own sick fantasies.

Last, but not least is “Hail the King” which by the lyrics seems to be Johan’s death metal tribute to “The King of Rock n Roll” Elvis Presley and shows how much of an influence “The King” has had on him.

The album ends with live versions of the songs “Killing Machine,” “Public Enemy Number One,” and “So Grim, So True, So Real,” from the band’s debut album 21st Century Killing Machine. These songs were recorded at a show in Stuttgart and it gives you a slight insight on what it’s like to be at a show with these soldiers of metal.

So with all that done, I know you’re saying, “Freak, how does this album stand up?” Well, not only have these guys not fallen into the dreaded “sophomore slump,” but they are still helping to define the genre of Swedish death metal with catchy riffs and songs you can not only enjoy listening to, but also start a living room mosh pit to.

My final rating on this album is 9.5 out of 10. This will be one of the albums of 2007, so get on the train and pick this album up and know what all your friend’s are talking about, instead of just pretending.

Get more info at :
www.onemanarmy.tv
www.myspace.com/onemanarmyandtheundeadquartet