Krabathor - Unfortunately Dead
2000 System Shock
by Shev

Quick Summary:
I used to love these crazy Czechs...that is, until I heard this album.  Even with Bruno gone I was hoping that Krabathor could keep the feeling alive with violent and memorable death metal with the addition of Paul Speckmann.  Instead we have a "new & improved" Krabathor complete with tiresome riffs, monotonous sound, and some kind of an identity crisis by the way the layout looks on the inside.

For those not familiar with the term "jumping the shark", back to when Happy Days was still on TV there was an episode which involved Fonz jumping his motorcycle over a tank of sharks.  This was considered the turning point for the show...a good show had now become bad, and this episode marked it.  So for Krabathor, when it comes to jumping the shark, Unfortunately Dead is it.  These guys used to be amazing, but now they're just boring drivel...

Website:  www.krabathor.tk

Song Summaries:

1. They Are Unfortunately Dead - Boring, buzzing guitars + mediocre drumming + crap lyrics = we're not off to a good start here.  D
2. The Eagles You Can Have - Starts out with some promising death metal, but quickly falls into a mid-tempo slump at 0:37.  If it wasn't for the pronounced bass and very slight Asphyx feel, this song would be a total loss.  D+
3. Mirror Of Your Steps - Krabathor with a slight Viking metal feel.  The strings are generic and boring, but the drums help in making up for it along with some impressive tempo changes.  C
4. Different Fate - This is actually a pretty good song.  Starts out with some strong bass playing before adding some burly guitars, giving it an overall thrash sound.  At 0:59 they mix it up with some lighter twiddling guitars with some lethargic bass and drumming which acts as a foundation all through the song.  At 1:10 they churn out some horrendous death metal for about 20 seconds before hitting their foundation again.  From here on out they start switching evenly between the two formats while throwing in some very cool, irregular drumming in parts.  Would have been better as a thrash/death metal hybrid, but on Unfortunately Dead I'll take what I can get.  B+
5. Surviving On Arrogance - Back to their same old shtick, this toggles between fast, generic death metal and mid/slow-paced garbage not unlike Six Feet Under.  There are a few bright spots where they actually get their act together and play something decent from 2:10 - 2:31 and 2:45 - 3:03.  D+
6. To Be Unknown - The beginning of this would make one think this would be more along the lines of a rock-oriented thrash number.  Hopes are quickly diminished as this turns into more typically inclusive death metal with pathetically irksome drums.  Look on the bright side...at least the lyrics really suck.  D
7. Living On The Threat Of One Finger - Speed does not a good song make.  This is just so uncomfortably jumbled and out of control it's the musical equivalent of 20 wild monkeys furiously throwing feces at one another.  Probably the worst song Krabathor has ever recorded.  F
8. The Evil Men Can Do - Is this the same band?  Short, sweet, and to the point.  A little generic, but compared to everything else on this album...  A-
9. Death Through The Centuries - I am actually embarrassed on behalf of Krabathor for a song so bad.  Over eight minutes of militant drumming, chintz keyboards, and snorting through some of the worst lyrics ever put on paper.  Mayhem couldn't do it, and Krabathor can't either.  God...this is just...bad.  So...awful...  F

Average Song Rating:  C-
Overall Album Rating:  D-