NADIMAČ – Metal Je Rat

Take a ride back to 1985-1987, when Kreator were still a young group on the verge of becoming one of the strongest and most important Thrash Metal acts in the world. Remember the feeling, the crunchy sound of the screaming guitars, the soaring vocals of Petrozza with Endless Pain, Pleasure To Kill and Terrible Certainty. Now after doing so, take a listen to Nadimač’s Metal Je Rat (Metal Is War) and this is a guaranteed fact – it’s like those times all over again.

Well the only thing that will surprise you is that Nadimač are Serbian and their material is sung in Serbian. But although you probably won’t understand every word that comes out of Daea’s raspy voice, his fellow members, Cora, Zec and Draganee will leave you dazed and amazed. These champs came from the city of Belgrade in 2003 to form Nadimač. Actually, Daea and Cora weren’t there because they were recruited later.

In 2007, Nadimač released its first demo, Vukodlak MetalM, that brought the first mayhem of the band. A year later with the assistance of LHDLB Records, Nadimač and the technical Death Metal band, Daggerspawn, released a split album, which was only on cassette. Here in 2009, it’s still amazing that they aren’t signed yet, the band releases, Metal Je Rat, which is a serious 80s European Thrash Metal killer.

The production of Metal Je Rat is raw and dirty just like Kreator’s earlier albums. Some will probably not dig this kind of production but for 80s lovers this one will just keep you listening to this EP thousands of times without stopping. As you know the production is not everything in a release – there is also the material, which is different from Kreator, only by the lyrical themes that are less serious than Kreator’s which are about politics, Death, environment and other social issues. Nadimač chose to focus on how Metal is supreme, how drinking is fun and humoristic stuff.

It’s very hard to understand what the hell is going on in the lyrics department all around the album, but you’ll notice that Daea has a cool voice with a raspy tone and high pitched gurgles that resembles the old Kreator. In addition, there are the distant guitar sounds with pitched screams here and there especially in the self-titled track that is a Kreator tune in all of its elements including the military march. The only difference is that it is in Serbian. The way that Daea stretches the chorus like “Metal Ye RRRRat” will send a chill all through your spine for sure.

The drumming by Draganee is just like Ventor’s back in “Pleasure To Kill” – just amazing to hear this style of drumming again. Second track, Zlo I Naopako, that was featured on the first W.Y.A.T show, is a great sweep of Speed Metal mania in the same manner of “Metal Ye Rat” but a lot more aggressive and less catchy. The changes of pace are almost unexpected yet the riffs are simple – but it helps to produce a blast track.

“Hrani Babu Da Te Ujede” like its brother songs continues with the same mosh-pit speed mayhem with screams of people in it. In the course of the song, there are some mid paces and even slow areas where the bass gives its tone right before the solo marches in and elevates the party. Regarding speed, this one introduces you to various drumming styles. The final track, “Usro Si Motku”, in comparison to its previous one, is more or less calmed down but still kicks and screams with speed, fast solos and the hellish barks of Daea – a very good track with a catchy chorus that leaves you with a final taste of the past.

Nadimač have got to release something in English, some people have a hard time listening to bands that don’t introduce their material in the universal language. Although the production is raw, the material is explosive and it gives the young generation of Metalheads a slight idea of what it was like back then.