RED WARSZAWA — Hævi Mætal og Hass (Greatest Hits 1986-96 Volume 1) (review)

RED WARSZAWA — Hævi Mætal og Hass (Greatest Hits 1986-96 Volume 1) album cover

Album · 1996 · Thrash Metal

3.5/5 · 2011-05-19
UMUR

"Hævi Mætal og Hass (Greatest Hits 1986-96 Volume 1)" is the debut full-length studio album by Danish metal act Red Warszawa. The album was released in August 1996 by Gusten Fætter Records. The "Greatest Hits" in the title refers to the fact that most of the tracks on the album appeared on the "Helt op i Bageren (1991)" and the "Norsk Black Metal (1995)" demos. So besides a few new tracks most of the material on this debut album have been composed in the years 1986 - 1995. All tracks were re-recorded specifically for this release though.

I grew up listening to the "Helt op i Bageren" and the "Norsk Black Metal" demos and I can vaguely remember a lot of drunken partying while listening to those demos, so they definitely have a sentimental value to me. The versions on "Hævi Mætal og Hass (Greatest Hits 1986-96 Volume 1)" ( the first part of the title translates into "Heavy Metal and Hash" are slightly more "produced" than the case was on the demos, but they are not polished in any way. It still sounds more or less like most of the tracks on this album were recorded in one or two takes. Red Warszawa play a mix of various styles on the album including traditional heavy metal, thrash metal, punk and crossover. The lyrics are predominantly in Danish, but the band throw in a bit of German and Norwegian too for good meassure. Red Warszawa are notoriously known for their politically incorrect and not very serious lyrics about everything from burning of schools, drinking beer, smoking Hash and just generally humourous themes ( read: fart-humour on a very low level). The humour is very Danish, and it´s doubtful if anyone but Danes will be able to understand and appreciate the humour or some of the themes in the songs, which require some background knowledge about Danish history and society. Even among Danes it´s probably very much an aquired taste if some will be able to enjoy the tacky "out there" humour.

A lot can be said about the lack of skills in Red Warszawa. The drums are at times untight, the playing is generally a bit sloppy and lead vocalist "Lækre" Jens couldn´t hit a clean note if it came up an bit him in the ass. But when that is said there´s something undeniably charming about the way the band perform their music. I guess it´s their happy and careless attitude that´s just downright infectious. Even while listening to a song like "Jeg hader alle mennesker" ("I Hate All Human Beings"), it´s hard not to crack a smile, because it´s all done with a gleam in the eye. Other highligts include "Hurra skolen brænder" ("Hurrah! The School is Burning", "Norsk black metal" ("Norwegian Black Metal"), "Hævi mætal og hass" ( which includes the famous riff from "Smoke on the Water" played in a groovy thrash metal fashion), "Analfabet" ("Analphabet"), "Børn er dumme og grimme" ("Children are Stupid and Ugly"), "Aldi" (the song is dedicated to ugly talking about the German foodchain Aldi) and "Søren autonom" (the song is about the guy Søren, who is part of the ultra-left wing movement in Denmark and his wish to destroy multi-national corporations. In the chorus "Lækre" Jens screams: "I Want to Smash McDonalds"). Most of the 21 tracks on the album are pretty entertaining though and very few can be considered fillers.

While my above description of the musicianship isn´t exactly flattering, I won´t forget to mention guitarist/ vocalist and main composer Hævi Henning. His ability to create instantly recognisable and powerful thrashy/ groovy riffs is incredible. The tracks are generally very simple vers/ chorus structured and therefore it is extremely important that the riff material is solid and groovy. Heavy Henning more than delivers in that respect.

"Hævi Mætal og Hass (Greatest Hits 1986-96 Volume 1)" is 73:43 minutes long and while there aren´t many tracks that can be called fillers, I still think the album is a bit too long for its own good. But then again who am I to complain about quantity when the quality is actually allright all the way through the album. A 3.5 star rating is warranted.