RED WARSZAWA — Skal Vi Lege Doktor? (Greatest Hits 1986-97 Volume 2) (review)

RED WARSZAWA — Skal Vi Lege Doktor? (Greatest Hits 1986-97 Volume 2) album cover

Album · 1998 · Thrash Metal

3.5/5 · 2011-05-31
UMUR

"Skal Vi Lege Doktor? (Greatest Hits 1986-97 Volume 2)" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Danish metal act Red Warszawa. The album was released in 1998 by Gusten Fætter Records. I´m sure it was much to the band´s own surprise that the debut album became as successful as it did, but once the surprise sunk in, Red Warszawa wasted no time in recording a follow up album. The band had successfully toured Denmark since the release of the debut album and created quite a reputation as a "fun" metal act. Their infamous wild and often very alcohol fueled performances (drinking contests with the audience were not uncommon in those days) made them one of the most unique and entertaining live acts in Denmark.

The title of the album translates into "Shall We Play Doctor? (Greatest Hits 1986-97 Volume 2". "Shall We Play Doctor?" refers to the children game where small children examine each others private parts while playing Doctor and patient. All lyrics on the album are in the Danish language and in usual Red Warszawa style, they evolve around violence, sex, metal and other more odd subjects. All delivered with a humourous fart-humour angle. Really far out stuff. I guess song-titles like "Satanisk Kommunisme" ("Satanic Communism"), "Julemandens Selvmordsbrev" ("Santa's Suicide note") and "Sindsyg af natur" ("Insane By Nature") tell their own story of a band who don´t take themselves or others seriously. Anyone who starts an album ( well after the completely ridiculous intro) with a song titled "Slå Ihjel" ("Kill") and the opening lines "Min mor var luder, min far var sømand" ("My Mother was a prostitute, My Daddy was a Sailor") deserves respect in my book (LOL).

The music is a combination of heavy metal, thrash, alternative, groove and crossover. Guitarist Hævi Henning is often not recognised for his talent, because of Red Warszawa´s status as a "fun" or "joke" band, but let me state this right away. The man is a phenomenal creator of memorable and powerful metal riffs. He won´t shred you to pieces or play other spectacular stuff, but those riffs are rock solid and hook laden like few. The band are generally a bit sloppy and lead vocalist "Lækre" Jens still can´t hit a clean note if it came up and bit him in the ass, but there´s an ugly charm to the delivery, that I greatly appreciate. Favorites on the album include "Slå Ihjel" ("Kill"), "Ulrikkenborg Plads" ( the name of a square near my home, where young people used to meet, drink and ride their mopeds in youth gangs, and that´s what the song is about), "Den Sorte Garderobe" ("The Black Wardrobe") and the quite hilarious rap/ groove metal track "Mc Nymands Rap".

The production is slightly better than on the debut but it´s still raw and to the point.

"Skal Vi Lege Doktor? (Greatest Hits 1986-97 Volume 2)" is a great follow up to "Hævi Mætal og Hass (Greatest Hits 1986-96 Volume 1)". Let´s just say they didn´t lose any fans with this release. Red Warszawa´s style may be considered politically incorrect by some, but I´m laughing my ass off while headbanging like a madman whenever I put this album on, so I say mission accomplished. A 3.5 - 4 star rating is warranted.