HYDR HYDR — When Johan was in Norway (review)

HYDR HYDR — When Johan was in Norway album cover Demo · 1990 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
UMUR
"When Johan Was in Norway" is the second demo recording by Swedish/Norwegian death metal act Hydr Hydr. The demo was independently released in late 1990. The band recorded the "Rehearsal / Demo 1990" earlier the same year and three of the tracks from the rehearsal demo made it unto this demo (which is also a rehearsal demo), although some of them bear different titles. Hydr Hydr was a shortlived "fun" project which came about when then-Carnage vocalist Johan Liiva visited Norway and teamed up with three members of the Norwegian death metal scene (hence the title of the demo). Most notably Anders Odden from Cadaver.

Considering that this was probably a very shortlived project that the members of the band did in a few weeks, while Liiva was visiting Norway, and it is most likely a project made for fun, "When Johan Was in Norway" is actually a pretty good quality old school death metal demo. It´s of course a rehearsal demo, which means the sound quality isn´t up there with a studio demo recording, but considering what the band had to work with, the sound production is pretty well sounding (raw, savage, and unpolished, but still effectful).

The tracks are pretty simple death metal tracks with some nods towards Carcass influenced goregrind, and the vocals vary between deep growling and higher pitched snarling. But there are also other types of depraved vocal styles on the demo. So while this is more or less a footnote in early death metal history, "When Johan Was in Norway" is definitely worth your time, if you enjoy authentic, raw, and brutal death metal from the late 80s/early 90s Scandinavian scene. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us