VICIOUS ART is another promising all-star formation. You can find a certain Mr. Jörgen Sandström (ex-Grave/ex-Entombed) on the bass next to the both founding fathers Matti and Robert (both ex-Dark Funeral) on guitars and drums. Illustrious names which promise a lot.
If you expect an old school inferno in the kind of Bloodbath, Death Breath or Chaosbreed, then you will be disabused. That is to say, VICIOUS ART rely on uncompromising Death Metal with a strong Thrash Metal influence in the guitar sector and a pinch of Black Metal in the partly hate-filled vocals. The most serious difference between the aforementioned preservers of the good old Stockholm based Death Metal and VICIOUS ART however is the fact that the quintet is not up to transport the old sound of the late 80s/early 90s into the 21st century, but to totally open up to modern influences. This is shown best in the dew-fresh production, which puts the Swedes nearer to bands like Dew-Scented ort he last record of Grave. Groove is a keyword, which VICIOUS ART possibly relied on to intentionally during the songwriting process. For either the head rotates, legs stomp the rhythm or you trap yourself embarrassingly doing a hip swing. No matter if you listen to the all-gruelling and trend-setting opener Tombstone Grind or to The Paulina Paw Paintings with the short lead fill-ins by the Grave guitarist Jonas Torndal, the listener’s body is permanently on the move.
Pick Up This Sick Child is a must for every fan of modern Death/Thrash due to its thoroughgoingness and clout. And I am sure; the Swedes should convince many a skeptic at the latest on stage for VICIOUS ART consists of experienced fellas who already have life experience galore.