See how many genres/subgenres are crammed into the ‘style’ tag above? It’s funny THE GENERALS’ music spreads itself on such a broad canvas when their songs are just thrashing straightforward affairs devoid of wankery. Raising hell on its first minutes of play time, opener Blessing In Disguise introduces the band’s predilection for chunky guitars, rapid fire drums, and tough guy vocals by singer-bassist Hednar. It’s a potent formula that might put off more discriminating metal-heads, but for those just wanting to hurt their neck, THE GENERALS are right as rain.
Don’t be surprised to hear glimmers of melo-death here as well, since the boys are Swedish and dig into their national scene’s patented sound. For a debut album, the material on Stand Up Straight is surprisingly even. There’s hardly any filler, lots of energy, and the production is charming. The songs are divided between tracks that make you want to pull at your chest hair and faster numbers best suited for a boiling mosh pit. The Illusionist, The Offer Still Stands, Consulting With The Sinners and the furious album closer Hell Was Built For Heroes all belong to the latter. But on Punchline, One Eye Red, and Trunkride the quartet go for chunkier fare flavored with plus sized hooks and singalong choruses.
Musically speaking, THE GENERALS are fortunate to have a mature sound all to their own. Hednar’s vocals are raw grunts delivering spitfire verses amid a glut of riffs and occasionally thrash metal-tinged percussion. A discerning ear would even detect a smidgen of The Haunted and the lingering odor of Sweden’s subversive death’n’roll movement, but you’d might as well enjoy the tunes here, which zip by in what seem half their official running time. Gruff, energetic, and straight for the gut, THE GENERALS are a complete package this early in their careers. You can either choose to ignore them or succumb and be totally impressed.