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Freaks And Clowns

    
       
       
       
     
             
Freaks And Clowns are a heavy metal band from Sweden formed in 2017 by Astral Doors drummer Johan Lindstedt, and singer Christer Wahlgren after meeting in a recording studio to exchange some song ideas. Recruiting fellow Astral Doors musicians Mats Cesar (guitars) and Ulf Lagerstrom (bass), and adding Mathias Henrysson as a second guitarist, the five piece band released their self titled debut album in 2019.    
             
Slow to mid paced, heavy and mid tempo, Freaks And Clowns proceed to deliver heavy metal of the head nodding variety rather than the head banging variety. The bands self titled debut release is full to the brim with infectious and catchy songs that will have you hooked from start to finish. Opening with the doom rocker 'Demons In Disguise', Freaks And Clowns launch a menacing vibe that streaks all the way through the album, largely due to the gravelly vocal delivery of singer Christer. Highly reminiscent of Grave Digger frontman Chris Boltendahl, the vocals do suit this type of mid tempo, menacing and sinister sound. More melodic than the opener, 'Into The Ground' stomps on like someone who has just lost an argument and walks off in a huff. The heaviness of the first song returns with added weight, in the mighty shape of 'The Battle Of Love And Trust'. More up tempo and incorporating elements of the hard rock genre 'The Battle Of Love And Trust' is a head nodding rocker.    
             
The title song, (and also the bands name) 'Freaks And Clowns' is a hard rocking energetic romp, displaying very much a traditional heavy metal feel. Head nodding becomes banging, and fists are gonna be raised aloft in salute. When I first saw the tracklist and the song titled 'Creatures Of The Night', it immediately made me think of Kiss, but thankfully it has nothing to do with the American glam rock legends. 'Creatures Of The Night' (by Freaks And Clowns) is another heavy doom rocker with a foot stomp so heavy, anyone trapped underfoot is gonna be excruciatingly crushed. Echoing the iconic buzz sound of the legendary NWOBHM evolution, 'Heartbreak City' is a lighter, more up tempo and melodic song than anything else on offer. 'All Hells Breaking Loose' is full of mid tempo thunder and anthemic tendencies as it crackles and fizzes with melodic intent.    
             
'King Of The Sun' thumps its way into life, adopting a very heavy and slow pace. The sinister streak that runs throughout the album rises high, and may just make people who suffer with a nervous disposition to seek cover. Mid tempo 'Thunder And Lightning' rocks hard and is very infectious. The chant style chorus of "thunder and lightning" is gonna have everyone joining in and screaming, or shouting, at the tops of their voices. Intensity rises with the heavy hitting 'Breaking All The Rules'. Marching on and punching like a heavyweight boxing champion, 'Breaking All The Rules' is an infectious romp. The album is brought to a close as it began, with a doom rock song that oozes feelings of sinister and menacing. 'Tell It To The Priest' is slow to mid tempo heaviness with a melodic edge.    
             
Overall, a very good debut album packed with mid tempo foot stomps, exhibiting a menacing streak, all draped over a massive melodic edge.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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