### Furbowl: Those shredded dreams

#### 23/12/09 || Trauma

I guess these guys found a time traveling DeLorean and came to a time where they assumed people would appreciate classic Swedish death metal. Or maybe Vic records just thought it was high time to get this out to the masses. Who are Furburger, you ask? Fuck if I know, except that they’re a Swedish death metal band with that oh so distinctive sound. It’s not like this is imitation shit, either. This was 1992, folks. These guys lived the scene. Gee, I wonder why they didn’t make it big? I mean, with a name like Furbowl and all.

This is some good death, surprisingly enough. Johan “Liiva” Axelsson was in Carnage, the very band that housed Dismember and Michael Amott, who guests in and produced this album. What’s a bit long for a title track, “Damage done” still gets its point across. “Nothing forever” picks it up with a shorter track length and a bit faster tempo. I’d say it’s my fave track among the six we have here. “Razorblades” feels a bit awkward at first with the clean vocals. It all works out in the end, making for an enjoyable song. “Sharkheaven” is a horrible song title if not a decent enough tune. “Those shredded dreams” finishes things off well enough. Still, it’s a bit disheartening that this overall is quality, but hurt a bit by, uh, being so short and lacking that special something. Still this is not bad. I like it much so, but its total quality hampered by a lack of what seems to be found on those classics by you know who. If you know what exactly that is, get back to me. I know they’re missing “it”, I just don’t know what “it” quite is all the while being glaringly obvious.

Some other tidbits: You want to know this band’s name progression? Devourment > Furbowl > Wonderflow. That is pure metal, baby. The sarcasm is detected, yes? It sounds like one of those “heavy” day tampons. At least its been decided why they never went too far.

If you like your death metal Swedish and old-school in the most literal sense, check out Furcoat.

- Information
- Released: 1992/2009
- Label: Vic Records (re-issue)
- Website: Furbowl MySpace
- Band
- Johan Axelsson: vocals, guitar, bass
- Max Thornell: drums, keyboards
- Michael Amott: guitar solos (tracks 1 and 2)
- Lach’n Johnsson: violin (track 6)

- Tracklist
- 1. Damage done
- 2. Nothing forever
- 3. Razorblades
- 4. Desertion
- 5. Sharkheaven
- 6. Those shredded dreams