### Diablo: Mimic47

#### 21/04/06 || Statik Majik

A friend of mine suggested Diablo to me a year or two ago when they released their 3rd album, “Eternium”. Well, despite the suggestion I never checked the band out. I only give “new” bands a listen when Lord K suggests ‘em cos he knows my (crappy) taste in music better than I do. Anyway, time has passed and Diablo released another album, “Mimic47”. And again the very same friend tells me to check these fuckers out if I haven’t done so already.

And for no good reason, except having some extra time on my hands, I decided to give this band a chance. I admit that I kind of hoped Diablo would suck big time so I could tell my friend to shove it up his ass the next time he suggests something for me to listen to. Well… Unfortunately I think I owe my friend an apology, and he’s more than entitled to bitchslap me. A few times even. I’ve earned it. That’s how pissed I feel right now for not checking these gifted fuckers out earlier.

Seriously, I had no fucken expectations when I put this fucker into my cd-player, and it took me less than 20 seconds to realize that this was going to be something I liked. And when the second song, “Damien”, started – I was already in love.

Ever heard of the following bands: Susperia, Metallica, Testament or Pantera? I thought so. And if you like ‘em (like I do), you sure as hell will love Diablo. I know that’s a statement which requires a lot from the band at hand — not to mention the reviewer who claims such a thing — but I guarantee that Diablo lives up to this expectation. I fucken mean it. They do have a lot in common with all of the bands mentioned above without sounding like an exact copy of ‘em.

There are a few parts on the album where the singer recites/speaks a few of the vocal-lines, and on those occasions he sounds like Derrick Green from Sepultura. If you wanna make a good impression, that’s not a good way to go, especially when some of those parts appears in the opening track. Fortunately, the Derrick-imitations only lasts for a few sentences, and the rest of the tracks are massive vocal slaughtery. Rainer sounds like a mix between Phil Anselmo and a very pissed of James Hetfield. And I dig it.

What about the drumming then? I’m glad you asked. The best word to describe it is “powerful”. I think that Heikki had maybe a “few” coffees too much when he entered the studio. Since I dig comparisons, I give you a few: Raymond Herrera. Or even Vinnie Paul. Not that I really would understand what it takes to be a techically good drummer, but I do know that Heikki’s performance on “Mimic47” gives me similar vibes, like the ones I get from Pantera’s or Fear Factory’s albums. The energy he blasts into the songs is far beyond unbeliavable.

Ok, I’m on a roll here. As you probably gathered from all this rambling so far, this latest effort from Diablo had quite an effect on me.

I think I already said something about the guitars? I didn’t? Let’s put it this way: If Dimebag Darrel was still alive, I would’ve been sure he participated in the composing-process. And the playing.

This shit is heavy. Catchy as fuck. And Massive, with a capital M.

There are even a few solos here and there. Which probably is cool if you dig ‘em. Diablo ain’t so much in love with solos as their fellow countrymen Children of Bodom are, thank Satan for little things like these. I have nothing against melodies, which Diablo has plenty of on this disc, I just don’t wanna spend half of the song listening to solos.

Diablo even entered the Finnish album chart at No. 1 right after the release of “Mimic47” and stayed for three weeks in the Top 3, and five weeks in the Top 10. In a small fucken country like this, it’s a pretty decent achievement and shows that more and more people (at least over here) appreciate heavy fucken metal. And that’s what Diablo is all about. Heavy metal.

Congrats fuckfaces, you just got a new fan. I hope your earlier albums are at least remotely as good as this one is, because those ones are next on my “need-to-buy” list.

8,5 /10

- Information
- Released: 2006
- Label: Gaga Goodies/Poko Rekords Oy
- Website: www.diablo1.net
- Band
- Rainer Nygård: vocals, guitar
- Marko Utriainen: guitar
- Aadolf Virtanen: bass
- Heikki Malmberg: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Shadow World
- 02. Damien
- 03. Together As Lost
- 04. In Sorrow We Trust
- 05. Mimic47
- 06. Condition Red
- 07. Kalla
- 08. Blackheart
- 09. Kathryn
- 10. Rebellion of One
- 11. D.O.A.