Konkhra: Reality Check (first reviews)

[Michele/Xyphias]

the metal observer
Good Death/Thrash Metal bands are quite rare these days as due to a flood in both markets most of what gets put out by labels usually comes across as being exhausted or lifeless and mindnumbingly repetitive. It is for this reason that Metal fans who can appreciate the works of bands ranging from SEPULTURA and FEAR FACTORY to the powerful MESHUGGAH should be eternally thankful that bands like KONKHRA still exist with the ability to leap above the rest in their crowded field of play.
"Reality Check" may not be the most original of releases as in such a large style of music I'd say that by now most that could be incorporated has been and finding something new would be extremely difficult, yet it has a certain quality about it that makes its nice heavy Thrash riffing and lead work sound tighter and fresher than what the vast majority of modern bands can put together.

KONKHRA have created an album full of memorable head banging riffs which are complemented by a good solid Death Metal vocal performance, tasteful lead work and a great percussion performance and all of this is blended perfectly in the crisp production. For me the only real criticism is the lack of originality and perhaps a little similarity within some of the songs but unfortunately these criticisms come with the territory and are becoming as clichéd as the genre itself.

Fans of KONKHRA's earlier work like the highly acclaimed "Weed Out The Weak" would be well advised to give this a try as "Reality Check" is certainly of a comparable standard. (Online July 16, 2003)

[Michele/Xyphias]

Vampire magazine
Somewhere in 1989 a couple of guys started a band under the name ‘Vicious Circle’
In the early days they were practicing in horrible circumstances in a public cellar. After a tumultuous start they changed their name in Konkhra.After a few years wandering in the Denmark underground scene they transformed their selves into a mature deathmetal band with an extreme brutal character.Most of you know their album that causes their breakthrough in 97 ‘Weed Out The Weak’ featuring James Murphy. After that period they released one official album ‘Come Down Cold’ and still we find James Murphy as a guitarist in Konkhra even knowing he was there on temporary base.

They just released a brand new album which is called ‘Reality Check’ I was very curious about this one cause they have had a replacement of band members. Guitarist Kim "Hakim" Mathiesen and drummer Johnny Nielsen were recruited in Konkhra. What can we expect? Good, Bad or… I’m glad it isn’t another Frisbee to throw out of my apartment. After hearing ‘Reality Check’ for a week or so, it still stays in my CD player. Even when I went out I still hear the melody lines in the back of my head. For those who still don’t know this band I will describe their style a bit. It is a form of Death Metal in a way like Testament on Demonic, mainly due to the vocals and the never-ending pounding guitar loops. I even heard some Bolthrower influences on ‘Fear Of God’ and ‘The Coming Of ®age’. Listen for instance to the groovy melody lines throughout this album. The songs are mainly on top gear but the mid-paced intermezzo’s are very welcome on ‘Reality Check. I think this is an excellent album for a nice forty-five minutes of classical death metal performed in a kind of modern way.

[Michele/Xyphias]

stargazer

Torna alla ribalta la band danese che dopo l'annuncio da parte della label emiliana del loro ingresso nel proprio rooster, eccoci arrivare finalmente al tanto atteso momento di poter ascoltare questo "Reality Check", nuovo forte capisaldo di Lundemark & Co.! Sinceramente era da un po' che mi chiedevo quando sarebbe stato possibile ascoltare qualcosa da parte loro e quindi e' stato con molto entusiasmo ed interesse che mi sono avvicinato a questo disco, rimanendone tutto sommato alquanto soddisfatto dopo l'ascolto. Piccola premessa da fare e' quella che chi si aspettava un sequel dell'acclamatissimo "Spit or Swallow" (ovvero il qui presente...) rimarra' un po' deluso, in quanto i Konkhra hanno si' portato una ventata di freschezza nella loro proposta, ma per farlo hanno introdotto alcuni elementi che gli hanno un attimo allontanati dal loro classico trademark, anche se non troppo! Non fa piu' di tanto scalpore quindi la leggere inflessione thrash che mostrano alcuni brani come il devastante "Warmonger", incipit di un disco che si presenta immediatamente alquanto dinamitardo e potente. Si deve dare adito alla band danese infatti di aver dato alle stampe un disco molto curato in ogni dettaglio, dagli arrangiamenti alle strutture dei brani, dal cover artwork alla tracklist che segue uno schema preciso, alternando momenti decisamente violenti in un modo decisamente "fisico" ad altri sempre violenti ma in modo molto piu' "cerebrale"...provate un attimo ad ascoltare le cupe atmosfere che si respirano in "The Lions are Hungry" e ditemi se non vi sentirete oppressi da un sentimento soffocante...Sembra poi che la vena compositiva dei Konkhra non si sia fermata qui ed ecco quindi emergere dei dannati mid-tempo spaccaossa come nella grande tradizione death metal ed eccoci quindi completamente annichiliti da una "Reality Check" o "Grapes of Wrath". Non stupisce affatto poi come la grande preparazione tecnica dei quattro ragazzi danesi permetta loro di spaziare con estrema disinvoltura dalle partiture piu' accese e violente ad assoli al fulmicotone che presentano anche un vago accenno melodico! Inoltre le urla infernali di cui Mr Lundemark e' sempre stato dotato accompagnano quasi ogni singola nota di questo album rendendolo ancora piu' opprimente e maledettamente violento....
Credetemi "Reality Check" e' un autentico pugno nello stomaco sferzando senza nessun rimorso e lanciato alla velocita' della luce senza perdere quel ritmo tremendamente frenetico anche quando i tempi tendono un po' a smorzarsi. Stesso discorso si potrebbe fare anche per la maggior parte delle restanti song, creando cosi' un'omogeneita' di fondo che potrebbe compromettere la buona riuscita di questo album, rendendolo alla fine noioso e scarsamente duttile, ma in realta' non e' cosi', in quanto ogni brano presenta sfumature continuamente cangianti, tempi dispari e le influenze piu' disparate, andando cosi' di volta in volta a tenere alta l'attenzione dell'ascoltatore, che alla fine si ritrova a moshare senza neanche accorgersene, perche' l'energia che sprigiona questo CD ormai e' entrata a pulsare pienamente nel nostro corpo! Un buon album quindi, che come detto e' decisamente "lontano" da cio' che eravamo "soliti" aspettarci dai Konkhra, ma sono sicuro che se gli darete un'ascolto non resterete affatto delusi...io nel frattempo vado a martellarmi nuovamente con la terribile "Eve of Horus"! Buon ascolto a tutti!

[Michele/Xyphias]

Kronic
I thrashers danesi tornano senza squilli di trombe. Ma non è questo l`importante


Fa restare increduli che questo disco dei Konkhra, il sesto della loro carriera, il primo dopo quattro anni e dopo il riassesto della line-up originale, sia licenziato dalla nostrana Code666. Una label fondata da pochi anni, messa su con la sola forza della passione, che ha saputo crescere e saltare gradini in rapida successione, imbroccando una serie di buoni investimenti e un numero davvero esiguo di insuccessi. Uno tra tutti, il lancio degli Ephel Duath, poi diventati fenomeno europeo: e ora troviamo sotto contratto degli autentici mostri sacri del death-thrash, che hanno calcato i palchi di tutto il mondo fino a approdare ai lidi di Imola e della Code666. Quale supporto economico Emiliano abbia messo a disposizione della band non lo sappiamo: ma sicuramente avrà offerto loro le solite passione e dedizione, che lo hanno ripagato con questo disco.

Disco che, intendiamoci, non è un capolavoro. Ma non è nemmeno brutto. E` solamente quanto di naturale ci si sarebbe potuto aspettare dai Konkhra nel loro decimo anno di carriera, un disco di death-thrash brutale e senza fronzoli, preciso e accurato nelle composizioni, fresco nelle idee, ma privo di qualsiasi velleità sperimentale e/o innovativa. Le composizioni scorrono bene, alternate tra pezzi veloci e d`impatto e altri più riflessivi e pachidermici, senza particolari cadute di stile o picchi artistici: forse ho prediletto i pezzi tirati per il loro feeling, ma il livello delle composizioni è quasi sempre alto. La prova vocale di Anders Lundemark, infine, è quella classica e professionale a cui ci ha abituato. Insomma, un disco bello ma di poca importanza per la scena musicale del 2003. Ma siamo sicuri che tutto ciò importi davvero? Io trovo più importante il traguardo di questa casa discografica, che ha permesso ai Konkhra il loro sesto disco, e da cui non riceverà che benefici. (19/7/03)

[Bard F]

The Darkest Hours
Konkhra "Reality Check" (code666) - 85%

Powerfull! That's the first word that came to my mind when I first put this record in my stereo! Death/Thrash metal at its best! Pure agression in every tracks with crushing metal riffs that you'll bang your head on for sure! The production as been well done and I simply love the overall sound. I also love they heavy grooves, amazing grooves Im saying! There's is plenty of hooks from start to finish I tell ya! Maybe some of you may think that this musical style has been over-exploited but man, these guys are pioneer and are way better than many other band that got a similar sound. Every fans of death/thrash should buy this record without hesitating! I love it!


Patrick

[Michele/Xyphias]

metalreviews.com
It seems Konkhra has an ever-changing lineup. At one point, they had Chris Kontos (ex Machine Head), and even Per Jensen (the Haunted, unless there's another Per M. Jensen whom I don't know about). Now they have returned to their original drummer, Johnny Nielsen, and with him comes a new album, "Reality Check". For those of you unfamiliar with Konkhra, they have a sort of death metal thrash sound, like the later works of Testament and Pantera. This comparison is quite the one to live up to, so we shall see if they deliver it in the form of "Reality Check".

The first thing you will notice is the power of the guitar tone. Every chord hits like a freight train, and most every song has a great beat to further pummel you. There are basically two types of guitar on "Reality Check", the more solo-oriented and the ultra powerful chugga-chugga riffs. I think it's safe to say that the vocalist is like a hybrid Chuck Billy and Phil Anselmo, more to the Anselmo end. Couple the power of those two vocalists with some fiercely heavy guitars, and you have yourself quite the impressive sound. The bass is thick and chunky, which is good.

The only problem is that the production is a little to heavy in the low end, it feels very bottom-heavy. The bass and bass drums are somewhat overpowering, so along with the ever-present crash of cymbals nearly covers up the higher-end of the guitar riffs. When it's the heavier, more methodical powerful riffs, it sounds great, but the higher end riffs are somewhat drowned out. The ultra high-end solos are nice and clear because there is some kickass musicianship there. It has the percussive, warp speed sound of a Jag Panzer solo, but in this case it's very thrashy instead of power metally.

As far as songwriting goes, I can't seem to find a bad song. Of course there's the generic critic's gripe about how every song sounds similar, but in this case that's a good thing, for they have a nice sound. There's nothing ultra-complex, but it's good. Every track is ultra high-energy (except for the two instrumental tracks, which remind me of Metallica's Fade To Black, which is fine by me), there is a lot of hatred and murderous rage amongst the members of Konkhra, you can be sure of that. The album ends with a nice, emotional instrumental to take you slowly to your impending doom, I found it a rather classy way to finish off this monster, especially after a heavy, balls-out track like "Lowlife".

It's pretty nice to hear a non-Swedish-wannabe thrash band, these guys definitely have their own sound. It's heavy, death metally, and uniquely American sounding even though they're from Denmark. This is as American it gets without actually BEING American. If you're a fan of the likes of Overkill, Pantera, Testament, Slayer, etc. then you'll dig Konkhra. Heavy as hell and talented to boot, I recommend it.

Wrathchild's Choice Cuts:

Fear of God: Sweet solo in the middle of this one, very classic thrash/death
Grapes of Wrath: A great headbanger with a catchy riff

[Michele/Xyphias]

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/s....php?p=1878624

[Michele/Xyphias]

Decibel Storm:
10 ans après leur premier album, Konkhra est toujours vivant? et même s'il bénéficie de statut de groupe culte, je n'ai pas l'impression que le groupe d'Anders Lundemark n'ait jamais réussi à s'imposer comme l'un des ténors européen du genre ! En tout cas il n'en démord pas et marque son retour 4 ans après son précédent disque avec un nouveau deal et un sixième album qui marque le retour de quelques anciens membres notamment Johnny Nielsen a la batterie et le fantasque Lars Schmidt à la basse (ex Furious Trauma?). Musicalement, le groupe a quelque peu abandonné son death metal pur et dur pour le mixer avec de fortes intonations thrash, Comprenez qu'aujourd'hui Konkhra est plus proche d'un Sepultura (période Max) ou de Slayer que de Cannibal Corpse. Soutenu par une production hyper puissante, Konkhra nous offre 12 destructeurs. Rien de super nouveau, mais le prolongement parfait de la tradition du groupe de thrash-death par excellence. La voix d'Anders est remarquable de puissance, les morceaux sont sauvages mais ne sonnent pas linéaires grâce à des variations de tempos, des breaks surprenants et des arrangements soignés, De même, les solos sont particulièrement soignés et donne un plus au groupe. Franchement, il n'y a pas grand chose à jeter dans ce disque? alors lecteurs? donnerez-vous enfin sa chance au monstre danois ? En tout cas, avec un tel opus, cela serait à désespérer qu'il n'y arrive pas !!
Frank Arnaud

[Michele/Xyphias]

violent solutions (France)
Konkhra
En cette soirée de fête de la musique j'ai décidé moi aussi de rendre honneur à tous les groupes dont on entendra jamais parler, des groupes de métal qui n'auront qu'un succès d'estime dans leur pays, et encore ... fête de la musique ... pfffioouuuu quelle bonne blague. Les seuls à en profiter sont les majors, qui font la promos de leurs artistes de merde déjà bien implantés et qui enverront leurs sbires dénicher les futurs stars de demain. S'ils rentrent bredouille le cas échéant ils les fabriqueront à grand coup de campagnes marketing. Toutes ces merdes préfabriqués qu'on nous sert à longueur de journée et qu'on avale tel des moutons ne doivent pas nous endormir, et c'est là que tout à coup, tel Néro dans Matrix, on s'eveille et on prend consience de la réalité ... Reality Check !!!! Eh oui tout ce grand laïus pour faire un parallèle avec le titre de l'album ... faut vraiment que je soit en manque total d'inspi, et puis s'est pas trop tiré par les cheveux, hein, on le voit pas venir !
En tout cas c'est clair que Konkhra n'officiera jamais sur la même scène qu'Ophélye Hivers. Oscillant tantôt vers du Testament (periode Low et Demonic) et du Slayer, leur power/thrash metal nous vrille le cerveau à grand coup de riffs assasin. Existant depuis 1990 (13 ans quand même), dans un 1er temps sous le nom de "Vicious Circle", ces dannois se sont forgés une sérieuse réputation tout au long de ces années à force de démo, EPs LPs et concerts. Pour les plus perspicaces, je peux vous dire qu'un certain Chris Kontos (cékisuilà ? ... rappelez vous c'était le batteur qui était sur Burn My Eyes de MH) a officié pendant quelques temps avec eux et a même enregistré un album. Malheureusement, comme à son habitude le sieur ne voulait pas tourner, et il s'est fait virer ! Et tok dans les dents ! 'l'a qu'a être moins féniant ... et puis des fast food y'en a dans tous les pays maintenant ... j'te jure ...
Tout ça pour nous pondre ce bel hymne à la violence, qu'est Reality Check. La force de ce LP réside dans la diversité des titres proposés. La rythmique est ultra efficace, alterant passages speed, mid-tempo et de nombreux break ravageurs soutenus par des guitares acérées qui laminent tout sur leurs passages. Les riffs sont très Slayeriens dans l'âme, et les nombreux solis finissent de faire de la bouilli de vos quelques neurones encore intacts. La prod est dense, et à la fin on se retrouve essoufflé tellement on s'en est pris, et ce n'est pas le petite break "The coming of Rage" qui nous calmera.
En tout cas, le power n'est pas mort, Konkhra en est la preuve vivante, et nous montre qu'il faudra compter parmi eux désormais (si bien sûr en leur en laisse la chance). Si vous aimez les riffs bien foutu, un chanteur avec voix fortement burnée, une rythmique bien torturée, des solos de la mort-qui-tue-sa-race et des titres qu'on retiens somme toute assez facilement, ... qu'est ce que vous attendez, vous êtes encore la ? Allez hop courrez vous le procurer ... faut vraiment que je m'énerve ... ?

[Emi]

6/7 on MINDVIEW Magazine number 101 (Belgium)

[Michele/Xyphias]

rockmetalbands.be
Deze Deense death metal band bestaat reeds een aantal jaar. Ze begonnen in het jaar 1989 en brachten in die periode reeds 5 CD?s uit. De band kende het nodige succes in de underground scene maar heeft toch altijd moeten knokken om er te staan. Nu zijn ze er weer in de originele line-up en dat belooft natuurlijk grootse dingen. Ik ben eens benieuwd.
De band speelt melodieuze death/thrash metal en bevat soms zowel invloeden van bands als Deicide en The Haunted als ook van het hardere werk van Machine Head. De nadruk ligt dus op snelheid, met veel dubbele basdrums, herkenbare en zeer krachtige riffs en nummers die een kop en een staart bezitten. Aan de kwaliteit van de muziek hoor je onmiddellijk dat het hier niet om een stelletje beginners gaat.
Zanger Anders Lundemark heeft een zeer aangenaam klinkende, zware grunt en buldert de hele plaat lekker door. Hij is tevens ook een van de gitaristen in de band. Samen met Kim Mathiesen verzorgt hij het heerlijke gitaarspel op deze CD waarin je de typische Bay Area sound herkent. De solo?s zijn lekker gierend en de riffs lekker hakkend, wat wil je nog meer?
De band koppelt agressiviteit aan een lekkere groove waardoor de nummers nooit gaan vervelen. Drummer Johnny Nielsen zorgt voor deze groove en weet met zijn strak drumspel de bal aan het rollen te houden. Stilzitten op deze CD is gewoon onmogelijk. Luister maar eens naar heerlijke nummers als ?Warmonger?, ?Fear of God? en ?Grapes of wrath?.
De band toont aan bijlange nog niet afgeschreven te zijn en levert met Reality Check een dijk van een CD af. Na jaren van middelmatig succes betekent dit misschien de doorbraak voor deze band. Deze plaat is dus het perfecte alternatief als je de platen van The Haunted en Machine Head al wat beu zou zijn. Ook indien dit niet het geval is, zeker eens beluisteren. Dit is een heerlijk potje Scandinavische metal.
CEDRIC

[Michele/Xyphias]

Daniel eriksson

KONKHRA ??Reality Check? (Code666/Sound Poollution) - CDRA är mest kända för att en gång i tiden haft ed sig James Murphy (DEATH, TESTAMENT) på gitarr och MACHINE HEADs gamle trummis Kris Kontos i sättningen. Numera står bandet på egna ben och levererar en ganska så ordinär mix av death och thrashmetal. ?Reality Check? kanske inte direkt är en skiva som får en att hoppa jämnfota till skivaffären med de sista slantarna, men ett fullvärdigt verk av genren. Vill man ha något att banga skallen till en fredagkväll med ölen i näven, tja då är skivan ett bra val. Det jag gillar mest är de tunga och dova sånginsatserna av Anders Lundemark. Vill man ha slö musik med bly i skorna och har lite slantar liggandes över?då kan ?Reality Check? vara valet för dig.
3/5

[Michele/Xyphias]

a great Konkhra's feature at
http://www.thedarkesthours.com/

[Michele/Xyphias]

metalstorm.ee
What do you expect from Konkhra? A pure locomotive of pounding, heavy, and blasting Death/Thrash?
Well, dinner is served: 12 tracks of pure energy and violence, without any frills.
Konkra are finally able to impose themselves in the scene, as they really are capable of.
From the cover artwork you?ll understand that Konkra are going to paint you an apocalyptic world and that their music will take no prisoners. On ?Reality Check? everything goes on like a machinery, precise and fast, it all emphasized by a crisp, clean and powerful production.

Tight guitarwork, blasting rythmics, Anders Lundemark?s hoarse voice, and a good songwriting, the songs are varied but not confused, always following an outline but never repetitive.

The album structure too is really good: the songs are well disposed to let it be the more variegated possible, fast thrash rhythmic attacks, slower heavy and atmospheric-as-hell mid-tempos [?The Lions Are Hungry? is simply great], and more brutal songs are always placed in the right moment.

Konkra demonstrate to everyone that they definitely don?t need the name of James Murphy to be known, finally with their original formation those Dutch madmen released an album that will surely appeal a lot to all the Death-Thrash freaks, but capable to impose a wild headbanging to everyone in sight!
Compact, yet technical, and heavy: what do you want more?

If you are hungry for a CD that will be able to force you to bang your head until your neck brokes?get it.

[Michele/Xyphias]

www.ancientspirit.de
Hat Kollege Hage bei dem letzten DAEMON Release "Eye for an Eye" noch gemeint, dass Frontmann Anders Lundenmark seine Hauptband KONKHRA lieber auflösen sollte, um sich auf sein Nebenprojekt zu konzentrieren, so wird ihm hier mit dem 5ten Album "Reality Check" deutlich gezeigt, dass man auch wieder anders kann. Mit dem modern Groove Metal der letzten Scheibe "Come down cold" hat dieser Silberling nicht mehr viel gemeinsam, denn mittlerweile regiert wieder der Dampfhammer bei den Dänen. Vielmehr stellt sich nun die Frage ob der Daseinsberechtigung von DAEMON, da man mittlerweile mit KONKHRA ebenfalls wieder brachialen Death Thrash zelebriert, der obendrein von Meister Lundenmark einen oberamtlichen fetten Sound aufgedrückt bekommen hat. Doch nun die Frage: Weswegen die Kurskorrektur auf den ursprünglichen Pfad? Liegts daran, dass mit Johnny Nielsen (Drums) und Kim Mathiesen (Guitars) 2 Urmitglieder zurück an Bord sind und man somit wieder im Original "Spit or swallow" Line Up spielt? Oder eventuell weil man merkte, dass "Come down cold" nicht so gut ankam? Oder hat es gar doch wieder in den Fingern gejuckt? Wer weiß, auf alle Fälle kommen solche Nackenbrecher wie der megabrachiale Opener "Warmonger" (dazu wurde übrigens auch ein Videoclip gedreht), "Eye of Horus", "Fear of God" oder das mosh-kompatible "Grapes of Wrath" wesentlich besser als die schwächeren Tracks auf der letzten Scheibe. Ähnlichkeiten mit TESTAMENT zur Death Metal Phase ("Low" und "Demonic"; mit Abstrichen "The Gathering") kommen dabei nicht selten zustande, wobei Fronter Anders doch noch ein wenig brutaler ins Mikro röhrt. Unterm Strich ist "Reality Check" auf alle Fälle ein fettes Album geworden, dass den Fans der ersten Stunde um Längen besser gefallen wird, alos der Vorgänger "Come down cold", auch wenn man das Über-Album "Spit or swallow" wieder nicht toppen konnte!

SasH , 9 Punkte



KONKHRA haben es in der Vergangenheit mit ausschweifenden Marketingkampagnen und überpräsentem Namedropping versucht. Nichts hat geklappt, die Band ist nach wie vor von überschaubarem Bekanntheitsgrad in hiesigen Gefilden. Nach einer längeren Auszeit nimmt Mainman Anders Lundemark mit ?Reality Check? einen weiteren Anlauf. Zwar fehlt ihm diesmal die Labelpower im Rücken, dafür darf mit Fug und Recht behauptet werden, daß Album Nummer sechs das bislang beste Werk aus dem Hause der Dänen ist. ?Reality Check? offeriert dem geneigten Thrasher eine Abreibung, die stilistisch an die jüngeren TESTAMENT angelehnt ist, aber noch einen Zacken brachialer aus den Boxen qualmt. Im Gegenzug muß man in Sachen Hitdichte und Kompaktheit ? zumindest im direkten Vergleich zu TESTAMENT ? leichte Abstriche hinnehmen. Da der Geldbeutel in Sachen Thrash with Class aber nach wie vor kaum belastet wird, darf man bei ?Reality Check? durchaus zuschlagen!

Andreas, 9 Punkte

[Michele/Xyphias]

Kerrang!

KONKHRA
Reality Check
Code 666
KKKK
Danish death metallers hit a career peak

CONTINUALLY DOGGED by misfortune and scuppered plans,
Konkhra have been one of extreme metal's best kept
secrets for years now. It's a testament to the
persistence of frontman Anders Lundemark that the band
are still out there fighting for that elusive big
break. Like all their albums to date, 'Reality Check'
proves that the band have a strong grasp of the metal
zeitgeist and time has not dimmed Lundemark's knack
for writing accessible but utterly crushing riffs.
Despite having lost their most famous collaborator,
former Death/Obituary man James Murphy, this latest
Konkhra incarnation is the heaviest and tightest yet,
ensuring that songs like 'Warmonger' and 'Day Of The
Dog' are consummate bursts of melodically astute death
metal. As ever, exceptional stuff.

DOM LAWSON

[Nicko]

Here's a brand new review of this album on Guts Of Darkness !!! (reviewed today !)

Konkhra, un groupe dont beaucoup de monde a entendu parler mais dont peu ont eu l'occasion d'en écouter les douces notes... Peut-être tout simplement parce que les rares qui ont pu écouter n'en sont pas revenus ! J'avoue avoir été dur avec "Weed out the weak", mais il faut bien avouer que ce dernier fait désormais bien pâle figure face à ce monstrueux "Reality check" ! Retrouvant le line up de ses débuts, Anders Lundermark nous balance à la gueule le disque de death/thrash de l'année. Alternant brûlots bien speeds (sans jamais blaster) et pièces bien plus lourdes destinées à écraser l'auditeur sous des tonnes de riffs palm mutés, force est de constater que le grupe a mis le paquet. Niveau production déjà : faite maison, celle ci sied parfaitement à la musique, pas trop claire, surpuissante, légèrement crade, une véritable réussite à mon goût. Niveau composition également : toutes sont excellentes, même si l'on dénote une chute sensible du niveau sur la fin de l'album. Mais lorsque l'on sait que Konkhra se permet de balancer sa meilleure compo tous albums confondus en la piste "Reality check", alors on pardonne tout ! Ce morceau est absolument ultime question baffe "in your face", vraiment à écouter ! Bref, s'il ne révolutionne rien, ce "Reality check" demeure un disque majeur de cette année dans le style, et ma foi des come back réussis comme ceui-ci (car on peut à ce niveau parler de come back), j'en redemande ! (October 2003)

rate : 5/6

http://www.gutsofdarkness.com

[Michele/Xyphias]

orgasm in musica magazine - poland

KONKHRA
"Reality Check"
(Code666)

Definitely they are back! After a pretty disappointing "Come Down
Cold" CD I thought which direction they will lead in, and this time
I can write that the Danish KONKHRA have done a smart move and just
recorded that kind of the album which is honest and shows their
really traditional way in playing death/thrash metal in an old
style. Some people call it as "death 'n roll", but I wouldn't like
to lead you on the wrong track, so I can tell you what I really
think. Don't expect another typical Scandivian product - that's for
sure. An opening song "Warmonger" introduces how skilled musicians
they are, and within a simple aggressive song the Danish quartet
brings many old-school elements. The story goes the same in the
songs such as "Reality Check", "Fear of God" and "Day of the Dog".
Fast and mid tempoes, crazy guitar solos, BLACK SABBATH-influenced
groovy rhythms, powerful growling, variety of ideas - this way they
enter the realm of death metal again with no focusing on brutality
only. That's why we can find also a little bit slower songs
like "The Lions Are Hungry" which still kick and come true
performed by KONKHRA. "Eyes of Horus" brings some oriental
ornaments in a guitar work and you will also find a short acoustic
interlude ("The Coming of (R)age") and an outro of the same sort
("The Blackest of Dawns"). If you are a fan of SLAYER, THE HAUNTED,
(old) MACHINE HEAD or ENTOMBED, you will like it for sure. If not -
taste it with a beer in a hand partying along with your friends.
Wojciech Szymanski (7 / 10)

[Michele/Xyphias]

http://www.ilmaleproduction.com

Tornano alla carica dopo WEED OUT THE WEAK e COME DOWN COLD (nei quali ha partecipato l' immortale Sig. James Murphy alla chitarra e voce) con la stessa formazione del "capolavoro" SPIT OR SWALLOW (se non erro del '94). Signori! Se vi siete persi "spit or swallow" non potete far altro che correre a recuperarlo?Il sottoscritto conobbe la band proprio all'uscita di questo disco (terzo full-leght della loro discografia) che venne consacrato come uno dei migliori album del genere?e penso che ad oggi non sia stato ancora raggiunto?se non dai loro stessi creatori, che tornano sulle scene con questo ottimo lavoro battezzato REALITY CHECK, totalmente rinnovati, nella formazione e nell'etichetta, passando dalla "die hard" alla nostrana "code666" (secondo me?un bel colpo per la casa imolese!). Mi è bastato leggere la formazione di questo nuovissimo "reality check" per sapere già, senza ascoltare, che avrei recensito bene questo lavoro! Questo disco è potente! Un pugno in faccia! Dalla possente voce, ai suoni e le ritmiche di chitarra! Non vi aspettate niente di rivoluzionario nel genere, ma a me piace proprio per questo! Forse la band ha fatto un piccolo passettino indietro a livello stilistico, e se è cosi' hanno fatto sicuramente bene visto che "weed out the weak" non mi era affatto piaciuto, e "come down cold" mi è sembrato sbiaditamente carino! Questo disco scorre benissimo e mi sento di battezzare come migliori tracce l'opener "warmonger" e la quarta "eye of hours"; tutto il disco è disseminato di piccole grandi trovate che rendono sicuramente ancora più piacevole l'intera composizione e sono sicuro che in ogni singolo pezzo potrete trovare la bella idea che vi impressionerà piacevolmente! Non vorrei far paragoni azzardati ma se non conoscete questa band, vorrei paragonarvi le sonorità di questo disco a "the gathering" dei Testament! Sicuramente questo disco è più violento, e poi, non vi troverete di certo ad ascoltare i classici "pezzi materasso" dopo la quinta sesta traccia (come accade in "the gathering"). Un acquisto sicuramente obbligato ai maniaci del thrash americano di nuova generazione! Un gran disco!

[Michele/Xyphias]

www.royalcarnage.com

There is something to be said about no frills death metal. You don't always need something completely fresh to enjoy yourself, especially when it comes to the insane world of extreme metal. Every once in awhile you just want some good heavy riffs and a lot of growling, and if you're in the mood, KONKHRA is just what the doctor ordered.

The affair starts quick and hits hard with opener "Warmonger." The riffs are fast but not insane. The vocals are harsh but not vicious. The rhythm section is good but not extraordinary. The guitar solos are really the only standout element, they have an almost liquid smoothness in their lightning delivery. This does not sound like it's making much of a release, but what KONKHRA has that many others do not is the ability to make good quality death metal without getting lost in anything eccentric. Other than the two brief guitar interludes and a few quiet intros, there is nothing really to distract from the main purpose of this album: to give the listener a rocking good time and hopefully start a mosh pit or three in the process.

This is not all out madness and there is nothing groundbreaking here, so don't come to the party looking for either quality. What you will find is an overabundance of quality riffs and a great attitude toward traditional death metal. When all is said and done, what else do you really need?

Rating 7/10
Reviewer NAD

[Michele/Xyphias]

www.ubermetal.com

Konkhra
Reality Check (code666)

Year: 2003
Reviewer: Brent Lockman
Rating: 9/10

Here at Ubermetal.com we strive to educate you on the good (Vader), humiliate the bad (Six Feet Under), and warn you about the just plain ugly (Dave Brockie Experience). In this wonderful tradition, I submit for your approval the latest release from the criminally underrated death metal band Konkhra.

Have you ever pissed someone off so much that you are already envisioning the pain, and just waiting for the release of aggression when a human being ceases to be a civilized member of society and becomes an animal? To me, this is what the opening moments of this record were like.

Musically, the album is intense and unforgiving. It features drums that will pummel you into submission, primal deathgrowls that will send old people running in terror, screaming guitars with riffs that you could use to strip paint; all the things that come with a great death metal record.

When it comes down to it, that is what Konkhra have created here. All sonic asskicking aside, from start to finish this is a solid offering. Incorporating many styles of death metal, from old school Morbid Angel-type stuff to the more modern death thrash a la The Haunted, to just outright brutal death, it has all the bases covered quite nicely.

What greatly saddens me about this record is that as awesome as it is, in my travels around the net I've found very few people who've heard it, or even know of the band's existence. So consider this my good deed for this year (remember, education above all else), and do whatever you can to get a hold of this. If that involves selling your soul, so be it. It'll be a worthy trade.

Trust me.