Scandinavian Leather, the latest effort from Norwegian death metal powerhouse Turbonegro, really appeals to the masses. It's important to write hard-hitting...

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Scandinavian Leather, the latest effort from Norwegian death metal powerhouse Turbonegro, really appeals to the masses. It's important to write hard-hitting songs on subjects with which all people can personally connect. Everyone will undoubtedly relate to songs like "Drenched In Blood (D.I.B.)," "Train of Flesh" and "Wipe It Til It Bleeds." As cheesy as it sounds, Turbonegro attacks its music with an unabashed love that turbo-charges the cheese to an entirely new level. Heavy, anthemic guitars are contrasted with great harmonies. There's even a nod to classic rock, as "Wipe It Til It Bleeds" is more Skynrd than Meshuggah or anything else. All the tracks are very structured and militaristic, with ready-to-chant choruses like fight songs for a Nordic Nazi march. "Sell Your Body (To The Night)" is the catchiest example of this. Although they don't know exactly how one goes about selling his or her body to the night, they just highly recommend it repeatedly.

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In the four years since their disintegration in an Italian psychiatric ward, Turbonegro have grown from just another cult favourite to a full-blown, worldwide...

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In the four years since their disintegration in an Italian psychiatric ward, Turbonegro have grown from just another cult favourite to a full-blown, worldwide cult. Reunited in 2002, clad in Scandinavian Leather (plus a generous amount of denim), the reformed Turbonegro suddenly find themselves one of the coolest bands in the world, with superstar fans ranging from Queens of the Stone Age to the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl to the cast of Jackass. Listening to Scandinavian Leather, it's easy to hear why--this is rock & roll hedonism in its highest (i.e., lowest) form, combining the theatrics of Alice Cooper, the campiness of Queen, the degenerate glam of Motley Crue and the urgent, punk rock spirit of the Ramones.
Less punk than 1996's Ass Cobra and more rock than 1998's excellent Apocalypse Dudes, Scandinavian Leather is everything a proper rock album should be: there's pomp (strings pop up on "Wipe It 'Til It Bleeds" and again on "Fuck the World"), shout-along anthems (check out the driving, fists-in-the-air chorus of "Remain Untamed") and even the occasional, self-indulgent guitar solo. Songs like "Sell Your Body (to the Night)" and "Train of Flesh" are dark and seedy, but this danger is of the cartoon sort, about as menacing (and entertaining) as Itchy & Scratchy. Fortunately, Turbonegro don't write music to be taken seriously; they write music that rocks and that's just what Scandinavian Leather delivers. In abundance.

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