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Its been nearly 14 years since Ice-T
went into the metal scene with Body Count’s debut release Body Count and
won instant critical acclaim. The mix of metal and rap was something
that was never heard of in the early nineties, but with Body Count Ice-T
broke new ground.
Now after a nine year absence Body Count
are back and with their usual fervour for telling it like it is, the
band's new album 'Murder 4 Hire' is the bands most intense release so far.
With the sad demise of original members
Mooseman who was killed in a drive by shooting, drummer Beatmster V who
lost his fight with leukaemia, and guitarist D-Roc who died last summer of
lymphoma in the middle of recording the new album, the two original
members Ice-T and Ernie C are joined by new members OT on drums, Bentrix
on guitar and completing the line-up Vincent Price on bass. After a one
off memorial concert on honour of the bands past members in November 04
the rejuvenated band retuned to the studio for 'Murder 4 Hire'.
The album opens up in true body count
style with ‘Invincible Gangsta’, a no holds barred song that tells of the
day to day lifestyle of the invincible gangster who lives for money, cars,
women ... and his aversion to the law.
The hard hitting no nonsense truths about
life that have always been the inspiration for the Body Count lyrics are
continued on ‘The End Game’.
Notable tracks on the album have to be
‘The Passion Of Christ’, which tells of the struggle within organised
religion and is as hard hitting as they get. Hard core metal fans
will just love the intensity of the likes of ‘In My Head’ and the guitar
fuelled ‘D Rocs (RIP) with Ernie C spewing out some phenomenal shredding
in the guitar.
But it’s the title track ‘Murder 4 Hire’
that really hits the mark. A song that will be an instant moss pit
hit with its relentless pace, with Ice-T’s immaculate vocals and once
again Ernie C powerhouse guitar solo’s.
The band will be making an appearance at
this years Reading and Leeds festivals and if this release is anything to
go by, then 2006 will be the year Body Count return to kick some serious
ass. |
