Chrome Division
Doomsday Rock N Roll

October 2006
Released: 2006, Nuclear Blast America
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Gabriel C. Zolman

“Listen up…pay attention—it’s ass-kickin’ time!”

Shagrath of Dimmu Borgir…playing Filth-Rock. Ok…I’ll bite. It certainly begins promising enough—opening full-length cut “Serial Killer” borrows heavily from Motorhead’s “I’m So Bad (Baby I Don’t Care)”—and really, can anyone go wrong emulating the mighty Lemmy? (I mean, anyone who isn’t in Gehenna…) For better or worse, Chrome Division shares about as many weaknesses with their louder-than-everything-else idols as strengths. Lemmy Kilmister remains one of the most underrated songwriters in rock…but for every ten solid songs he writes, there are always about three simplistic throwaways. The same holds true here: songs like “Trouble With The Law,” etc. are catchy but damnably trite, ala Motorhead’s “Slow Dance” or anything off March Or Die. Half this album just throttles along, flipping you off as you bob your head. It’s not deep, but even when it falls flat, it still manages to stay in character, and the album is the better for it, with more-anthemic-than-anemic rockers like “Here Comes Another One,” "When The Shit Hits The Fan," and “The Angel Falls” making any bit of chaff well worth the endeavor. Seriously…this rocks—and Dimmu Borgir fans are going to hate it. Bits of this are reminiscent of Hardcore/Punk revivalists Coliseum.

Some of the guitarwork has a bit of a Euro feel, but all in all, this is straight-up punkish Hard Rock. This band could easily pull off a cover of GG Allin’s “Shove That Warrant Up Your Ass,” and not sound a bit out of their element. This will appeal to fans of Motorhead, Nashville Pussy, and The Hellacopters. Oh, and it will also appeal to people with a strong sense of humor, and a good sense of fun. Well…I suppose that rules out Shagrath’s other audience, yes?

Otherwise, when THIS shit hits the fans, they're going to love it.