Side projects featuring prominent musicians can sometimes disappoint, as fans and media are more likely to give them the name ‘super-group’, a move which ultimately ratchets up the pressure. With Norway’s Chrome Division, the intent was to leave aside the grandiose theatrics of their day jobs and make alcohol-fueled hard rock a la Motorhead, Black Label Society, and AC/DC, while aesthetically evoking the leather-clad spirit of the biker culture.
Chrome Division was conceived in 1999, when Stian Thoresen, aka Shagrath, and Lex Icon of Dimmu Borgir would jam out together after shows. They eventually came to life in 2004 with a full lineup. From the outset, the band’s founders were clear that Chrome Division was meant to be a legitimate group and not just a side project. It is a label they have fought to shake off since their formation.
2014 sees Chrome Division releasing their fourth album, Infernal Rock Eternal, on Nuclear Blast Records. Lex Icon is long gone, and nowadays the band is comprised of Shagrath and Kjell Aage Karlsen (Gromth) on guitars, Åge Tröite (Shot At Dawn) on bass, and Tony Kirkemo (Old Man’s Child) on drums. The vocals have been handled by Athera from the band Susperia since 2007, and on Infernal Rock Eternal he turns in another stellar performance on the microphone.
That is really the thing when it comes to these kinds of bands. They are not rewriting the book here, so what is going to set them apart from the horde of similar acts that have come before them are the individual performances of the musicians involved. Athera has a truly inspired set of pipes. Anyone who has listened to his other band Susperia will be familiar with his tuneful bellow. At once deep and gruff, but also versatile like that of Testament’s Chuck Billy, Athera can and does bring the songs he performs on to a higher level.
The next noticeable thing about Chrome Division is the stellar guitar work. The leads on Infernal Rock Eternal are superbly done and endlessly enjoyable. A great example can be found on arguably the best song on the album, “Mistress In Madness”. This is a real barn burner and has it all; great leads, a ‘whoa – whoa – whoa’ sing-along as well as some great riffs and killer leads.
The well-produced songs on the album carry Chrome Division’s message across with a sharp clarity that doesn’t take away from the atmosphere. It may be polished and shiny, but it is still a loud Harley blasting through your town, leaving behind barking dogs and the smell of gasoline. “Reaper on the Hunt” invokes the old-school spirit of heavy metal’s glory days, while “Lady of Perpetual Sorrow” hearkens to an almost Alice in Chains meets Bon Jovi in a dark alley vibe.
“On The Run Again”, sounds more along the lines of mainstream rock, venturing close to Nickelback-style of music, which may take the less open-minded metal fan out of their comfort zone. This style is kept to a minimum, as songs like “Endless Nights” and “(She’s) Hot Tonight” are chock full of straight-ahead classic metal goodness. These are well-played and highly professional, but still a lot of fun.
This music is about drinking beer and partying in the seedier parts of town; emitting a vibe that will never go away from heavy music, no matter how many new styles of metal emerge in this world. Combine this street ethic with some of the more epic moments, such as the chorus of the excellent “Absinthe Voyage” and you have an album that will keep you headbanging and happy for a long time. Speaking of headbanging, album closer “OI” is three minutes of Lemmy inspired fury carried by some brief shout-alongs and Athera’s ripping bellow.
Chrome Division may be labelled as a side project by a lot of people, but one listen to Infernal Rock Eternal should banish any thoughts that the men who made it were not 100% serious about the product. Fire up the v-twins and break out the whiskey; it’s gonna be a helluva night. CrypticRock gives this album 4 out of 5 stars.
- Nuclear Blast
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