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Vader: Live in Japan

22/02/10 || InquisitorGeneralis

You want more Vader reviews? You got more Vader reviews, fucko!

Christ, this will be my fourth Vader coverage but, fuck it, Vader dominates and way back in 1998 they released a damn fine live album, “Live in Japan”. I am such a Vader fanboy my forum avatar is the cover of Litany and I have Piotr’s face tattoo’d on my balls. No wait, the second part is not true…unfortunately.

Enough I say! This is Vader’s best line-up cranking out some killer tunes at arguably the finest point in their career after the release of “Black to Blind”. You could argue that Vader peaked soon after this with Litany (there’s Floody’s ace coverage for all ya’ll, we both get blastyboners over that album) and I would not hate you for it. Either way, in the late 90s, early 2000s Vader was firing on all cylinders and “Live in Japan” is proof positive of that.

The setlist is fucken amazing and the crowd of sake-drunk, banzai crazed Tokyoeans is fired up. Put this on top of good live production and you get a winner of a release. Daemonomania introduced me to Vader with a copy of “Live in Japan” and while he has moved on from loving it longtime I have not and still listen to “Lick in Japanus” when I need to hear killer live versions of classics like “Reborn in flames”, “Crucified ones”, “The blood of Kingu” and “Black to the blind”. The former being my favorite song on here and, crazy as this is, I would say this version of Vader’s classic hit about nuclear Jeebus is BETTER than the already exceptional one on De Profundis. I know if I was in the pit I’d be pounding some oriental ass when Vader breaks it down and Peter yells…

Born to destroy the holy ghost to the end
Now finished wars of God
His name is the Exterminator
Covering the earth with vaporous rot
The real messiah reborn in flames

… that is death metal done right live. Piotr’s voice sounds pretty good as well which is always impressive for a live album. The only song that features shitty vocals is the horrendous cover of “Black sabbath” which sucks pretty bad. The cover of “Raining blood” however is infuckencredible and makes me want to dropkick babies every time I heard that classic pounding intro, killer riff, and Piotr’s SSSSSSSLLLLLLLAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEERRRRRRRRR battlecry.

All of this is backed up by Doc kicking the shit out of the kick drums in one of many exceptional moments from behind the kit. See “Silent empire” for more of Doc’s drum clinic. The crowd really gets into “Distant dream”, a song rarely if ever played live anymore. “Sothis” is a killer opener although the “Damien” intro from The Omen is a bit long. Piotr’s speech during the intro though is classic as he invites the Japanese in attendance to get insane… like the nation that created Kamikaze missile suicide planes and Bathtub Shitter needs any encouragement in the insanity department.

Ok, time to wrap this sanguine sashimi up tight: “Live in Japan” is a surprisingly great-sounding live death metal album packed with classic Vader tunes and an energetic audience. It is absolutely worth picking up if you can find it.

8,5

Information
Released: 1998
Label: System Shock
Website: www.vader.pl
Band
Piotr “Peter” Wiwczarek: guitars, vocals
Mauser: guitar
Shambo: bass
Krzysztof “Doc” Raczkowski: drums

Tracklist
01. Damien (intro)
02. Sothis
03. Distant Dream
04. Black To The Blind
05. Silent Empire
06. Blood Of Kingu
07. Carnal
08. Red Passage
09. Panzerstoss (intro)
10. Reborn In Flames
11. Fractal Light
12. From Beyond (intro)
13. Crucified Ones
14. Foetus God
15. Black Sabbath
16. Raining Blood
17. Omen (intro)
18. Dark Age

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