Doomsday Rock'n'Roll

Doomsday Rock 'n Roll is the long incubated debut album from self-professed "Biker Metal" band Chrome Division — a side project of Dimmu Borgir main man Shagrath which has finally been given wings, or, better yet, wheels, with which to tear down highways of its own accord. And, as such secondary sonic ventures go, it must be said that the album's 12 gas-guzzling hard rock anthems are pulled off with astonishing confidence and what seems like surprising ease. Maybe it's the freshness of working within such purely hard rock idioms that help these normally uptight black metal musicians rid the music of its inherent clichés, because it's not like there's anything revolutionary on hand here, songwriting-wise. Rather, full-throttle speedsters like "Serial Killer," "Hate," and "When the S**t Hits the Fan" are essentially Motörhead wannabes (but thrilling ones at that!); melodically spiced and memorably chorused highlights "Chrome Division," "Here Comes Another One," and "The Angel Falls" aren't much different from (only much more infectious) contemporary efforts by Americans Halfway to Gone or Brand New Sin; and somewhat weaker, punkish biker anthems like "1st Regimen" and "Breathe Easy" actually recall '90s British washouts the Almighty! But, line them up front to back, and Doomsday Rock 'n Roll's overall lineup makes for an intense, carefree, and hellaciously fun ride, on a scale that neither Turbonegro nor the Hellacopters (to cite but two recent Scandinavian benchmarks of the genre) have managed in a long, long time. Get on your bikes and ride.