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Necronomicon — Tips zum Selbstmord
(Garden of Delights CD 094, 1972/2004, CD)

by Peter Thelen, Published 1998-07-01

Tips zum Selbstmord Cover art

[Note: This was a review specifically of the 1996 reissue on Little Wing. — ed.]

Translated: Tips for Killing Yourself. Yeah, well hey, if hard and heavy riff-based rock (as in the early 70s British meaning, typified by early Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and even Pink Floyd’s more raucious moments) is what you’re looking for, then this, the only LP (originally self-produced in a limited run of 500) by this early 70s German five-piece may be just what the doctor ordered. Two heavily fuzzed guitars, bass, drums, and grungy sounding organ drive hard behind the vocals, shared by several band members — and definitely the most German thing about the band — harmonies reminding of stuff like early Jane and Frumpy. Compositions are extended, and the overall tone of the material is dark and extreme, in keeping with the title. The playing is incisive, tight, and full of fire, with enough shifts, changes and great solos to keep it interesting over the haul, but get ready for some really raw production, especially the painfully high shrieking vocals in a couple places. I’ve heard a tape of this band’s unreleased second album from a few years later that shows them moving toward a more progressive sound that Tips only hints at, with much better production — hopefully that one will see a CD release someday as well. Sadly the original Tips cover art (a very cool b&w line drawing) was not used, in fact the booklet design for Tips is exactly the same as Ruphus Zuphall’s Weiss der Teufel. Get with it, Little Wing!

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 15, 2004 releases, 1972 recordings

Related artist(s): Necronomicon

More info
http://necronomiconband.bandcamp.com/album/tips-zum-selbstmord

 

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