Heavy Fucking Metal!

It is no surprise that the pioneers of Action-Adventure Hardcore Rock and Roll claim to be The Greatest Band of All Time. Ever since their 2001 arrival in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene, ArnoCorps has paved a steady, disciplined and often destructive path to ensure that all those who bear witness to their live Action Adventure Audio Assault agree with their ballsy assertion. Initially, one might think of ArnoCorps as merely a group of six highly trained militant Austrian action-rock heroes. Big mistake. The motivation behind the band is far too complex to be defined by such superficial characteristics. Inspired by the ancient heroic lore and mythology of the Austrian Alpine communities, the content of ArnoCorps music carries on their homeland's sacred tradition of telling stories of great deeds and fantastic adventures through song. As such, the band has been singularly responsible for restoring integrity to the many Austrian tales that have been bastardized for cinematic exploitation throughout their lifetimes.

The principles of the action-adventure lifestyle are defined in ArnoCorps music in a way that has never been heard before. Beyond the distinctively accented delivery of lead vocalist Holzfeuer, their sound is defined by a unique band arrangement of heroic symmetry. The two guitars of Vielmehr Klampfe and Barakuda are counterbalanced by the two basses of Toten Adler and Der Wölf, while the critically acclaimed drumming of Gellend Adler provides the backbone of the band. ArnoCorps have an explosive live performance which doesn't depend on pyrotechnics or lighting effects to create excitement. The band's pure physicality has qualified them to be featured in SF's World's Deadliest Bands annual showcase two years running. Still, there is no need to fear ArnoCorps. They are a rescue team, not assassins. ArnoCorps performances have evolved to the point where attendees are no longer merely observers, but willing participants in a life-changing event. Many audience members claim to leave with increased muscle mass, a better understanding of life's mysteries and feeling like "goddamn heroes."

"Arno Intro" begins with a helicopter sample playing and then a guitar starts playing a riff slowly, and as it plays you hear another guitar playing along with the slow drum beat. Once the drums start playing an actual beat, then slow guitar stops. Everything sounds nicely put together and it’s all perfectly in time. I’m a little surprised that there is some speaking in this intro. But listening closely, it’s the singer introducing everyone.

"Predator" starts with a lengthy scream from the vocalist, and then drums beat 2 times then the vocals stop and a drum beat begins with guitars playing along. After they stop, the vocals kick in again and it’s just the singer saying some more stuff and then drums start beating with guitar playing and then stop, while the drummer hits the cymbals a couple of times then it starts up again. As the song goes on, it is a little repetitive for my liking but it does sound good. Kind of catchy as well. It is really weird listening to this song because some parts do sound like Arnold Schwarzenegger is singing. The song does speed up towards the end. Again the only weak point to this song is that its repetitive, otherwise it’s great.

"True Lies" starts with a funky drum beat and bass playing under it and then a guitar starts playing, and then second guitar kicks in. Its good how the haven’t mixed out the bass because it adds effect to this song. The chorus sounds like it has hints of Misfits songs in them and again that adds a sing along effect to it. The songs pace is pretty fast, and before I know it the song is near the end. Within the beginning of the last part of the song, they do the chorus without instruments and then they do it again with instruments and the song ends.

"Total Recall" begins kind of like Predator does, with a long scream. And then you hear the drummer hitting the hi-hat and then the scream stops and the drumming goes into a drum roll kind of beat with guitars playing with it and then the beat gets normal and carries on. As the song goes on the chorus is another catchy one, the way the vocals and the backing vocals sing together is great. I can tell that the audience participation would be great. After the song chorus the song stops with guitar leaving a note to ring with an effect on it, and then after it fades out the vocalist says something and then after it the song kicks back in, it sounds as if a guitar solo would fit right in but there isn’t one. Once the vocals start again it sounds like the pace has slowed down a little bit but it hasn’t so it’s all good. Towards the end of the song the drumming does speed up and then the song stops and the vocalist says something again and then drums hit the cymbals at the same time as guitar hits a note and they are both left ringing. The beginning drum beat for.

"Commando" reminds me of the Anthrax song ‘Indians’, after it stops guitars kick right in and the drum beat gets more stable, that stops and guitar feedback is left ringing for a second. Then drums beat again and guitar kicks back in, vocals start shortly after. As the song goes on it all seems to remain the same until 1.28. At this point of the song guitar feedback is left playing and then another guitar starts playing a slow riff and drums join in, playing a beat that sets the pace and of course, the singer says some more stuff. After this part, the drums start beating and the song gets back into the swing of things. The songs outro is feedback left playing.

"Collaterall Damage" is the next song, and it begins with bass playing and after a few times of the bass riff playing drums kick in as do the guitars. This songs speed is a little more upbeat then the previous song. I can’t really say much more about the song because it doesn’t really change all that much.

The next song "End Of Days", seems to have a totally different feel towards it. The intro sounds like keyboard being played being played and then a couple of samples begin playing and it sounds like a build up to a fight scene in a movie, that stops as soon as it has built up and then the song kicks in. The vocals sing really fast during the chorus, the drum beat does stop and just beat for a few times but mainly, the drum beat is an actual beat. The guitar riff during the chorus is pretty nice as well, fits in very well. After the second chorus the song slows down and stays this way for the rest of the song. The guitar riff is constant, but it is the drum beat that mainly sets the pace. The song is faded out.

"Sixth Day" starts with a beating drum beat, and then once the actual song kicks in, it is really catchy and will stick in your mind for a few days. It has a perfect beat, bass riff and guitar riff to match the vocals. This is probably the best song on here that I have heard so far. The chorus is a cool shout along one as well that would get some response from the crowd which is always good for a concert. There is even a guitar solo, it’s not the best or the fastest in the world but it suits the song perfectly and it’s played with a wah-wah pedal.

"Running Man" begins with guitar playing a riff quite slowly, and then speeds up a little bit and then boom. You hear the drum hitting the cymbal a couple of times and then a drum beat leading into the song. The guitar riff carries on playing as the beat drum remains a beating on. And then that guitar riff ends and the drum beat changes and the song starts properly. The song goes lead on a little bit and is another one that seems to get a little repetitive. I guess that is expected with a CD full of so many songs. The song isn’t all that bad, but not the best. At the start of the last minute of the song, a slow guitar riff starts playing and vocals start talking behind it. The drum beat for this part is just beating. After it there is another chorus and then the song ends the feedback left ringing. The next song starts out really punky.

"Raw Deal" begins right away with a drum beat, then a bass riff, and then drum beat. This repeats itself 4 times and then the drummer hits the cymbal and everything is just the perfect foundations for a short/fast song. This song doesn’t disappoint me at all, it’s great. The song remains at the fast pace all the way through and to make things better a guitar solo is played as well. Again it’s not a fast one but it’s perfect.

"Eraser" begins with a guitar riff and a beating drum beat, second guitar plays a few notes and then the song kicks in. The pace is fairly normal. After the guitar riff changes, the vocalist talks again and then the song leads in. The chorus made me laugh, you can understand what the singer is saying so it is an advantage. I’m surprised that there is another guitar solo, it sounds a little faster than ones played before, and it fits in perfectly, after that another chorus kicks in and again, I find myself laughing. This song has to be one of the highlights of it.

"Crom Strong On His Mountain" fades in with cymbal noises, after its faded in the drummer hits a tom one time and then the song pauses for a second and the beating drum beat begins with a slow guitar riff playing over the top. I doubt the song will get any faster then this because every band has a slow song. The vocals suit this band really well, nothing songs out of place. The chorus for this song is another great shout along one. You can also hear a little bit of acoustic guitar being played all through out the song, I’m not to keen on acoustic so I wont comment on that. This song does seem repetitive, but towards the end it gets better and a little faster and the feedback left playing carries on into the next song.

"Wheel Of Pain" begins with the feedback playing from the previous song and the screaming left from the outro, this song is just a drum solo. Its cool there is a track like this because its not very often you get one.

"Terminator" begins with the drummer hitting bass drum in time with the bassists playing a riff, a guitar riff is played along with the drum beat there is another guitar riff that is only playing a couple of notes. Nothing much happens, but I have to comment on way the singer says ‘Ill be back’. I’m sure you can guess why I had to say this… (If not take a look at the song name). After the chorus, a guitar solo begins to play and is a short one, but like always. It fits in nicely. The pace is fairly normal through out the song. At the end of the song, the outro is just the drums beating. It sucks that the next song is the last song because I have enjoyed reviewing this. This will be getting played a fair few more times... anyway.

The last song, "Last Action Hero" begins with a guitar riff and then shortly after it begins the singer starts talking and then drums beat for a little bit and then stop again and vocals start talking again and then another drum beat starts and the song really kicks in. The pace is a little faster then normal which is great. The chorus has to be most the catchiest part of this entire CD, it has the backing vocals and normal vocals mixed in together and sounds great. The song gets back into the verse, and then another chorus. After the second chorus, a solo begins and is played for quite a while compared to the other solos. Again, it’s not a fast one but you don’t want to have a fast one that sounds out of place. Another chorus begins after the solo and is played until the end.

First thing I notice is that quite a few of these song names are movie titles. One good part of this is the shout along choruses, definitely a good thing if you’re planning on making an impact as a live band. The way the vocals and backing vocals are mixed/recorded with each other is great, I don’t get the chance to review bands that do that so it does make a change and is cool. I have also read a few reviews about this CD and they haven’t been the best reviews, this CD is really great.

4.5 because some parts do get a little repetitive.

Heavy Fucking Metal!

4.5 out of 5

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