Review by Greg on July 17, 2024.

One of the most unique entries in the metal music catalogue, Grip Inc. received a fair bit of attention for being the first serious path taken by Dave Lombardo after his definitive demise from Slayer, teamed up with the then less-known guitarist and producer Waldemar Sorychta. Their debut Power of Inner Strength could have been seen as the answer to his main band's works around this time, which were basically the last signs of vital energy before the complete capitulation to the trends found in Diabolus in Musica; but you could still tell it was a '90s output, in the sense that, barring the full-throttle thrash outbursts, it possessed some elements that guarantee you will never misjudge the time period in which it was born, not least the average tempo, the production or the vocals of Gus Chambers. Having substantially remained a side-project throughout its whole life, the subsequent streak of four albums in nine years is still adequate, and the masterminds behind the entity made sure to keep the quality level at similar, if not grander, heights, and at the same time experiment each time with something different. By the time Incorporated hit the shelves in 2004, Grip Inc. had still remained loyal to their brand of groove metal, but remaining in the obscure territory where said label is not meant as an insult (which is a quite impressive feat per se).

So, despite how some people like to compare the two, Grip Inc. does not share many features with Slayer. Sure, one may recognize the familiar hardness which Lombardo hits his drums with during the faster passages, but with a good half of the songs being entirely slow/mid-tempo it wouldn't be wrong to assume he didn't want to steal the scene here. I could listen to him destroying the kit with his fills for hours, but when he sits back and gives the other members more room to breathe, the results can be equally amazing. Maybe it's not the case for Slayer, but regarding Grip Inc., the carefully calculated and strategically placed ideas of Sorychta are really worth hearing without a constant barrage of drums playing in the meantime. Grip Inc. have always sounded like no other band, and you can't really go wrong with any of their albums, but Incorporated arguably shows them at their peak of inspiration and originality, although it will sadly end up being the last chapter in their quality discography, especially following the untimely death of the charismatic frontman Gus Chambers in 2008.

I have to say that the man is hands down the real star of the show, however. He delivers an absolutely stellar performance on this. As soon as the opener kicks in, with his voice declaiming the gloomy words on the title of this review, you know you're in for a real treat. Again, not unlike what I said about the band, I really can't seem to find any other vocalists with a similar tone. There is surely a sort of punkish flavour, and even his angriest yells don't quite match with the rage of your Arayas, Petrozzas etc. One thing that is for sure, however, is that you don't see somebody shifting so effortlessly between styles every day. The guy could truly convey an enviable array of feelings throughout his voice, and his solemn, but still warm, almost baritone clean singing is the real deal for me. Not to mention that he still remains credible as a thrash frontman, especially when joined by the additional shouts of Sorychta during the most adrenaline-pumping sections. Seriously, there would be so much to write about the vocals only. Just close your eyes and let your mind follow the tortuous but fascinating route which is the tracklist, and try to elaborate every single mood you go through, thanks to the vocals and to the masterfully crafted background.

Yes, it's quite an uncommon experience, and it gives its best if enjoyed with a certain dose of concentration and dedication, but despite all this it's even surprisingly catchy, as there are no songs which would need different listens to be remembered, or even understood. And when an album manages to be simultaneously complex, various and immediate, the adjective 'memorable' seems a pretty superfluous addition, instead of the goal that many bands fail to even approach. The hardest-hitting numbers like 'Curse (of the Cloth)' and 'Skin Trade' may even overthrow the debut hit 'Hostage to Heaven' in terms of sheer power, helped by Sorychta's ridiculously good production, which nearly overshadows his remarkable work on the guitars and bass department. Nevertheless, with the other exception of the charming 'thrash with violins' piece otherwise called 'Privilege', as I said before most of the running time is spent either on titanic, muscular grooves, with the best examples of which being 'The Gift' and the menacing 'Blood of Saints', or slower songs in which the distorted guitar is left abandoned for more time than you'd initially think it was necessary, like the excellent 'Enemy Mind' or the equally catchy 'Prophecy'. Those already familiar with Grip Inc. may see it as a 'typical' feature, but with a lesser thrash influence; still, I couldn't think of any way to improve the overall balance between the styles on display here. This album really brings each and every aspect to the next level.

Sometimes saying that every song has something special in it is an abused statement, but Incorporated truly cares about getting every compliment you can imagine, so that's actually true. Really, I feel the only song I didn't fall for has to be 'The Answer', and it's mainly due to its slightly weak chorus, rather than the song in itself. In the more ambitious moments of 'Privilege' or 'Man with No Insides', or in the breathtaking title-repeating – despite the apparent oxymoron, it's true – chorus of '(Built to) Resist', I always find myself on the verge of hating them, out of envy. It's quite a compliment to make, I guess.

If you don't know Grip Inc. yet, you have absolutely no reason to keep avoiding them. Oh well, except if you don't want to change forever your perception about metal, that's it.

Rating: 9.2 out of 10

Review by Felix on July 17, 2024.

Probably because of the participation of Dave Lombardo, Grip Inc. always appeared to me as a more mature version of Slayer. I am not speaking of the music, but of the aura, the image and the lyrics. Grip Inc. had no interest in delivering a demonic (or shall I say childish) approach. The band did neither focus on a devilish image nor did the multinational group use abstruse "Heydrich" stickers. Furthermore, the lyrics did not deal with comparable "satanic" or "evil" themes. The real life and its daily news were cruel enough in order to write about appropriately selected topics. To put it plainly, Grip Inc. could be understood as an adult oriented thrash squadron. This does not mean that the group lacked of fierceness. The band was absolutely not afraid of flattening riffs and high velocity outbursts. On top of that, the highly experienced musicians perfectly demonstrated their ability to invest their energy in a targeted manner. The songs developed an almost unbelievable effectiveness. Especially the exciting combination of calmer parts with explosive outbreaks really kicked ass. It is no exaggeration to say that Grip Inc. operated like a precisely adjusted clockwork.

The outstanding production satisfied all requirements. This came as no surprise after their first three albums. Each and every previous output had also offered an admirable sonic brilliance. Producer Waldemar Sorychta was an absolute specialist in his trade. Rawness and transparency, heaviness and sharpness - Sorychta found the right balance with instinctive sureness so that the versatility of the sound deserved the highest praise. The band proudly announced that "every note on this album was played, sung and recorded in analog" and maybe especially this way of proceeding led to a result that put the sound in a class of its own.

But Sorychta had more important tasks to fulfill than "only" to produce "Incorporated". Every single song had been written by him. And, of course, he performed the incredibly sharp riffs in an outstanding manner. I am sure that these riffs made King and Hanneman think about the horrible mediocrity of "Diabolus in Musica". To cut a long story, this multi-talent masterly managed three jobs. The overwhelming majority of the songs proved his compositional capabilities. No matter if you listen to the mind-blowingly aggressive opener or the slightly melancholic "Enemy Mind", Grip Inc. were able to execute excellently all forms of thrash metal. The most furious song (and my favourite tune) was the straightforward "Skin Trade". It showed no mercy while presenting razor-sharp riffs and ultimately efficient double-bass drums. The combination of these elements generated an incredible dynamic as well as an almost intolerable pressure. Kerry King, did you feel the difference? No way! This was tradition-conscious thrash with smartly integrated modern elements in a top actual sound format. Even the occasionally appearing synthesizer enriched the album. Needless to say that its use did not lead to a sterile or clinical sound. Every cog intermeshed with the next one, although one number ("Built to Resist") was slightly weaker than the rest. Apart from this minor flaw, "Incorporated" appeared as a demonstration of power. Too bad that this was their last album. Gus Chambers, rest in peace.

Rating: 9.6 out of 10