 The Berzerker
 World of Lies
 Review by Mike Korn

The masks have come off but the brutality remains. Up until this release, Australia's The Berzerker have always been enigmatic and mysterious, the members never revealing their individual names and hiding behind grotesque monster masks. But apparently the burden of wearing such stifling concealment (as well as endless comparisons to Slipknot and Gwar) finally got to the men beneath the hoods. As a result, the masks have been retired and The Berzerker stand revealed with their real names.
Does this mean their music has changed? Well, if so, it's for the better. The band is still one of the most pounding and over the top death metal bands in the world, featuring insane velocity on drums and distorted guitars to the max. But "World of Lies" does see the band letting up on the gas a bit. There are still bursts of super-rapid cybergrind but they are not as prevalent as before. The songs have a catchier vibe to them and have been allowed to breathe. The result, as you might expect, is a tremendous improvement. These songs have more going for them than just flesh-ripping ferocity, though that's still here in spades. The catchiness of Carcass (surely their biggest influence) comes to mind upon hearing this. The most radical departure is saved for the last, as the 10-minute plus "Farewell" is almost relaxing with its droning, warm riffing.
If you think you had The Berzerker pinned down before, guess again. "World of Lies" sees them broadening their furious sound while not giving up one iota of savage impact.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2006 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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