Forklift Elevator-Killer Self

Logic(il)Logic Records
2016

A year or so removed from the band's independently-released debut, "Borderline", Italian metal band Forklift Elevator returns with a brand new EP and a slightly revamped line-up. Long time readers might recall that I previously covered this uniquely-named heavy & harsh outfit (check it out here), but just in case you are new to our blog or don't remember that particular "occasion" here is a brief recap in hopes that it will bring you up to date. Initially formed in 2009 as a cover band, Forklift Elevator spent several years playing in local clubs and open air festivals before reinventing themselves as a completely original outfit in 2012. It wasn't necessary a smooth transition (what with three out of five members of the group leaving after the change over!), but eventually it all came together for this talented band. Fast forward a couple of years to 2015 and we find Forklift Elevator (having all but perfected their neck-snapping take on nu-metal infused groove thrash!) releasing it's self-produced debut album, "Borderline". That album obviously made more than a few people besides myself stand up and take notice as Forklift Elevator found itself aligned with the damn fine folks over at Atomic Stuff Promotion. All of which brings us back around to Forklift Elevator's new EP. Mixed and mastered at Atomic Stuff Recording Studio by Oscar Burato, "Killer Self" finds Forklift Elevator with a new and improved line-up and a renewed sense of purpose. It also finds this vastly-underrated Italian outfit sporting a way more intense attitude (and then matching said attitude note by note with a new sound!), but we'll touch on that in a second. On the vastly superior "Killer Self" we find one-time lead guitarist Stefano Segato making the move over to lead vocals thus replacing the departing Enrico Martin. With Stefano Segato laying down his guitar for a microphone (and in the process flat-out unleashing the beast and then slaying it by way of his wicked voice!) the band obviously needed a new ax man right? Right! Enter new guitarist Uros Obradovic and his smoldering HOT lead solos!! For a band that was once more nu metal than thrash metal the style change that Uros Obradovic brings to the mix is nothing short of insane!!! His lead work brings more Slayer into the picture and in the process it changes everything that you thought you knew about Forklift Elevator. While some of the group's old influences still linger on their band new EP (Pantera, Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Lamb of God, and System of a Down) there is a hell of a lot more metallic bang for the buck thanks to the contributions of Uros Obradovic. On the wicked "Killer Self" I caught a little bit of everything from Alice In Chains and White Zombie to not only the ALMIGHTY Slayer (which is great on the part of this Italian lot I must say!), but Sepultura and Testament!! Toss in some Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Raven here and some Biohazard, Cro-Mags, and Agnostic Front there and you have got one up-and-coming band* that could easily have a really nice career ahead for itself! Give how much this band has evolved and improved between their debut album and this new EP I for one cannot wait to see what Forklift Elevator has in store for release number three!



*While not specifically stated, Forklift Elevator is very much a band where EVERY member brings their A Game to the table. Collective this unit is something solid and downright fierce! So, while I might have only pointed out two players of this Italian band everyone involved from lead vocals to drums merely adds to the overall impact that this EP achieves.

Forklift Elevator-Borderline

Self-Release/Indpendent
2015

It looks as if I'm on a Italian kick today as first there was one-woman occult/doom rock project Psychedelic Witchcraft and now we've got the heavy metal act Forklift Elevator. While the first one is inspired by groups such as Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Iron Butterfly, and Coven this band lists the likes of Pantera, Black Label Society, Lamb of God, Rammstein, Korn, and System of a Down as their influences. There is one connection between both of these Italian bands though and that would be the mutual influence of one Black Sabbath. Both Psychedelic Witchcraft and Forklift Elevator owe a debt to the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, but let's be honest here and just say that there are LOTS of bands that would fall into that category! It's simply a curious notion that one particular band (in this instance it's Tony Iommi's band) could have such wide-ranging impact. Not that it's all that important to the issue at hand. It's just curious. Anyway, as we are here today to talk about the self-produced "Borderline" let's jump on into that fire!. Forklift Elevator's first full-length album is available on Soundcloud and on the group's official website and for a group that began life in 2009 as a cover band it sure seems as if they've come quite a ways! These days Mirco Maniero (rhythm guitarist) and Enrico M. Martin (lead vocalist) are all that remain of the original line-up, but given the chemistry that members Stefano Segato (lead guitar, backing vocals), Marco Daga (bass) and Andrea Segato (drums) bring to the party everything about "Borderline" is right as rain! What exactly are we looking at then when it comes to "Borderline"? With influences as wide flung as Black Sabbath and Pantera (by way of the nu metal band Korn it should be noted!) this one particular slab of metal has a nu metal thrash vibe going for it and my friends it most certainly IS better in person than it is on paper! The band's sound works because it's foundation is built out of legit metal riffs as made popular by the likes of Black Sabbath, (early) Metallica, Slayer and Motörhead. That being said, Forklift Elevator could stand to adopt more of the lead guitar work of said bands. Mirco Maniero's rhythm guitar seems to get most of the action and these five musicians would benefit a great deal by focusing more of their attention on the Lamb of God and Black Label Society influences and less on the Korn and System of a Down! Or at least that would be my preference as I always prefer ripping leads over heavy riffage. Both styles have their place in heavy metal and it's likely that Forklift Elevator are more geared towards their sound for a reason. As they are already working on a new album that is scheduled for release in the second half of 2016 maybe, just maybe that will be a fortunate change for the band. Either way I like what I hear on "Borderline" and I'm board this band's rock train as they roll on out of the station and make their way down the line. Now backed by Atomic Stuff Promotion, Forklift Elevator have every-chance in the world to make-it or break-it. That ball is in their corner so we'll just see what their next move is....