The Jester Race

The Jester Race is a monumental second album that defined the Gothenburg sound, greatly pushing forward the twin guitars’ beautiful melody to a leading role while firmly keeping extreme speed and sharpness. This work, a substantial starting point welcoming the new vocalist Anders Fridén, became a sure benchmark for later melodic death metal. Lyrical, beautiful harmony resounding behind the fiercely roaring vocals richly gives the songs a distinctive lift and deep sorrow. From the power of the speeding opening classic “Moonshield” and the dramatic “The Jester’s Dance” to a cut like “Graveland,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Lord Hypnos” and “Artifacts of the Black Rain” convey the work’s fullness. The guitar riffs never lose death metal’s sure force, and their melody lingers vividly and deeply. The way aggression and beauty, by no means weakening each other, rather powerfully amplify each other is one complete form of melodic death metal. An extremely important record that, together with the likes of At the Gates, made the Gothenburg sound known to the world. An enduring, powerful, engaging masterpiece that defined the genre’s direction — an essential record for all metal fans.