Album Review // 2021-01-27

Grip Inc.

Power of Inner Strength

Released: 1995-03-07

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The name Grip Inc. gives the impression of a large successful company. One that is sure to be influential. Apparently, the band ran into legal trouble with this name as another band had the name Grip.

Power of Inner Strength is their debut album. I often wonder how a band started. Often there can be big changes as years go by. I simply decided one day as I was driving around running errands that I wanted to hear the rest of this album. I already had heard Hostage to Heaven which had made it to my first playlist. I didn't have any lyrics with me in the car, but it made for a more energized drive.

I found out that this band was a side project for Dave Lombardo and Waldemar Sorychta. The vocalist Gus died in 2008 (may he rest in peace) which reinforced that the album Incorporated would be their last. The surviving members decided to resurrect the band by putting out an EP containing 4 songs in 2015, some of which had never been heard by fans. They contained previously recorded material featuring Gus.

When I think about this title, Power of Inner Strength, I think of how much our own mindset affects things. They say the will to live is the deciding factor so many times in if a person actually makes it. I have heard horror stories of people suffering tremendous physical harm that made it out alive because they wanted to keep on breathing.

Album Art

I like how the picture is all in reds and yellow and the logo is industrial-looking. Since the logo is in black and white it stands out. I don't think I want to know what this actually is. It could be some kind of plant with its roots exposed, but I think it is more likely a part of our connective tissue or some other inner part that I don't like to look at. It is cool that they have their little logo stamped into the tissue, if you look close.

Mood

Vulgar, but straightforward. Direct with good movement.

Vocals

It wasn't a surprise to me to find out that the vocalist, Gus, was the vocalist in punk bands previous to this band. You can really feel the punk influence. I quite like his vocal. It feels very "as it is", like he isn't trying too hard to make it happen. It has that sense of, "I have something to say so listen up". I quite like it.

Music

The music has a nice forward pace. I think this is a solid lineup. The drums drew me in when I had only heard the one song from them, but the guitar is great as well. I enjoy how the guitar and drums work together and how the drums, along with the held scream, give each other power. There were some notable bass parts, too. They managed to keep my attention to  the end of the album which is not all that easy to do. Each song sets itself apart from the other, which is also a plus. This is easy for me to like!

Toque de Muerto

In trying to translate to English, this seems to mean "A Touch of Death".

Instrumental

Savage Seas (Retribution)

This sounds like it is talking about a creator that is not happy with his creation and is going to destroy them. This is a very vengeful view. Or maybe it is a view that we as humans are terrible and there is justification in killing us.

I am the beginning of creation
I am the one who gave you life
Depending on 3% of my body, fear me
Or I will grip you from below, to

I really wonder what this 3% is referring to? I have missed something here.

Saturate you, suffocate you
Smash the foundation of life

Hostage to Heaven

This seems to be addressing a group of people that had a similar system of belief and then disagreed and created a new one, which is a common theme in religion, politics, etc. It feels like there is some judgement both ways. Looking at the one group to the other, neither sees eye to eye.

Treachery with a smile, etched upon its face
A face of red, but a heart of stone cold black
Servants of two masters, the congregation splits
Serving sexual rituals, true back biters
Pirates in pinstripe, admired by the many in their hour of weakness
All ways stand, with their backs to the sun
Religious fanatics, muttering righteousness on sacred ground
The armor of religion like foil across a bed of nails

Monster Among Us

Paedophilia is a hard topic and a disgusting problem. I think this song is rather crude in it's portrayal of this subject. Though it is in reality an extremely disturbing topic that isn't polite in any way.

I have a friend that was playing at the park with her daughter. She was only maybe 4 years old. Then she noticed there was a guy laying on the edge of the field watching her daughter and masturbating. She called the police. I just don't get it!

I feel incredibly harsh about paedophile behaviour! If you are thinking wrong thoughts the best thing to do is turn yourself in. Admit the problem and get away from society, so society can be safe. Put others before yourself. Society has children that don't need to feed your sick hunger. Protect the children!

Camillian, cruising market places
Seeking the ultimate, sexual pleasure
Gaining trust, of the curious, of the frail, of the innocent
Returning, time after time, to abduct our sacred offspring
Leaving trails of devastation, showing no remorse
Wicked eyes do smile

Paedophile

Guilty of Innocence

Incest is often associated with molestation and forced experience which to me is not innocence at all.

Maybe this is talking about those cases you hear about where cousins fell for each other not knowing they were related. So they were innocent, in that they didn't know they were blood. 

I guess some areas it is legal to marry a relative; certainly not here where I live.

Incest born, unnatural caresses
The future screams a clear message
Black imagination
Oppression tears away the heart and soul

Born, in-bred, born, in-bred

Guilty of innocence, guilty of innocent
Pure perversion

Innate Affliction

I think there are lots of people that are struggling with illness, both mental and physical, that are fairly silent about it. What do you do if you are in pain every day or you never feel well enough to do things you wish you could? It is upsetting to think of the many people with issues that don't seek help or reach out to anyone.

I think this song is talking about some form of mental struggle.

Pain no one sees
Pulsing through my veins
Crawls beneath my skin
Burns with no flame
Up and down my spin
Stands without form
Sanity bestowed never to appear

Colors of Death

When you hear the phrase "colors of death" what color do you think of? Probably black. That is what is often worn to a funeral as a visual of the mourning taking place (at least it is often here). Maybe other colors are associated with funeral and death elsewhere. But these words seem to insinuate something more. 

It actually seems to be attached to some kind of fear and self deception. 

Being used, but never forgiven
Being pushed out, then pulled right back in
How can I run, when you pull my strings
Self deception wrapped
In the colors of death

Ostracized

How do you get to that point where you are living under a bridge? So many more ways than you think! I think this song addresses the important issue of people that live with no home, no security, no sense of worth.

As a kid, I lived part-time in Toronto in hotels and the Ronald McDonald House. My sister wasn't well and she was in hospital a lot. I remember my first experiences with homeless people begging on the streets. I asked my parents if I could give them money. My dad said "alright," and he gave me some change. I stepped up to a man and gave him the change. He said "Thank you, miss". But the feeling of being helpful didn't last very long because I heard my parents talking about how he probably blew my money on booze. It crushed me to think that I couldn't actually help.

That stuck with me for many years. Later on when I was in College and I lived in Toronto for a while, I decided I would be smarter and give a homeless person some food. I  bought a bagel with cream cheese and brought it to a homeless man. He said "I don't want that". Again I was crushed.

But, as years have passed, I now realize that though I may or may not have encountered homeless people who wanted to feed their addictions, that isn't what all homeless people are! There are children and adults that have fled abusive situations, people who were abandoned and neglected. There are people who made mistakes and lost all they had, people that followed addictions and lost everything. There are people that don't have a clue where they are because they have severe mental health issues, and people who once had great jobs/positions and experienced trauma and couldn't function anymore. And me giving someone a bagel doesn't fix the problem! It is a pretty privileged and ignorant way to help. 

Just another hard luck story, just another day
Just another twisted manic, just another throw away
Just another beggar begging, get out the way
Straight talk falls on deaf ears
Go ask the man under the bridge
He is the man under the bridge
Has no place for his head to lay
He is the man under the bridge

Cleanse the Seed

I think this is addressing the fact that we live in such a self-focused society. Just look at the stores during this pandemic. People fearfully taking more than they need and making it hard for others to have their needs met. Homeless people getting charged for not following rules, when they don't even have the means. It is like we don't see the people in the people. We only see ourselves and our circumstance, and particular experience.

Vulgar, parasite
Endless quest for gain
Obsession turns to disease
Eats through to the bone

We must, purify, where we dwell

Sterilize

Deliberate, intentions
Discolored and stained with greed
The vultures descend to feed
Merciless to the core

Heretic War Chant

This is talking about people in power who desire their own gain no matter the cost. Makes me think of how people get upset about Native people that are resisting having pipelines put through burial grounds, but don't take a moment to think about how it would be if it was their family's cemetery. We care about number one, ourselves!

Human rights or the loss of trading status
Fabric and steel more important than flesh and bone
Callous leaders create and spread confusion
Distance themselves with the politics of death

Longest Hate

I think this is talking about Nazis, but it can also be talking generally about people that hold onto hate, period. If something happened in your family/community, and your family made sure that you carried on hate towards the people responsible into the next generation, the hate grows and you suffer. Have you ever had someone encourage you to act hateful towards others? I certainly have. Don't follow other people, be the love in a hateful world.

The longest hate

Separatist, preaching
From misinterpretation of the book
Racists, breeding hate
Ignorance believe in lies
Breeding the hate and fear
Without facts
Fascist nazi dog

Please tell me why?

Playlist Pick

I had a hard time picking which song should make it to my playlist because I enjoyed these songs. The more vulgar topics helped me whittle things down. I just don't like thinking about some of these topics when I am enjoying a song. Though, I think that talking about hard topics isn't a bad thing.

Cleanse the Seed will go on my list. I really love that scream and the layout of the song.

Ostracized will also go on my playlist. It stood out as different and I like that they went there with this theme.