Partiamo dalla fine, partiamo dal voto.

In numeri è un 7,5 che arrotondo ben volentieri alle quattro stelle.

Quinto lavoro in studio per gli svedesi; una ciurma rodata e collaudata sempre nelle mani del capitano Nicke Andersson (che si distinse agli inizi di carriera come batterista degli Entombed).

Album riuscito ma con qualche pecca, molto più orientato verso l'Hard-Rock rispetto ai primi due dischi dove l'irruenza Punk-Garage dominava ogni singolo secondo. Con quelle registrazioni grezze effettuate in una manciata di sedute.

In By The Grace of God il suono si "raffredda" perdendo gran parte di quella sfrontatezza che ho appena evidenziato.

Non è un disco che mi ha deluso ci mancherebbe; ho tutta la disordinatissima discografia degli Hellacopters e non potrei in alcun modo parlar male di loro.

Ma li preferivo fieri e bastardi, con quel muro sonoro dilaniante, fottuto e cattivo tra Stooges, MC5 e Motorhead.

Registrazioni pulite in maniera eccessiva a mio parere; certo i ragazzi sono cresciuti anche dal punto di vista tecnico. Maggiore coesione, minor forza bruta.

Anche la voce di Nicke è più controllata, meno stradaiola, meno notturna.

La title track posta ad aprire il lavoro è un dignitosissimo biglietto da visita. Qualche nota di piano a cui fa seguito un riff di chitarra semplice ed il brano si distende, veleggiando in maniera sicura e perentoria. Coretti vari, fendenti delle sei corde, un bell'assolo centrale, ed un finale dove spingono a dovere.

Il rock'nRoll pestoso e festaiolo di Better Than You che insieme alle altrettanto veloci It's Good But It Just Ain't Right e The Exorcist rappresentano gli episodi che più si legano al roboante passato della band. Carry Me Home ricorda in maniera clamorosa i migliori Kiss con quell'andamento trattenuto ma di piacevole effetto; si procede così fino alla fine della raccolta, delle tredici canzoni in poco più di quaranta minuti di durata.

Chiudono con Pride dove, prendendo spunto dal titolo, vogliono ribadire con il massimo orgoglio di essere ancora i migliori esponenti di quel movimento musicale che si sviluppò nella terra scandinava a metà degli anni novanta. Una scena condivisa con Gluecifer, Turbonegro, Backyard Babies, The Flaming Sideburns, Puffball ecc...ecc...

Leggo con piacere nelle note di registrazioni che si è unito ai cori Lars Goran Petrov: qualcuno di voi se lo ricorda? Me lo auguro...LEFT HAND PATH...

Ad Maiora.

Elenco tracce testi e video

01   By the Grace of God (03:04)

HEY GIRL
YOU'LL LAND IT
YOU'VE GOT SUPPLIES
IF THEY DEMAND IT
YOU'VE GOT THE LOOKS
AND THE GLAMOUR
CUT BY THE CHISEL
AND BEAT BY THE HAMMER

THEY'RE NAIVE
SO THEY'LL BELIEVE IT
THEY WILL ACT LIKE DOGS
WHEN THEY RECIEVE IT

THROUGH THE DARKNESS
AND THE HAZE
A STRAIGHT AND NARROW
FALL FROM GRACE

THEY NEED - THEY YEARN
THEY LUST WITH CHEEKS UNTURNED
HANDS SHAKE AND HEADS WILL NOD
THEY GET BY BY THE GRACE OF GOD

HEY BOY
YOU UNDERSTAND
SAY YOUR PRAYERS
OR YOU'LL BE DAMNED

HE'S A WATCHER
AND A VOYER
BYSTANDER
AND DESTROYER

THEY NEED - THEY YEARN
THEY LUST WITH CHEEKS UNTURNED
HANDS SHAKE AND HEADS WILL NOD
THEY GET BY BY THE GRACE OF GOD

02   All New Low (03:27)

LOOKIN' UP FROM A WAYSIDE DITCH NOW
LOOKIN' UP FROM YOUR PITCH BLACK HOLE IN THE GROUND

THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE LEFT FOR YOU TO GO
UNCHARTED TERRITORIES WILL UNFOLD

WHEN YOU GO
DOWN AN ALL NEW LOW AGAIN
DOWN AN ALL NEW LOW AGAIN
ALL NEW LOW AND YOU GO DOWN AGAIN

YOU KEEP ON PUSHIN' BUT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW NOW
IF THEY SEE FIT THEY'RE GONNA HIT YOU TO THE GROUND

KEEP HOPIN' BUT YOU'RE IN THE KNOW
THEY'VE GOT 'EM LINED UP AND YOU'LL COME TO BLOWS

WHEN YOU GO
DOWN AN ALL NEW LOW AGAIN
DOWN AN ALL NEW LOW AGAIN
ALL NEW LOW AND YOU GO DOWN AGAIN

LOOKIN' UP FROM A WAYSIDE DITCH NOW
LOOKIN' UP FROM YOUR PITCH BLACK HOLE IN THE GROUND

THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE LEFT FOR YOU TO GO
UNCHARTED TERRITORIES WILL UNFOLD

WHEN YOU GO
DOWN AN ALL NEW LOW AGAIN
DOWN AN ALL NEW LOW AGAIN
ALL NEW LOW AND YOU GO DOWN AGAIN

03   Down on Freestreet (02:41)

04   Better Than You (02:45)

You're a knife to his gun
When you're bored
He's out having fun

You're always on the lookout
And he's a star
You struggle with do's
And who the hell you are

So c'mon - c'mon you wanna get on
If you only knew
You're a giver he's a getter
Just alittle bit better than you

He's a doctor
You're a nurse
He's got unbounced checks
You got an empty purse

He's a hundred and ten
When you got a hunch
He's a five star king
And you're out to lunch

So c'mon - c'mon you wanna get on
If you only knew
You're a giver he's a getter
Just a little bit better than you

He's piling trophies
You're on the hunt
He's of royal descent
You're a bonafide runt

He's the don of your
Humiliation
While you paint it pink
He cranks brownsville station

So c'mon - c'mon you wanna get on
And if you only knew
You're a giver he's a getter
Gotta give it so you'll get it
Just a - just a
Just a little bit better than you

Oh yeah

05   Carry Me Home (03:43)

I WAS PARALYZED
AS I OPENED UP MY BLOODSHOT EYES
DO I REALLY WANNA KNOW
WHERE I'VE BEEN OR WHERE I'VE PUT MY NOSE

I'M IN A RUT
KEEP KICKING MYSELF IN THE NUTS
IN A STAIRWELL I SEEK
THE LAIR WHERE I STUCK MY DIRTY BEAK

SO I'M BACK AGAIN IT'S OK
WELL BE THAT AS IT MAY
OVER AND OVER AWAY

INTO THE FIRES UNKNOWN
INTO OBLIVION THROUGH STICKS AND STONES

PICK UP THE PHONE - MY JACKS ARE ALL BLOWN
OH THESE NIGHTS OUT ALONE
COME CARRY ME HOME

A HABIT HARD TO BREAK
TAKE ME HOME GOOD LORD FOR HEAVENS SAKE
THE DOCTOR'S NOT IN
GOT NO CURE FOR THE MEDICINE

SO I'M BACK AGAIN IT'S OK
WELL BE THAT AS IT MAY
OVER AND OVER AWAY

INTO THE FIRES UNKNOWN
INTO OBLIVION THROUGH STICKS AND STONES

PICK UP THE PHONE - LISTEN TO ME MOAN
OH THESE NIGHTS OUT ALONE
COME CARRY ME HOME

EVERYTIME I MAKE THE ROUND I TURN AROUND
I'M PUT UPON THE RACK
EVERYTIME I STAND UP I FALL FLAT ON MY FACE
AND BREAK MY BACK - TOMBSTONED

06   Rainy Days Revisited (03:41)

EVER HAD A RENDEZVOUS WITH REASON
OR A PUNCH OUT WITH SENSE
I HAVE 'EM ALL THE TIME YOU KNOW IT AIN'T THE SEASON
THEY SAY I LOOK A LITTLE TENSE

AND IT DO GET WORSE LIKE A MERRY GO ROUND CURSE
JUST LIKE TALKING TO A WALL
THE REASON PUTS THE LIGHT OUT AND SENSE PULL THE PLUG
AND BROTHER RHYME JUST STUMBLES AND FALLS

SO YOU FEEL IT
JUST WRAP IT UP AND SEAL IT
AND DEAL WITH IT WHEN A RAINY DAY COMES ALONG

SO LET US COME TO A CONCLUSION
LET US ALL COME TO TERMS
WITH THE GREATER PROBLEMS AND THE FEWER SOLUTIONS
HOW WILL I EVER, ever LEARN

I CAN GO AGAINST THE GRAIN OR EVEN MAKE A RACKET
PLAY ALONG OR I CAN TAKE A STAND
SURROUNDED BY MONKEYS I DOUBT I'LL EVER HACK IT
CAN TRY TO TAKE OFF OR I CAN HOLD THEIR HANDS

SO YOU FEEL IT
JUST WRAP IT UP AND SEAL IT
AND DEAL WITH IT WHEN A RAINY DAY COMES ALONG

YOU BET THEM COME ALONG
ALWAYS COMES ALONG

SO YOU FEEL IT
JUST WRAP IT UP AND SEAL IT
AND DEAL WITH IT WHEN A RAINY DAY COMES ALONG

SO YOU FEEL IT
JUST WRAP IT UP AND SEAL IT
AND DEAL WITH IT WHEN A RAINY DAY COMES ALONG

07   It's Good but It Just Ain't Right (02:55)

I WANTED THE WOMEN
TO GO ROUND THE WORLD
GOT THE BOAT DOWN TO HELSINKI CITY
WITH BOYS WHO ACT LIKE LITTLE GIRLS

IT AIN'T QUITE WHAT I PICTURED
AIN'T QUITE WHAT I HAD IN MIND
I REALIZED THAT THE CLOSER I GOT
THAT CLOSE HAS THE TASTE OF REAL CHEAP WINE

CLEARLY - NEARLY
I OPEN MY EYES BUT ONLY SEE THINGS BARELY
I CAN SMELL IT BUT I DON'T GET HIGH
I KNOW IT'S GOOD BUT IT JUST AIN'T RIGHT

ENDED UP WITH A DONKEY
WHEN MY MIND WAS SET ON A HORSE
BARGAINED AND BEGGED FOR A PONY AND I RODE IT
WITH A FAKE SMILE ON ONLY WANTING MORE

I'VE HAD IT WITH JUST ABOUT RIGHT NOW
MODERATE WON'T GET ME NO FAR
BEEN THROUGH ALMOSTS, OKAYS, IN BETWEENS, NIGHS AND DECENTS
BUT CLOSE JUST AIN'T NO CIGAR

CLEARLY - NEARLY
IN THE CORNER OF MY EYE ONLY WORKS IN THEORY
I CAN SEE IT EVEN SHINES A LIGHT
I KNOW IT'S GOOD BUT IT JUST AIN'T RIGHT

CLEARLY - NEARLY
I OPEN MY EYES BUT ONLY SEE THINGS BARELY
I CAN SMELL IT BUT I DON'T GET HIGH
I KNOW IT'S GOOD BUT IT JUST AIN'T RIGHT

08   U.Y.F.S. (03:58)

WELL, I GUESS I COULD HAVE WALKED AWAY
BUT SOMEHOW I JUST HAD TO STAY
BEEN DOWN THIS TRAIL SO MANY TIMES BEFORE
BUT NOW THERE`S NOTHING LEFT TO LEAVE ME ASTRAY

YEAH, I`M DONE WITH ALL OF THEM LIES
EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I THREW THAT DICE
NO SECOND CHANCE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY
AS I WAS CAUGHT BY THOSE DECIEVING EYES

WE ALL GOT SOMETHING UP OUR SLEEVES
BUT (NOW ) I D0N`T KNOW WHAT TO HIDE
AS I RIDE ON MY OWN

WITH A BLINDFOLD DRIVING LATE AT NIGHT
IT`S HARD TO TELL THE WRONGS FROM RIGHTS
JUST CAN`T DANCE DOWN ON EASY STREET
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU CAN NOT WIN THIS FIGHT

WE ALL GOT SOMETHING UP OUR SLEEVES
BUT (NOW ) I D0N`T KNOW WHAT TO HIDE
AS I RIDE ON MY OWN

COZ I`VE GOT A BURNING FEELING
I DON`T WANNA LOOSE
YEAH, I GOT THIS HEALING NOTION

THAT I HAD TO CHOOSE

I`VE GOT A BURNING FEELING
AIN`T GONNA MAKE IT NO WORSE
WON`T BE NO KNEELING MOTION
TO SEAL THIS CURSE

SO. TIMES UP AND I`M ON MY WAY
ALL I`M LEAVING IS A TRAIL OF DECAY
I KNOW I`VE TURNED ALL TOO MANY STONES
BUT THEY ALL JUST LEFT ME OUT AND ASTRAY

WE ALL GOT SOMETHING UP OUR SLEEVES
BUT (NOW ) I D0N`T KNOW WHAT TO HIDE
AS I RIDE ON MY OWN

09   On Time (03:10)

10   All I've Got (02:44)

11   Go Easy Now (02:54)

THE SHIP HAS SUNK AND HIT ROCK BOTTOM
WE PLAYED OUR PARTS NOT VERY WELL
SO IT HAS COME TO AN END

WE WANTED BLESSINGS AND WE GOT 'EM
BUT THERE'S NO SEQUEL
NO PART THREE FOR US TO ATTEND

SO CUT US SOME SLACK NOW WOULD YOU
WE CAN'T BE TAKING IT BACK SO COULD YOU
GO EASY NOW ON YOUR OWN
GO EASY NOW ON YOUR OWN

IT'S GETTING CLOSE IT'S DRAWING NEARER
IT'S COMING DOWN HARD
BUT IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A BIG SURPRISE

AND AS I LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR
IT'S TOO LATE
TO SAY I'M SORRY TO APOLOGIZE

SO CUT US SOME SLACK NOW WOULD YOU
WE CAN'T BE TAKING IT BACK SO COULD YOU
GO EASY NOW ON YOUR OWN
GO EASY NOW ON YOUR OWN

TAKE ME DOWN TO MY MAKER
HANDS PUT TOGETHER AND ON BENDING KNEES
IS THERE A WAY THAT I CAN BREAK OR ALTER THIS LOW DOWN DEAL

SO CUT US SOME SLACK NOW WOULD YOU
WE CAN'T BE TAKING IT BACK SO COULD YOU
GO EASY NOW ON YOUR OWN
GO EASY NOW ON YOUR OWN

12   The Exorcist (02:38)

IN THE NIGHT YOU FEEL
SOMEWHAT UNREAL
AND IT AIN'T FICTION

IT'S CATHING UP - WITH YOU
NOTHING YOU CAN DO - NO

AND THE HURT BEGINS
LEECHES ON YOUR SKIN
AS YOU'RE STANDING BY
THE SUN'S ECLIPSED BY A THOUSAND FLIES

IT'S TIME TO FALL - YOU'LL SEE
IT AIN'T NO MISERY
AND IT WILL NOT END

IT'S A FACT - AND IT'S COLD
JUST LIKE YOU'VE BEEN TOLD - SO

THE HURT BEGINS
LEECHES ON YOUR SKIN
AS YOU'RE STANDING BY
THE SUN'S ECLIPSED BY A THOUSAND FLIES

YOUR STOMACH TURNS
YOUR EYES THEY ITCH AND BURN
PRAY TO GOD GET THEM OFF OF ME
ALONE ON BLOODY BENDING KNEES
DESPITE THE FACT YOU SCREAM AND SHOUT
NO ONE REACTS OR CARES ABOUT
THEY SAY IT'S ALL JUST IN YOUR HEAD
IT'S PLAIN TO SEE YOUR LEFT FOR DEAD

IN THE NIGHT YOU FEEL
SOMEWHAT UNREAL
AND IT AIN'T FICTION

IT'S CATHING UP - WITH YOU
NOTHING YOU CAN DO - NO

13   Pride (06:03)

I KNOW WHERE I COME FROM
SANDS OF THE FATHERLAND
I'LL FACE ANY BATTLE
THOUGH I DON'T UNDERSTAND

I PLEDGE THE ALLEGIENCE
THE FLAG I WAVE TONIGHT
NOT ONLY AM I GRATEFUL
BUT IT'S ALSO WORTH A FIGHT

I'M TAKING SIDES
ON A SHAKY RIDE
AND YOU WANNA KNOW
WHAT'S THIS THING CALLED PRIDE

I READ THE BIBLE
EVEN THOUGH I MUST ADMIT
I NEED SOME GUIDING THROUGH IT
THE PARTS THAT I DON'T GET

I'M TAKING SIDES
ON A SHAKY RIDE
AND YOU WANNA KNOW
WHAT'S THIS THING CALLED PRIDE

I'M TAKING SIDES
ON A SHAKY RIDE
AND YOU WANNA KNOW
WHAT'S THIS THING CALLED PRIDE

14   [unknown] (30:09)

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