Special report by Mark Gromen

Been years since I had the opportunity for back-to-back listening sessions on foreign soil (took in SAXON's Killing Ground and KREATOR's Violent Revolution during a German weekend), but the powers that be at Nuclear Blast wisely knew (that like myself) numerous international journalists would be attending the annual Finnish Metal Expo aka Helsinki Metal Meeting, with nothing to do before the late afternoon parade of musical acts kicked off. Except drink, like all good Finns do. Since HYPOCRISY/PAIN mastermind Peter Tägtgren is managed by King Foo Entertainment, the people also responsible for top-flight native talent like NIGHTWISH, COB and SONATA ARCTICA, amongst others, made sense to throw a party, even if the disc isn't coming out until June 3rd in Europe, 21st in North America).

Since our get-together Tägtgren has settled on You Only Live Twice as the name of his latest Pain-ful birth. What follows are my track-by-track thoughts during the playback at Sonic Pump studios. Despite of the success his band has enjoyed overseas, this is not a pop-oriented disc. More varied, with even a few moments akin to his other (deadlier) entity. Plans tentatively call for bringing Pain to this continent late in 2011. The song running order had yet to be set back in February:

'Let Me Out' - Disjointed intro. Joined by the band as Tägtgren unleashes hellish (elongated) scream! Actual lyrics are initially whispers (hushed). Eventually into modulated, baritone. Frenetic pace, staccato industrial riffs. Screech/regal juxtaposition.

'The Dark' - Slower, heavy plod to start. Lots of whiz-bang gadget wizardry. Multi-voice approach, aggro. Minimalistic section with nearly spoken word delivery: "There's a demon in me, there's a demon."

'Great Pretender' - Bouncy beat, sounding like a mix between Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, think 'Dragula'. Boy/girl relationship lyrics: the untruthfulness of it all. Very infectious, possible single? Easy sing-along chorus: "I I was your great pretender. Your hero and your saviour."

'You Only Live Twice' - Distant, radio static to start. Grand, feels like the Russian national anthem along with spaghetti western theme. Slower, well metered. Fistful Of Dollars adapted theme is recurrent, entire song built around that theme. Minimal lyrics, much like those films (short on words).

'Dirty Woman' - Monster Magnet opening, then screeching vocals atop bass driven AC/DC stomp. A few electronic flourishes (esp. keyboards) as it ventures away, but plot returns to a simple driven number.

'We Want More' - Opens with return of a big, bouncy rhythm, prior to any lyrics. Injects just enough guitar breaks (not just riffs) to demonstrate a love of rock/metal. Not just some indo/techno/electronica geek! Fades out.

'Leave Me Alone' - Piano begun. Again, distant alien soundscape, replaced by (accompanied by) full band. Yet simple key rhythms repeats, regardless of low (level) lyrics, full sound or whatever. Channel switching trickery "Why, why won't you leave me alone. It drives me insane. Why, why won't you let me go? Stay out of the way!" Alternate lines are sung either barely audible or in black metal screech. Fades out with same distant piano as the start.

'Feed The Monster' - Trip around the drum kit introduces full-speed racer, then kicks into mid-tempo phase-shifted mechanized madness, occasionally dialing up that initial intensity. Feels like someone's fooling around with knobs on the mixing board!

'Sleeping With The Dead' - Another film score sounding start, sort of sci-fi vastness punctuated by otherworldly (a Tägtgren passion), unintelligable humanoid utterances. Can you do techno drone? If so, this is it! Virtual antithesis of everything this genre is believed to be. One section, near the end, is solo, sporadic piano notes. Oddly morose final cut, but really couldn't have been included elsewhere on the album, lest it sap the life from the rest of the platter.