When I learned BACKWATER was going to return after 27 years of inactivity, I was really happy. Well, my happiness didn’t last too long. It was really hard to get down to reviewing their new album. I had been listening to this album many times, hoping to understand its atmosphere. As I do respect this band and love their „Revelation” and „Final Strike”. These two are genial albums and I was hoping Thomas, naturally, was to follow the path started back in 1984. Sadly, „Take Extreme Forms” fell short of my expectations. I shall not say this is a weak album. Yet, it isn’t as good as their first two albums. Yes, this stuff has got a couple of stronger points – such as the initial track „Arise”. Yup, would be nice to hear more influences from old BACKWATER, like this one. Sadly, this one is the only one here. „New Fire” is influenced by VENOM`s „Prime Evil” so it is ok. The new vocalist tries, here and there, to sing in a similar way Achim did; well, his vocal is weaker as it is more monotonous. This powerful, strong sound ought to please us, but there is something missing here, really. The title track is not bad, but this band is a totally different one, the band that gets more and more “lost” with every next track. This stuff lacks Achim Schmietov and Manfred Cossmann. It is clear Thomas Guschelbauer is not able to create BACKWATER alone, as it is the case with VENOM, where Cronos, maniacally, has been trying to carry on, to a various degree of course, what he started off in the early 80s. Another example of such an approach is the return of PROTECTOR. Martin Missy was perfectly capable of presenting the classical character of his band. Guys, “Take Extreme Forms” is just a total misunderstanding, I feel ripped off, I really do. I guess, I am not the only one here to be feeling in such a way. I am pretty sure some other guys feel same, as we expected totally different music. Fuck, it’s a pity this stuff was released as BACKWATER – I would feel different if it had been released as a Thomas` solo project. Well, this is the BACKWATER, after all! Ok, it is a different matter, though. LWS