GWAR - The New Dark Ages

The time has come for a brand new GWAR record and it, as one might expect, fucking rules. The New Dark Ages sees GWAR at their best, irreverent, funny and markedly political. In an era where parody strikes far too close to reality, GWAR embrace this notion with a record full of anthems against liars and the overwhelming onslaught of misinformation. The end result is one of the sickest offerings in GWAR's discography, but also one that is remarkably prescient, a bit too topical for comfort, but necessary listening nonetheless. 

The New Dark Ages excels because of the massive anthems fueling the whole thing. There's the usual GWAR weirdness to be sure, but the heart and soul of the record is in the singalong choruses of tracks like "Rise Again". The other thing listeners will quickly notice is how much material there is. Weighing in at an hour and six minutes, this is one of the lengthiest GWAR offerings yet. That being said, the quality of the material remains high throughout, and I don't get the impression, as I so often do, that the record would have been dramatically improved by cutting a few songs. Instead I'm just in awe of the overwhelming power and fun of this record. 

It's crazy to think that nearly 40 years later, GWAR are still creating some of their most effective and exciting music yet. The New Dark Ages impresses because of the tight nature of the songs, with their big choruses, fun riffs and over the top lyrics. In other words - this record has everything that we've come to love about GWAR for the last few decades. While this might be among the bands most political offerings yet, it feels extremely necessary, and a logical step forward for a group who have done it all. They are a one of a kind force, and The New Dark Ages suggests we are in a new golden age for GWAR. 

Pre-order the new album!

https://gwar.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-dark-ages

Belushi Speed Ball - Stella 1 And Stella 2

Belushi Speed Ball is a hilarious and fun thrash metal out of Louisville. There assault is over the top and fun, and their new double EP, Stella 1 And Stella 2 is a fun trip through thrash metal insanity full of ridiculous skits and tight riffs. It's a hard hitting record that is a blast to spend time with and a nice reminder of just what makes thrash metal such a treat in the first place. So yes, there are songs about Spongebob and genre parodies of black metal, but the band has also found a way to make these ideas seem weirdly delightful.

Their is really something to be said that for an album that feels like a bunch of heshers just hanging out and having a good time. Belushi Speed Ball capture this perfectly. In many ways the band to compare these guys too is Lich King who really had a cultural moment a few years ago playing on a lot of this stuff. Stella 1 And Stella 2 has a similar type of humor, but with a greater emphasis on skits. One gets the sense that they are really friends with the artists and this only adds to the joy of the album. Listening to Stella 1 And Stella 2 is exactly like what I would imagine spending an afternoon hanging out with the guys in Belushi Speed Ball would feel like. 

So yes, this is ridiculous and over the top. If you are looking for serious and hard hitting metal this is not the album for you. However, if you want to have a good time, dig deep into the classics and poke fun at some tropes then this is going to make you smile. The music is tight and the lyrics genuinely funny. This is a potent offering that is something of a pleasure to listen in a time when we've all been struggling. Join me in getting deep into the pit and listening to dumb sketches about mayonnaise. How the hell else will you spend your Saturday afternoon?

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/belushispeedballband/

Okilly Dokilly - Howdilly Twodilly

I know it elicits groans from die hards, but honestly, I've always had a bit of a soft spot for comedy metal. I think that on some fundamental level so much of my interest in music is due to Weird Al Yankovic. Meaning that any bands I enjoy otherwise owe something to that, and if I can't enjoy bands who carry on his proud tradition then what am I even doing? So we dig into the sludgy magic of Howdilly Twodilly the latest offering from Okilly Dokilly, the Ned Flanders themed metal band. Yes it is good. Yes I love it. Deal with it.

When I got into the Simpsons I was a teenager in France so a lot of the Flanderisms take me a minute or two to get because I need to translate them in my head. The thing is, the concept is strong and the bands execution is such that it crosses any cultural boundary. There are a lot of silly moments on this record and moments where the music seems to completely jump the shark. That being said, the slower and crushing moments of this band and the excellence in the overall execution suggests that Okilly Dokilly are a helluva lot more than meets the eye. Rather than just trying to get a snicker or two this is a legitimately great band.

So yeah, this band proved that they could go beyond the usual one off trope that most of these comedy bands fall into. They proved that they are a veritable force to be reckoned with and one who seem too have a clear understanding of how they want to move forward. They are living the dream, though surely not in the way they imagined it growing up. This is a potent record and one that hints at great things to come from the band, but also one that truly impresses with the depth of Simpsons knowledge. Dig it.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/OkillyDokillyBand/

Kyle Gass Band - S/T

It's not every day that you get promotional material from one of the guys in Tenacious D. A wonderfully tasty little record this debut release from the Kyle Gass band speaks to the power of this guy as a musician and entertainer. Rock and roll in a pure and modern form, this is the sort of thing that doesn't break boundaries but certainly opens minds. These guys have a strong understanding of rock and roll music and manage to manifest itself in a humorous way that proves the continued skill of Gass as a writer and musician. 

Part of the beauty of this record is that it captures a variety of emotion while still staying fairly funny and lighthearted. There is nothing overtly challenging about this release yet it has a very profound beauty to it that is hard to ignore. Kyle Gass has proven that he can put together something really special seperate from Tenacious D. He has managed to craft a brave new world of sound that speaks to the human condition and can make you smile, and even cry. Gypsy Scroll is a veritable coming of age for Kyle Gass. Proof that he is coming up as a triumphant musician in his own right it's kind of cool to see Gass putting together something this beautiful.

So what is the fundamental lesson that Gass is teaching us with this record? I can't say I'm qiute sure, but what I do know is that Gass is a creative force and one who seems destined to go on to far greater things. Sure these songs are silly, but I don't think he needs to always be silly to succeed. He has an incredible depth of potential that kind of brings him to a strange new level, one held only by true masters of the craft. Perhaps thats the lesson from the debut, that true art can arise from humor and funny men can rise up and become some of the great artists of their age.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/kylegassband

Cannabis Corpse-From Wisdom to Baked

I've always had a special place in my heart for Cannabis Corpse. I think what setsthem apart for me is the fact that they are both totally hilarious and very tight. Sure their new record has a song called Baptized in Bud, but by Thor, if it isn't a great track! As Cannabis Corpse pass From Wisdom to Baked I think it's clear that these guys are really starting to progress and evolve, metal masters for a new era. While their lyrics may be humorous the songwriting is deadly serious and provides no respite from a tight attack that defines the state of death metal today.

Part of the appeal of Cannabis Corpse is their incredible ability to flirt with disaster, constantly playing music that puts them on the brink, the brink of extinction. (I had too, I'm sorry) The spiraling bass lines and stunning guitar licks simply speak to the evolution of Cannabis Corpse as a band. That's perhaps the most shocking thing about From Wisdom to Baked somewhere along the line, perhaps since their split with Ghoul, things became almost triumphant. Not only are Cannabis Corpse making us smile with silly stoner jokes, but songs like THC Crystal Mountain show that these guys are bring the genre forward with memorable choruses and a breakneck delivery.

In short, this is another stellar release from Season of Mist and further proof that weed inspires some of the worlds best music. As you fall into the raging attack of what is perhaps the ultimate triumph for the stoner death metal fan you start to realize Cannabis Corpse have started to do it. They've transcended their status as a comedy band and are now getting into something greater, and somehow darker. Am I romanticizing the pipe dream of a group of stoners? Maybe. But I really feel that From Wisdom to Baked may very well take us to a brave new world.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cannabis-Corpse-Official/104903899597371

Casket Robbery

Brutal death metal isn't always my trip, so much of it takes itself too seriously and is just to over the top to really be enjoyed. Casket Robbery get that, and then turn it on its head, creating pulverizing death metal sounds filled with complex riffs and crushing chug parts. Then there is the content of the songs. Some are straightforward gore metal, but others, well, lets just say they have a song called 'I Did Coke with Billy Mays'. Casket Robbery find the perfect mix of groove, brutality, and straight up humor to get something that is special and ear ripping. Their new single Blood Bathory is not just a great pun but also a renewed testament to the reckless and relentless power that Casket Robbery have. What sets Casket Robbery apart is that they have a great understanding of how to self promote and how to mix humor with great music. On their own each factor isn't enough to make them truly stand out, but together, the combination of unique and exciting elements that define Casket Robbery make them a force to be reckoned with.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/casketrobbery

Jaldaboath-The Further Adventures of Jaldaboath

A lot of these 'comedy metal' bands leave everything in the punchline and don't really go for musical excellence. The heraldic Templar metal, cacophonic castle rock, and head banging horse riding metal of Jaldaboath does not fall into this trap. Their music is wonderfully constructed, folky, and fun to listen too, in many ways these guys are a sort of medieval Alestorm, fun, hard hitting, and fully aware of how triumphant and ridiculous their music is. Their new record The Further Adventures of Jaldaboath is an impressive sophomore release and showcases one of the most hilarious bands in metal today.

Jaldaboath do a great job of fusing different musical influences into something that is distinctly metal, but definitely appealing to people from all walks of life. The heavy but melodic content of their songs is easy to latch on too. The lead lines in songs like Dex The Whispering Dwarf really draw in the ear with their medieval tinged approach. Toss in some excellent synth lines and you have yourself some metal madness for the masses. A final note, the vocal delivery is wonderful, it has a very Monty Pythonesque quality to it and makes tracks like the bouncy Father Pig so much fun. Furthermore, the lyrics are genuinely funny, they don't sound forced, and on several occasions you just have to laugh out loud.

So, if you want a fun and light hearted metal record to kick off your week then Jaldaboath is the band for you. It's humorous, brilliantly constructed, and capable of capturing the hearts of millions of listeners across the globe. I get the distinct impression that Jaldaboath will be going far on this second release. The Further Adventures of Jaldaboath reigns brightly because of the fact that these guys are unapologetic in their dedication to heavy metal madness. From their overblown backstory to their tight and listenable sound, Jaldaboath rock, I can not wait to hear what these guys do next!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Jaldaboath

Metalocalypse

So I'm continuing my recent series on comedy metal thingies and so today I am going to talk about the classic show Metalocalypse. This is an Adult Swim series which is frankly hilarious and one of the few TV series that I regularly watch. The show has a brilliant premise, excellent voice acting, and some of the greatest metal related comedy since Wayne's World. This show is a true treat for any metalhead and I really recommend that you go watch it. It is far and away the most BRUTAL show on television. It all stems from the brilliant premise that this show is entirely based on.

The whole basis of this show is that there is a death metal band called Dethklok and they have become the worlds 12^th largest economy. Lots of governmental agencies are concerned about them, because the band members are pretty much all idiots. There's Nick the lead singer, who always speaks in a death growl. Toki is one of the guitarists of the group, he is known for loving animals and not really knowing how to read/speak english, he is also known for drinking straight vodka. Skwisgaar is the other guitarist, he too has english difficulties. The bassist Murderface, is constantly wondering if he is truly valued and he has a hilarious accent. Finally Pickles is the drummer for Dethklok and he has a drug tolerance that used to be unknown to mankind.

The voice acting on this show is truly one of the most magical parts. The only character who does not have some kind of bizarre form of speech is Pickles the drummer. Nick's character is voice acted as always speaking in a death growl, this gives him a dark side which is offset by his sheer stupidity. Toki and Skwisgaar often get confused with their speaking and occasionally end up speaking pure gibberish. Murderface has... something wrong with him. He has a very aggressive manner of speech and he always seems to be some form of high. All in all the voice acting is a brilliant and integral part of the show.

Finally the comedy in this show is great. Sometimes the comedy is based around metal clichés but more often the comedy is based around topics that are common for Adult Swim, ;). If you catch my drift... However the writing for this show is truly brilliant and I think that for me at least it results in more laughs per minute than any other Adult Swim show. The sheer combination of characters and ridiculous plots and character goals leads to some incredibly stupid and ridiculous situations and I love every single minute of it and if you like death metal, or really any kind of metal you will revel in it too.

All in all this is a great show that really captures the essence of heavy metal and makes it completely pant-peeingly hilarious. The main idea of the show, a death metal band that is an economic super power is purely brilliant and it leads to many a great plot. Then the characters and the voice acting really fill out the show to make it good. Finally the genius comedy that comes in forms of both metal cliché and Adult Swim type topics. So guys, go out and headband and watch the most brutal show on television.

Cojko Dial

Cojko Dial is a Comedy Metal group that requested for me to “Tear them to pieces” so here goes. When you start off listening to this band you think they are solid and pretty funny but then after a while you start to hear some cracks in their sound. One of the most notable problems with the music is the lack of good guitar works, the guitar is so distorted that you can barely get a feel for it but when you do you realize that it is purely power chords and some extremely simple scale based riffs. If the guitar work was really pulled together this band might be better. Another problem with this band is the bass which while steady gets fills in some places that just don't work and it takes away from the general atmosphere of the music. The drums are also fairly generic and would be a lot better if there were some more original fills in there. The vocals are an interesting blend of clean and dirty. Some of the lyrics make me laugh but others are just idiotic. Their better songs involve actual themes and are not just a bunch of stupid words following each other. Overall this band is below average and needs to really tighten up and get more creative.

OVERALL 5.5/10

http://cojkodial.bandcamp.com/album/enter-shakira