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GWAR
"Battle
Maximus: 10th Anniversary Edition" (Pit Records; 2023)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Here is my favorite GWAR story. I witnessed it firsthand. This was at the Ventura Theater in, of course, Ventura, California. It was a long time ago; maybe ten years. We'd never seen GWAR live before so we decided to go en masse. There were plastic tarps taped down, everywhere. Every surface, the floors, the walls. When the music started, these characters in oversized, gothic monster masks with weapons to match took the stage. Everything was large. And I mean, large. Up to that point, I always thought GWAR was a joke, a parody; way over the fucking top. Well, when the show started, that’s when the shit hit the fan. There was this female, 18 to 20 years old. Dressed all in white. Intentionally. By the end of the concert, she was covered, head to toe, in fake blood (and other fake bodily fluids. As she walked by us toward the exit, she said: "I have to be home in an hour and my parents don't know I'm here." There is no way she got all the fake blood off her clothes in an hour, not to mention out of her hair. Oops!
R. Scott Bolton reviewed this album upon its initial release (see below) and gave it a solid four guitarsaws. It still sounds that good today, plus there's some bonus tracks to enjoy as well, including the band's unforgettable cover of Kansas' "Carry On Now Wayward Son," and a previously unreleased track entitled "Tammy the Swine Queen" which is reported to be the last song Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie) ever recorded for the band.
Every metal fan should see GWAR live. Despite Oderus' unfortunate death, they're still out there and still kicking ass. Once you see a GWAR show live, every time you listen to a CD you can clearly imagine what the band would do with it on that stage. At the end of the day, after all the outrageous outfits and blood spurting out on the audience, GWAR is at their very core a highly talented metal band.
This is some interesting and totally awesome music.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"The New
Dark Ages" (Pit Records; 2022)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Rough Edge Editor R. Scott Bolton and I saw GWAR a good number of years ago and that is something you do not soon forget. If you've never been, cruise over to YouTube and search out a couple of live Gwar videos. It'll give you an idea of what it's all about (but just an idea).
As entertaining and as bombastic as that show was, it is sometimes easy to forget that Gwar is a truly talented band that have released a number of killer records. This one, their latest, is called "The New Dark Ages" and it's yet another outstanding recording from Gwar. Gwar is a band with two distinct personalities: one is their live show that must be witnessed to be appreciated. The other is their recording personality and they are talented musicians that can perform and release a rock album that not only kicks ass but does so with pomp and circumstance (which will, of course, translate perfectly to the stage).
Gwar is one of those bands that knows rock'n'roll should be fun and, perhaps, a little offensive. In the case of "The New Dark Ages," they've done it again.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"Scumdogs
XXX Live" (Pit Records; 2021)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
If you've ever been to a Gwar concert, you know it's some of the most fun you can have with a group of your friends while covered in blood, urine and vomit.
"Scumdogs XXX Live" is a recorded version of the band's "30th Anniversary Scumdogs Reunion" live stream from October of 2020, and it's exactly what you expect to be: Over an hour of stupid, foul skits, some raging rock'n'roll, and a load of fun from beginning to end.
As you might expect from a thirtieth anniversary celebration, the band does something special here. They play their classic 1990 album, "Scumdogs of the Universe," live in its entirety.
"Scumdogs XXX Live" is available on virtually every format known to man because Gwar fans, like Kiss fans, like to buy everything. The vinyl and cassette versions include a DVD and Blu-Ray of the entire show.
And, yeah, yeah, I know the band's line-up has changed often throughout the years, due to the members leaving the band, re-joining the band, or simply kicking the bucket. Who gives a fuck? Gwar still rocks and has fun while doing it.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"The Disc
With No Name" (Pit Records; 2021)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Even though they want to disembowel all of us filthy humans, Gwar is a band that knows rock'n'roll is supposed to be fun. "The Disc With No Name" is a very interesting GWAR EP, a picture disc and downloadable EP, comprised of four tracks. You're heard these four tracks before: "Fuck This Place" and "I'll Be Your Monster," originally from 2017's "The Blood of Gods," "Gonna Kill You," originally from 1997's "Carnival of Chaos," and "The Road Behind" from 1992's "America Must Be Destroyed."
But you haven't heard them like this.
All of the tracks on "The Disc With No Name" are stripped-down (mostly) acoustic versions that are about as stripped down as you can get. Now, you don't normally think of "acoustic" and "Gwar" in the same breath but, surprisingly, the songs on "The Disc With No Name" work really well. Even when there are lyrics like "We fucked apes; Giving birth to the human race; Now your existence is a big mistake; Our bastard offspring" set to a bouncy beat.
Which brings me back to my initial comment. "The Disc With No Name" is a fun, quick listen, that once again relies heavily on Gwar's sense of sick humor. If you're a fan, you're gonna love this. If you're not a fan, well, Gwar is probably going to disembowel you anyway.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"Blood of
Gods" (Metal Blade; 2017)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Editor R. Scott and I saw GWAR back in the day and, I have to say, whatever words I put here will not convey the total spectacle and awesomeness of this show.
This release, "The Blood of Gods," is the band's first recording without their fearless leader Oderus Urungus (Dave Brockie, who passed away in 2014 (RIP). (A quick side note: Go to Wikipedia and check out the article for his 1990 arrest for obscenity; very funny).
When you see a GWAR show, you think these guys must be a fucking joke with their outrageous costumes, spewing bodily fluids and onstage antics, but once the music starts you know they are much more than that. All that live show stuff is fun, but these guys know how to play their instruments and write some great (often hilarious) music. This recording, "The Bloods of Gods," is no exception. It's full of tight rock'n'roll, clever lyrics and some of the best production on the planet, all of which adds up to make make GWAR a pleasure to listen to.
The songs may be about death, gore and more death and more gore and it's all a hell of a lot of fun. Put the comedy aside and simply listen to the music and you will see there's more to GWAR than meets the eye. And, if you haven't seen GWAR live, you really need to go ASAP.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"Battle
Maximus" (Metal Blade; 2013)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
With their garish make-up, outrageous costumes, offensive lyrics and so-far-over-the-top live shows, it's always been tempting to dump Gwar in the comic book bands genre, where the big show comes first and the music doesn't really matter.
Except that they've really never let you do that. Instead, it seems that virtually every Gwar album has had a killer track or explosive riff that digs into your brain like the claws of a demon and makes you realize, at least once during every album, that this is a really good rock band, and not just a great rock show. Check out my reviews of previous Gwar albums and you'll get an idea of where I'm coming from.
"Battle Maximus," Gwar's 13th album, and the first to feature new guitarist Pustulus Maximus (taking over for the late Flattus Maximus) is the band's best album in years. If you told me a decade ago that'd I be calling the new Gwar album my favorite album of the year, I probably would have told you you're crazy. But, ever since the very first listen-through to "Battle Maximus," that's exactly what I'm thinking. And I've listened to the album a dozen times now.
Loaded with the stuff that makes a Gwar album just that, "Battle Maximus" is full of driving guitar, roaring vocals and lyrics that will make you laugh out loud at their direct intent to offend. But there's also a more melodic side than we've heard on previous Gwar albums (and remember, folks, "melodic" is relative here) and some moments when some genuine emotion sneaks in. "Battle Maximus" is as much a tribute to the fallen Flattus Maximus (Cory Smoot, who was found dead on the band's tour bus in 2011) as it is a chest-thumping announcement that the new Gwar has arrived. It's a solid album from start to finish. My favorite track, "Madness in the Core of Time," comes in early as the second track in, but the album never flags from that point on.
Not only are the fret fireworks of Pustulus (Cannibis Corpse guitarist Brent Purgason) explosive and sharp here, I don't think Oderus Urangus has ever sounded better. Urungus (Dave Brockie) even sounds great on the booming ballad, "Falling" and delivers a little more range than usual on other tracks as well. And the rhythm section is kicking some serious ass, too, with some of the most thunderous drumming I've heard on an album this year.
Gwar has been around a long time and, if they keep writing and recording music as powerful and as fun as "Battle Maximus" -- to say nothing of their unmatched live show -- they're going to be around for a lot longer. And that's just fine with me.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"Bloody
Pit of Horror" (Metal Blade; 2010)
Reviewed by Mike SOS
Celebrating their 25th year of invading Earth, Dave Brockie and his associates who comprise the mighty Gwar continue to churn out comedically-driven theatrical heavy metal on their latest 11-track endeavor, "Bloody Pit of Horror."
Championing their novelty status to the hilt while producing salacious slabs of explosive metal in the process (“Storm is Coming”), Gwar may be best known for their outlandish look and circus-like live show, but their music has seen a significant upgrade in the last few years. Locking in with a hammering thrash metal precision, the musicians underneath the costumes have stepped up their game considerably in the last few releases, and retain the same spirit here with a barrage of tasty double barrel riffs (“A Gathering of Ghouls”) and a punkish metal charm (“Beat You to Death") firmly planted within the band’s outrageous framework.
Gwar has morphed into a band with both nasty effects and nasty riffs fueling their intergalactic chaotic chicanery.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"Beyond
Hell" (DRT; 2006)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
If for some reason you're not sure what to expect when you purchase a new GWAR album, the photos inside the awesome Limited Edition version of "Beyond Hell" will certainly give you some idea way before you insert the CD into your player. There are full color photos of each band member, a complete lyric sheet (with a story that links all of the songs on the CD together) with a full color mini-poster of the band on the flip side.
Of course, if you're not sure what to expect of GWAR, you probably won't be buying "Beyond Hell" anyway.
If you are familiar with GWAR, then you'll know that "Beyond Hell" is more of what you've come to expect from the band. Outrageous lyrics that offend anyone and everyone on the planet, songs about slaughter and kinky sex, and a speed/thrash metal sound that's on the verge of being out of control but that hangs in there ... but only just. The closest the band comes to mainstream is a mostly straight-forward cover of Alice Cooper's "School's Out,"
New GWAR sounds like old GWAR and that's a good thing because that's what all GWAR fans want. That and the band's legendary live show, which includes gallons of fake blood, semen, vomit and other bodily fluids. At least we hope it's fake.
Bottom line here is that "Beyond Hell" is as good as any previous GWAR release. If you enjoy the band's outrageous antics and uber offensive lyrics, then this is yet another GWAR CD you'll want to add to your collection.
As mentioned above, there are two versions of this disc: The standard edition and the Limited Edition which contains a bonus DVD of the band performing live.
GWAR: Balsac, The Jaws of Death - guitars; Beefcake, the Mighty - bass; Oderus Urungus - bellowing; Jizmak da Gusha - drums; Flattus Maximum - guitar.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"War
Party" (DRT; 2004)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Rock's most politically incorrect band returns with a politically charged CD that may be more substantial than their previous releases but that also lacks some of the band's goofy energy and silliness. The trade-off is an equal one but fans may be disappointed that -- for the most part -- "War Party" doesn't reach the levels of outrageousness that previous CDs did (or, for that matter, any of Dave Brockie's solo CDs either).
Still, like Gwar CDs, "War Party" delivers in the speed metal / thrash department, with the band ripping through consistently entertaining slabs of noise. Most of the time, it's tight and heavy (as on "Krosstika," "Womb with a View" and the title track) but sometimes the songwriting gets a little messy (as on "Bring Back the Bomb" and "The Bonus Plan." Of course, in Gwar's case, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
As with any Gwar CD, a highlight is lead vocalist Oderus Urungus (aka Dave Brockie) who delivers his monstrous growl with more attitude and menace than virtually anyone.
Gwar tends to get pigeon-holed as one of those bands that's all about the show and there may be some truth to that. But they're also a talented bunch of musicians who know what their audience is looking for ... and they know how to give it to them.
GWAR: Balsac, The Jaws of Death - guitars; Beefcake, the Mighty - bass; Oderus Urungus - bellowing; Jizmak da Gusha - drums; Flattus Maximum - guitar.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
"Violence
Has Arrived" (Metal Blade; 2001)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
"Violence Has Arrived" is everything you could possibly want in a GWAR album: extreme heavy metal, battle- and blood-laden lyrics, tons of controversy and, of course, a bitchin' cover (in this case, a CD insert that opens into a killer poster that you'll be tempted to pin to your wall).
A simple list of song titles will give
you an idea of what you're in store for here: "Battle Lust,"
"Anti-Anti-Christ," "The Apes of Wrath,"
"Licksore," "Biledriver," "Happy Death-Day." A
couple of sample lyrics will define it even more:
"I gaze through the mist at the approaching host
My hand finds the hilt of my sword
Soon they are sundered, their bodies we roast
Their leader is hacked, mauled and gored." (from "Battle
Lust")
I was going to quote from "Licksore," too, but I'll save that little surprise for the CD.
Bottom line: If you're a GWAR fan, you're going to love "Violence Has Arrived" as much as anything the band has ever done. If you've never heard the band before, do yourself a favor: First, pick up this CD. Second, don't miss the live show! The combination is the definitive GWAR.
GWAR is: Oderus Urungus - vocals; Jizmak Da Gusha - drums; Flattus Maximus - guitar; Balsac The Jaws of Death - guitar; Beefcake The Mighty - bass.
Or: Dave Brockie - vocals; Mike Derks - guitar; Zach Blair - guitar; Brad Roberts - drums; Casey Orr - bass.
For more information, check out http://www.gwar.net.
"We
Kill Everything" (Metal Blade; 1999)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
A GWAR album isn't so much a new rock'n'roll record as it is a soundtrack for the insanity performed during their stage show (click here to read our review). "We Kill Everything" is no exception. Let's just list a few song titles, shall we? "Fishfuck," "Jiggle the Handle," "Jagermonsta," "My Girly Ways," "The Master Has a Butt," "Penile Drip" and a few others that will cause the album to be banned in dozens of countries across the globe. Get the picture?
Is it good? That depends on your definition of "good." It rocks pretty hard, using every possible rock hook and cliché to grab your attention. The lyrics are disgusting yet utterly hilarious. And the costumes look like someone took the monsters from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and addicted them to crack cocaine.
In other words, if you're looking for inspiration and enlightenment, you'd better stick with your U2 CDs - GWAR just wanna have fun.
As a soundtrack to their outrageous stage show, "We Kill Everything" is as good a rock opera as you're likely to get these days. Imagine that - instead of The Who's "Tommy," someone took a classic sci-fi movie from the 50s, filled it with profanity, gore and obscenities, and set it to heavy metal. That's GWAR. Love it or hate it. If you're easily offended, don't even finish reading this review. (For that matter, if you're easily offended, go to another website).
GWAR is (and I've been anxiously waiting for this part): Oderus Urungus, throat; Balsac the Jaws of Death, guitar; Jizmak Da Gusha, drums; Beefcake the Mighty, bass; Flattus Maximus, guitar; Slymenstra Hymen, fire and vocals; Musel, keyboards. Also featured are Sexecutioner; Sleazy P. Martini; Techno Destructo; Gor Gor; Scroda Moon; Nathan Brown; Greg Ottinger; Scott Frock; Mike Bishop; Tim Harriss.
For more information, visit GWAR on the net (if their website hasn't been forced to come down - again) at http://www.gwar.net.
"This
Toilet Earth" (Metal Blade; 1994)
Reviewed by Snidermann
What can you say about GWAR that hasn't already been said? This band truly must be experienced -- both by listening to their recorded music and by going to see a live performances -- to be believed. Check out our review of a 1999 GWAR concert by clicking here. A GWAR concert is really hard to put into words, but our esteemed editor R. Scott Bolton does a very good job of capturing the essence of the show.
As with each and every GWAR CD, "This Toilet Earth" is completely unabashed and unafraid to say (or do) anything to get your attention. GWAR has no qualms about saying anything they want to say. There are no sacred cows here. It's as though someone took Political Correctness, murdered it with an ax and left it in a ditch somewhere to die. A quick review of song titles makes this point as well as anything else: "Saddam a Go Go," "Penis I See," "Insidious Soliloquy of Skulhed Face" and more.
If you don't know anything else about GWAR, check out www.gwar.net for a complete primer. Here's an excerpt from the band's website to get you started: " The Legend of GWAR began millions of years ago when the aliens rampaged across the galaxy with a gang of space pirates called the Scumdogs of the Universe. Falling out of favor with their Master, GWAR was imprisoned on the most remote mudball planet in the galaxy ... Earth. After killing off the dinosaurs and inadvertently creating the human species by raping prehistoric apes ... "
And so on. You get the idea.
GWAR's "This Toilet Earth" is a living and breathing cartoon (for adults, of course) that is a virtual paradise of irreverent songs and off the wall antics. It's that blend of humor and all-out speed metal that keeps me interested in what GWAR comes up with next.
GWAR: Flattus Maximus, Sexecutioner, Jizmak da Gusha, Slymenstra Hyman, Oderus Urugus, Beefcake the Mightly, Balsac and Sleazy P. Martini.
For more information, check out www.gwar.net.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2023 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
