Gwar - Lust in Space Review

Posted by Jesse Coy on 08.20.2009

The mighty Gwar returns, which begs the question… are we puny mortals finally destined for extermination at the hands (and axes and other nasty weapons) of these intergalactic barbarians?


Gwar
Lust in Space
Metal Blade Records
August 2009



1. Lust in Space
2. Let Us Slay
3. Damnation Under God
4. The Uberklaw
5. Lords and Masters
6. Metal Metal Land
7. The Price of Peace
8. Where Is Zog?
9. Make a Child Cry
10. Release the Flies
11. Parting Shot


So this year Gwar is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a band. They’ve returned to Metal Blade Records, whose first association with the band began way back on their second album, Scumdogs of the Universe, which is where many a long-time Gwar fan first heard Gwar. I can personally remember hearing that album when it came out (’90) while in high school, wondering what sort of drugs the band was on. I heard the music via a tape from a friend of mine before I actually saw what the band looked like. When I finally saw pictures of them, and a live concert video, I thought… oh, I get it. I think.

Many years thus passed, and I was for sure a confirmed fan of the band. Throughout the 90’s, picking up the newest Gwar album was always guaranteed to be anything but dull. You never quite knew where they would take you. You only knew that the ride would involve lots of carnage. And do I even have to mention the live shows? To this day, Gwar is probably the only band that I would try to catch whenever I could (I’ve seen them three times over the years) (some to Korea, you guys), as opposed to other bands where seeing them once is enough. The band always brings something new to the table.

The cut-off point for me with Gwar was Violence Has Arrived. This 2001 album was a reaction to the previous two albums, which some fans and members of the band felt marked Gwar going off course, getting away from their metal roots. As for me, I was a fan of songs like “Fucking an Animal,” for example, or Slymenstra Hymen’s vocal debut on “Don’t Need a Man.” Violence Has Arrived came therefore as a great surprise. There was not much musical experimentation, and humor took a back seat to straight forward brutal metal. I can’t say that I thought it was a bad album. It was just surprising. It’s not a favorite album of mine by the band. Again, I missed the humor. And I’m missing the two albums that came after that one, so I’m sort of going from point A to point D here when it comes to the progression from Gwar’s return to its metal roots, to this, their newest release.

With Lust in Space, I wondered if the humorous Gwar was still present, and if so, what it was like. It’s definitely far more present than the last album I heard by them. But there’s still a lot of seriously heavy and crushing metal to be heard. And it’s this balance that I quite like (humor and intensity), which to me is truly closer to a return to the band’s roots, or early 90’s style.

The album begins and ends with an ongoing Gwar story line. Lead singer Oderus is surrounded by the remnants of earthly decadence, a blood stained tomb filled with empty beer cans and piss. He makes reference to his crack addiction. Somehow, earth and its trappings will not let him go. Yet in “Lust in Space,” he looks to the sky. The Scumdogs are calling him. He must escape. The last two tracks pick up with this tale of escape. “Release the Flies” is dark, discordant, and pounding. The plan is in place. Apparently, Gwar is ready to leave. The fast-paced and closing “Parting Shots” finds Oderus giving final thoughts on this planet that he and Gwar called home (and routinely crushed). Just think of it as Gwar’s editorial on the human species.

What are some of the high points between beginning and end? This atheist always loves to hear a good knock on some of religion’s hypocrisy, especially when done to crushing metal, as it’s done via “Let Us Slay.” This track is followed by “Damnation Under God,” full of complex riffs, and what sounds to me like some damn good thrashing. Gwar was always hard to peg into one genre because of the strange stuff they would often do. But more than punk metal or heavy metal, I think they always had strong roots in thrash. For example, Casey Orr, who has returned to Gwar on this album as Beefcake the Mighty, started in the Texas thrash and speed metal band, Rigor Mortis. And by the way, if you’re missing hearing Beefcake’s vocals, he sings on “The Price of Peace,” while it’s Flattus singing on “Release the Flies.”

Now then, we’ve established that I’m loving the music. How about the humor? Without musically sounding joke-y, there’s “Metal Metal Land,” a heavy metal nirvana filled with loud music and strippers, where nothing dies (except your enemies), there’s always killer tunes playing, and there’s weed, speed, witches, and demons. It’s like the Heavy Metal movie come to life.

The most humorous moments, though, come from “Where Is Zog?” Despite the fact that we’re hearing of Oderus’ beloved childhood friend, with whom he fought together in blood orgies of war, some of us can relate to this song. Ever have that friend you haven’t seen for a long, long time. When you run into them again, they’ve fallen quite low. Poor Zog is on Earth, associated most with the sound of a squeegee. He’s begging for small space change, washing people’s windows. The song ends with Gwar putting him out of his misery with a plasma weapon (after a bit of an argument between Oderus and Balsac).

Finally, if you’re worried that the very politically incorrect track is missing from Lust in Space, fear not. Just listen to “Make a Child Cry.” You don’t know how much fun this one is for me, considering my situation, as any of the women I date nowadays close to my age (in their thirties), I have to be on constant guard to make sure they’re not on “I want a baby” mode. Sadly, I’ve had to date girls eight to ten years younger than me to avoid this (poor me). Children are not the “be all, end all.” They’re not always necessary.

As for the album cover, which I quite like, dare I suggest it’s a nod toward Kiss’ Love Gun album cover? Yes, I think that’s a reasonable statement. Which makes one ponder the point. Track the material Kiss was putting out twenty-five years after they formed, and then do the same for Gwar. There’s no contest. Gwar kicks ass.

The 411: Musically, this is a great metal and thrash album. You don’t have to be steeped in Gwar mythology (or know any of their other albums, for that matter) to appreciate it. This gets my nod for one of 2009’s best.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]