GWAR is a band that I have not paid much attention to for awhile. I remember hearing cuts from Scumdogs of the Universe on college radio stations many years ago, and being quite intrigued. My first real experience was with America Must be Destroyed, which is a really good album, especially the song "The Road Behind." Since then, my GWAR exposure has been limited to This Toilet Earth and Carnival of Chaos. The latter having been released way back in 1997, it has been a long time since I have been infected by any new material from the scumdogs. Now, I don't know what exactly I have missed, but Beyond Hell is a solid metal album, one that I am proud to include in my collection.
Beyond Hell is a concept album that tells the story of how GWAR goes on a journey to Hell and beats up Satan. Now, I will be honest, I did not pay much attention to the story, I was too busy getting caught up in the crunchy riffs that were consistently being churned out. This is definitely a strong release that is up there with my America Must be Destroyed, and definitely stronger than those other two albums I have.
The mad Canadian metal mastermind, Devin Townsend, produced this album, and his influence is definitely felt in the crisp, crunchy production values. His fingerprints are all over the sound, plus he even appears on the disk, singing backup on "Tormentor." Anyone who is unfamiliar with his work should check out anything from his band, Strapping Young Lad, or solo work such as Synchestra or Ziltoid the Omniscient.
As for GWAR, they were never a band that you would turn to for metal mastery, or deep insightful lyrics (although they are not without their messages), they were the guys you would turn to for a laugh, some blood soaked humor, some heavy music and some lyrics that are way out there. More than that, you would turn to their live show, which is as big and theatrical as they come. They where monstrous costumes and regularly maim, disembowel, and decaptitate popular figures onstage, all in a flood of blood and other fluids that they are more than willing to share with anyone in attendance. It is an experience that no one should have to go through life without.
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