Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a good solid album, January 17, 2007
i wish there was a 4.5 star rating but i like gwar so i rounded up to 5. this album is very good and ranks in some of the best music gwar has made. usually as bands approach around 20 years, ( the length that gwar has been together) they usually lose much of their ability to produce songs with flair ( aka metallica). this album is full blooded metal, and is quite comical. if you like gwar buy this album for 1: its the cheapest for some reason and 2: its good
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
These Guys Can Play...., January 2, 2007
I was never a Gwar fan, putting them in the same category as Kiss. The logic being, let's hide the lack of talent behind a gimmick (no offense to you Kiss Army folks out there). I got one of their songs on a Metal Blade compilation and though it didn't blow my socks off musically, it had a great sense of humor and was somewhat offensive, which appeals to me. The song was Meat Sandwich and after a few days of running around with that song stuck in my head, I decided to review the Gwar catalog. "Beyond Hell" appealed to me because it was the most recent and the cheapest. Apparently the Gwar fanbase is dissipating over time. Regardless, I bought the album and was actually surprised to find a structured heavy metal album with interesting (and enjoyably offensive) lyrics. The album rocks!! And what's more, it offers a callback to a simpler time when the dominant music structure wasn't rap or hip hop. The album is well produced, has a distinct sense of humor, and each musician is highly skilled at their particular axe. It's found it's way into heavy rotation in my car and I am enjoying some of it's intricacies. If you had ever told me I would be rocking to Gwar I would have laughed in your face. Now I find myself eyeing the rest of their catalog. Go figure. Anyway, can't believe I'm the only one to review this album. What happened to the Gwar fans? Did the band eat you?
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4.0 out of 5 stars
GWAR is so much better than they get credit for, April 1, 2009
Sadly, GWAR will never get the respect they deserve. As a musical group, they are usually tossed into the same "joke band" category as bands like ICP. No one takes GWAR seriously, due to their outrageous costumes, silly on-stage personas, and hilariously violent and obscene lyrics.
And that's a shame, because GWAR have proven that even after 20+ years and with dozens of line-up changes, heavy metal bands can still be relevant and make awesome music. "Beyond Hell" is undoubtedly GWAR's most polished metal effort, managing to be even better that its excellent predecessor, "War Party."
I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because honestly, the lyrics are not going to appeal to everyone. In fact, I don't think they really appeal to anyone. They are nasty and foul and obscene, and absolutely hilarious.
But amazingly, GWAR's real talent lies in their excellent songwriting and wonderful musical ability. Anyone can write gross and offensive lyrics, but GWAR manages to balance the obnoxious vocals with flawless riffs and wicked solos. Each member of the band is a great musician, and incredibly, no two songs really sound the same. They are all straight-forward thrash metal, but the song structures vary enough that each song sounds truly distinct, which is a trick not many bands manage.
Highlights include the opener "War Is All We Know," "Tormentor," "One Who Will Not Be Named" and a silly tongue-in-cheek cover of "School's Out." Some of the most obscene and revolting lyrics are in "The Ultimate Bohab," which is so gross and offensive you'll feel dirty just listening to it.
If you try to keep the lyrics at arm's length and focus on the music, you will surely be impressed by GWAR. And if you have a twisted sense of humor, you'll love the lyrics as well. This is currently one of my very favorite albums.
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