The Decline of Western Civilization [Soundtrack]

Alice Bag Band (Performer), Black Flag (Performer), Catholic Discipline (Performer), Circle Jerks (Performer), Fear (Performer), Germs (Performer), X (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 28, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Slash
• ASIN: B00000E9NH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,693 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years is the soundtrack to the documentary film directed by Penelope Spheeris about the Los Angeles heavy metal scene of the late eighties.The soundtrack, originally released in 1988, has long been out of print and become a highly sought after rarity featuring such heavy metal hitters as Alice Cooper, Megadeth, Motorhead, Lizzy Borden and more! --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Confessions of a teenage metalhead, August 1, 2008

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Decline of Western Civilization Pt II (Audio CD)

Given how much screen time is spent on Sunset Strip hair metal bands in Penelope Spheeris's lamentably out of print Decline of Western Civilization Part 2 - the Metal Years, I'm surprised at most of the bands that are included on the film's soundtrack. From what I recall, only Faster Pussycat, Seduce, and Lizzy Borden were actually featured in the movie.

It may not be terribly representative of the bands featured in the film, but the soundtrack is a pretty accurate snapshot of heavy metal in the second half of the 1980's. You get your L.A. hair metal from Seduce and Faster Pussycat, Seattle power metal from Queensryche and Metal Church, the Metal Blade power metal sound from Armored Saint and Lizzy Borden, the old school metal sound from Motorhead and Alice Cooper (featuring none other than Slash and Axl from Guns n' Roses), and Megadeth and Rigor Mortis represent the emerging thrash metal scene.

Some of the songs stand out more than others, and some are available elsewhere, but as a whole this soundtrack is a very effective reminder of what it felt like to be a metalhead in the late 80's. I give it a big thumbs-up and recommend it to any 80's metal fan as well as anyone who enjoyed the film (and not just in a "let's laugh at the hair metal losers" kind of way).

4.0 out of 5 stars "Ya, we all grow up", August 21, 2011

By 

J.Krakow (Augusta, Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Decline of Western Civilization (Audio CD)

Dusted off the old vinyl one day and said, "I'm getting this on CD". Finally did. Began the search and found that the disc is out of print (Slash Records). Found a CD used in mint condition but was glad I saved the Vinyl! Not much more to say about this product. If you were a person of this generation and were into this music of the day, then you probably saw this at your local independent film theater! Film directed by Penelope Spheeris, "TV series "ROSEANNE",and director and co-writer of such films as, (Waynes World, Beverly Hillbillies, Little Rascals, Black Sheep) performances and interviews include Black Flag, The Germs, X and so on! Obnoxious, energetic, what fun!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great album great price, June 25, 2011

By 

music rocker - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Decline of Western Civilization (Audio CD)

When I got this, The Decline of Western Civilization; I quicky added it to my iTunes playlist and Synced my iPod, sat down and enjoyed the old classick L.A. Punk Scene... as if I we're really there but not really though. The CD is AWESOME it has some of the best band like: Black Flag, X, The Germs, Cirlcle Jerks, even Alice Bag Band and many others that were in the movie, but the only thing I disliked was that some of the bands songs we'ren't in it, like the germs song "Shut Down" and Alice Bag's: "The Pralers of the night" but I still live because of it ;) but like I said, it's like reliving the Los Angeles punk scene over again. (HIGHLY RECOMMENED FOR ANY PUNK ROCK LP CD Collector!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)