Live in Los Angeles [LIVE]

Hand of Doom

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 3, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Idaho Music
• ASIN: B00006FSUI
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #237,942 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

MTV.com

"...The svelte, stylish former Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist can rock the titanic heavy metal with the big boys."

Product Description

Perhaps the most high-powered tribute band in the history of rock, Hand of Doom is the supergroup side project of Melissa Auf Der Maur (Auf De Maur, Hole, Smashing Pumpkins). Formed in homage to the mighty Black Sabbath, Hand of Doom (which features Auf Der Maur doing her first real turn on lead vocals) recorded their debut live on LA's Sunset Strip during now-legendary shows at the Whisky, Troubadour and Spaceland.

Hand of Doom gives their own high-energy spin to such Sabbath milestones as "Paranoid" and "War Pigs," while adding contemporary touches like turntables, a DJ and - in the role of Ronnie James Dio - guest lead vocals by Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age!

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good performances, but too much of a carbon copy., April 30, 2004

By	D. Mok (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The recording is good, the instrumental players are skilled, and Melissa Auf der Maur's vocal performance contains enough attitude to compensate for its shaky pitch and lack of range.

So what's the problem? Like so many others (even the ever-inventive Faith No More) who have covered Black Sabbath songs, Hand of Doom has stayed entirely too true to the original arrangements and sounds. Black Sabbath is the kind of band that holds a mystical power over its acolytes and it's not surprising that musicians who love the band have a preconceived notion of how these songs should sound. But the tracks on Hand of Doom, though I enjoyed them, sound so close to the originals that I wondered why I didn't just put on the original band. Auf der Maur's female vocals make them minutely different, but I definitely wish Hand of Doom would have been more inventive and done different things with these iconic songs.

And another thing: Do we need to hear yet more renditions of "War Pigs", "Iron Man" and "Paranoid", three of the most legendary (and therefore most tired) songs in the metal canon? The track selection on this EP shows a lack of adventurousness, something Black Sabbath never lost sight of. I would have loved to hear less obvious cover choices such as "Megalomania", "Killing Yourself to Live", "Am I Going Insane (Radio)", "Supernaut", "Zero the Hero", "Trashed", "The Wizard", and "Cornucopia". Instead, we get the three staples from the Paranoid album, songs I wouldn't mind never hearing covered ever again.

Hand of Doom is not bad as music; it's just at a loss for something to say. Hearing a completely faithful cover band may be enjoyable as a live experience, but a record demands more. Why perform and record songs in exactly the same way as they've been done, and done quite well, 30 years ago? I'd definitely recommend Melissa Auf der Maur's idiosyncratic solo record in lieu of Hand of Doom.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MELISSA IS GREAT, BUT TRYS TO HARD ON THIS CD, July 16, 2008

By	Synaptic Violations "Barbie" (Waste Lands of Kansas) - See all my reviews

AS much as I like Melissa Auf der Maur and her own solo album, and I love Black Sabbath - my first and strongest heavy rock influence. Melissa can sing!, but her jovial verbage and sytle of singing on this is 'just OK'. Not great, but Ok. I like the music, but she could have relaxed(?) and been more controlled and this would have been an Outstanding album.
It is almost like she had a one too many beers? or whatever. But a Chance to do a whole set of Black Sabbath songs! what an opportunity!
I still say it is worth every penny to get this if you are a Black Sabbath fan. You might not play it all the time but it deserves a few back to back plays. I am also a HOLE fan so for me this was a great concept cd to have; but I feel a little too picky about Melissa's vocal performances here. for that I am sorry to offend. She is still a great artist. I am extremely glad they did this CD for mass market!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just another sabbath tribute in my book, I just don't think its that spectacular, October 20, 2006

By	Wiseguy 945 (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews

I myst be in the minority on this CD, but I did not think it was anything special. I picked it up about 4 years ago when it came out, seeing Jack osbourne's comments on the cover thinking, hey, it's cheep and it might be good. Well, it's ok, but nothing to write home about. Yes, It's unique in the fact that a female, Mellisa Auf der Mauer does the vocals, which is cool, but I don't think its anything spectacular. I think the mastering makes it sound a bit rough, but otherwise, their unique vocals, and definitely are not Ozzy or anything close. The band sounds like it lacks something as well, I Think it may be the heaviness of the bass or the distortion on guitar is less, or maybe lighter strings, but it just didn't carry the heaviness that strikes me as sabbath, again, that could be the mastering as well. Prior reviewer's seem to give this group more credit in their tribute music than Toni Iommi for writing it, and the subsequent groups that Were labeled "black sabbath" after ozzy left. The live albums they put out with Dio and Tony Martin on vocals were as good as this and just a intense, but had the backing of Toni Iommi. I wouldn't go out of my way to purchace this CD, but the used price is nice here on Amazon, and it is a better tribute than many of the others. So if you collect tributes, this may be one for you.