Customer Reviews

Lust in Space

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've always liked Gwar's ability to take a longtime listener and serve up something both familiar and expected, while sniffing around and tweaking things a bit. "Lust in Space" is another album in the fast-paced style they've done since "Violence Has Arrived." Fast and pissed off but funny as hell at the same time.

Thankfully there's none of the neo-punk, 1-minute orgasms on what I call the dark ages of Gwar. Thankfully Dave Brockie/Oderus isn't singing like a faux-bluesy goofball, the stuff that sickened me about those middle albums. But there's enough of the basic punk chord progression and thump-whack drums to please the punks among us, ironically enough on the song "Metal Metal Land," which eventually only sounds metal at the tail end.

"Lust in Space" is still fast-paced and metal to the core, and Oderus sounds as monstrous and evil as ever. There's much more back-up vocals from the rest of the Scumdogs, and Beefcake and Flattus get their own leads. I don't envy Jizmak's feet because it seems every song has at some point the double-bass drum thumping like a burp gun. They even get a bit Iron Maiden, using twin guitar leads. Gave me a little twinkle, it did.

The lyrics are familiar to anyone who's been listening for a while - sex, maggots, death, war, defiling small puppies, etc. And they go back to the "I hate earth" theme right off the bat with the title track; the lyrics reminded me a bit of "Death Pod" from the "Scumdogs" album way back when. "Lust in Space" is a sonically thin song but once it's going the Gwar momentum is like a juggernaut.

There's even a bit of Ministry here; the song "Lords and Masters" reminded me of the speed-metal-punk from the early 90s, particularly the "TV Song" series of tracks. But here, on "Lords" it goes from that immediately into the breakneck growling and sludge that only Gwar can deliver.

I wasn't disappointed at this hunk of Gwar because it's everything I've wanted in Gwar and haven't gotten since "Violence." Just about every deadly sin, gore, speed, anger, self-deprecating, epic megalomania, and that uniquely Gwar style of sick humor that drew me in almost 20 years ago.

Gwar has always been an easy target for music snobs. Here you have a band that dresses up in Latex monster suits and sprays blood all over their fans. However, all that being said....you also have an 11th album over the span of 25 years. Say what you will but Dave and company are doing SOMETHING right. This is a band that has survived losing members (some very prominant), switching labels, and just time itself.

All that being said, this is very solid release. Although I would not put it as high in regard as Violence Has Arrived or America Must be Destroyed. I can say it is MILES ahead of that dredful last release Beyond Hell! The album is heavy and does a great job at bringing back the vocal backing harmony that has been missing on recent efforts. With Casey Orr being back as Beefcake we get a great track from him bearing his signature voice. AND...with an exceptional surprise we get a song by Flattus called "Unleash the Flies" which is my personal favorite on the album. "Where is Zog" manages to bring out humor but still keeps things hard and even on the album. In the library of GWAR I would rank this release along the lines of Ragnarok and War Party....very hard, all around solid efforts....not spectacular like Scumdogs, VHA or AMBD. BUT....not awful like Carnival of Chaos or We Kill Everything.

If you are a fan, pick it up as it is worthy of being next to any of their past discs. And if you don't know of the group, this is not a bad effort to start listening to.

Just a quick mention of the respect this group does deserve. First of all many people claim the band is not the same without the likes of Hunter Jackson, Chuck Varga and Ms. Stamppe (Techno, Sexy and Slymenstra). Keep in mind after 25 years none of these folks are getting any younger. When you keep that in mind it's amazing the band is still around. As a matter of fact for Dave and Brad and Dirks to keep this up it has had to have been a TRUE labor of love. These guys have stuck with this project for many, many years.....they are not becoming millionaires off of it, they HAVE to be getting tired physically in relation to the physical aspect the entire project demands. They deserve true respect and admiration. I had the pleasure of meeting all 3 a few years back at a Clutch show and I got to see them perform as DBX the night after, during that conversation I thanked Dave personally for all of the entertainment he has given me during all of those years. I have been to every Houston show since 1992...I believe around 30+ shows...and will go see them on the Sept. 29th as well for this album.

Gwar is an Institution. My cousin brought me into the fold with Hello, and now I'm doing so with my 18 year old cousin. And hopefully if they can keep it up...one day I'll bring my kid to a Gwar show.

People can say all they want to about this band....but 11 albums and 25 years is no small feat. Like I said...they are doing something right!

gwar was labeled a novelty act for years but in recent years they have boosted up their musical talent a lot showing they are more than a gory,perverted and wacky band and this cd shows this yet again that gwar had much talent musical and not just stage talent for their artistic shows.

These guys have put out one very cool and fun record once again.Every song rocks hard and the music is second to none.These guys give me ten times more bang for my buck then half the bands out there right now.They really write great songs with humor and great musicianship.Let these guys in to your music world.You'll be glad you did just like I have done.They're a blast to listen to on record and kick ass killer fun live and in concert.So check them out have some fun and a beer with GWARRRRRRR!You'll be glad you did.

Gwar kicks ass! They always have and always will. I do like their older stuff better, but that's only because that's what I've been listening to the most. The new stuff still kicks ass even if it is a little more "commercial" than earlier recordings.

Gwar sounds like they returned to their old selves on this album. they also did the right thing and re-signed to Metal Blade. like Beyond Hell, which is an album about their journey to Hell, the new album "Lust In Space" is also a concept album about the band going to outer space to fight Cardinal Syn, who appeared on "Ragnarok". I haven't heard any slow songs on this CD yet. the songs sound like they are on hyperspeed. also, their front cover is somewhat reminiscent of "Love Gun" by KISS. the solos on this release are out of this world. if you are a Gwar fan, or Gwar listener you owe it to yourself to get this release.

Gwar is always entertaining. Its act was mostly novelty at first (25 years ago), but their musical chops are highly underrated. In the last four albums, they've taken a turn for the more metal -- eschewing some of their comedic stylings. Lust in Space represents the best of both worlds for the band.

Songs like "Let Us Slay" and "Lords & Masters" are the epitome of face-kicking metal. They're heavy, expertly played, and have brutal lyrics (that you can actually understand). Thanks to production by current Flattus Maximus alter-ego Cory Smoot, this album sounds better than any GWAR effort before it. The drums especially pop -- giving drummer Brad Roberts the spotlight he deserves.

Several songs will make you laugh as well. "Metal Metal Land" plays on metal stereotypes, and "Where is Zog?" is a surprising origin story with a clever punchline.

Almost all songs have dramatic tempo changes and their own unique vibe. This doesn't fall into the predictable, unintelligible classification most people put on metal. Off-and-on bassist Casey Orr (Beefcake the Mighty) brings his Southern growl to "The Price of Peace" while Smoot takes lead vocals for "Release the Flies."

Gwar is more than just costumes and fluids -- though those remain a big part of the act. Taken purely as hardcore music, Gwar delivers an epic album. They're on tour now, and their live show is not to be missed!

Gwar this time plays more like DBX, I preffer more melodies, solos and songs like older recordings, it's brutal and very good, but not so GWAR.

Amazing, GWAR just can't put out a bad album. Lust in Space starts out with a great intro(Which GWAR always has) and just kicks your ass after that. The only song I don't like is Release the Flies, The guitarist is on vocals for this one and I think he had complete creative control over it because it doesn't even sound like a GWAR song, More like a Clutch stoner riff kind of song. It doesn't completely suck but it's not what I want to hear on a GWAR album. So if you're into Metal/Thrash/Punk with insane but clever lyrics you'll dig this cd. If you haven't heard of GWAR well....where have you been for the last 25 years!?

I have all of GWAR's albums and have seen them live 4-5 times so I'm definately a fan. But this album is just...ok. As a previous reviewer stated there are no stand out songs on the album......well "release the flies" does stand out but not for being good. Rather it's the worst GWAR song in 20 years. The recording quality is a little short of excellent. The musicianship is as good as ever but the recording kind of burries it. The crunch of the guitars isn't all that crisp. The solos are a little washed out. The double bass drum gets fogged over most of the time. Every instrument on the album kind of blended into a wall of sound unlike War Party where you could hear every note. If you are a GWAR fan buy it.....just get it on sale or used.

Update 2 months later: I may have been a bit harsh. The album has grown on me and I now consider it to be as good as anything they've done in the last 10 years. 'release the flies' still sucks though!