Customer Reviews

Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide

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

 

 

When Alex Newport (Fudge Tunnel) and Max Cavalera (Sepultura) decided to join forces and do something, it was impossible to conceive that what they were going to make wouldn't be heavy, or at least in some way destructive. Whilst it is in Alex's character to do something just like that, the fact that Max was there negated the possibility, and with Point Blank, we were treated to Alex's sarcastic bile in an explosive axis with Max's pure hatred. Point Blank promised much, but the songs suffered in production. With Proud to commit Commercial Suicide, the songs were played live and given the proper delivery they deserved ie relentlessly violent. Think Sepultura. Think Fudge Tunnel. Think thirty one times heavier and you will have some conception of what this record sounds like. Recorded at the Dynamo festival in 1995, the actual performance featured many celebrities, Dave from Neurosis, Evan from Biohazard, Mr. Fulber from Frontline Assembly (i think), DH peligro from the Dead Kennedys, and Igor and Andreas from some brazilian band... Max's voice was on great form that day, and no amount of technical hitches could conspire to cover that fact. Indeed, his aural catharsis in the dying throes of 'Religious Cancer' would put Barney of Napalm Death to shame. The songs themselves are tight, but loose at the same time, if you understand the dichotomy. The band play very tight, but loose enough to allow the songs to really grind and destroy. It is quite easy to imagine the whole crowd going nuts to this. The sheer aural semtex that is 'World of Shit' could be coronated with the status 'classic', and there are many other gems on offer here, not least a storming cover of the Dead Kennedys 'Police Truck', where Alex's punky vocals sound fantastic. There are no fillers in the live songs. Judging by the sound of them, it would seem that they were written with live performance in mind. The live parts on the album never sound forced, boring or self-indulgent, and of the studio tracks, 'Zero Tolerance' only disappoints. If you have 'Point Blank', sell it. And then buy this. Sell anything, because this is a record you seriously cannot afford to be without. It is harsh, abrasive and brutal. But it is also one of the best. I rarely say: ' if you consider yourself a metal fan...', but it applies here. It is not an album of special invention, but it shows how it should be done, and in so doing, it throws up some amazing songs. Buy it before they stop making it. Seriously.

Nailbomb are the very definition of aggression. This live album puts all hardcore/punk/metal bands to shame. No-one else has ever conveyed such raw power and gut tearing 'oomph' as this band has, and Unfortunately no-one ever will. I would give several of my vital organs to see these guys live. I grew up with stuff like Maiden, Metallica, Pantera, and just about every other band that forms the brotherhood of metal but these guys leave them all for dead. Max Cavalera does what only he can do and he does a damn fine job on this particular cd. Newport adds his touch and Igor, Evan and yon all jolly friends combine like the lions of voltron to make the definitive album of metal/punk/hardcore/etc. Buy this album if you wish or listen to your crusty Britney Spears I don't give a flying monkey's pooh cos I've already got it and I like it.

Although the playing is rough in the extreme, this live recording is far heavier than the album. Guest appearances galore (Andreas and Igor noted from the previous review are from Sepultura). I was fortunate enough to see Sepultura in '93 at First Ave (the show they later released a live recording of). The recording couldn't capture the power of the show. This albumn definately captures that feel. Wish I could have been there.

Was Nailbomb better in the Studio? Certainly yes. Is this a poor excuse for a live album? Definitely not. The sound quality isn't top notch, but it's not as bad as some make it out to be. The energy of the band is definitely there and a variety of other musicians helped Max and Alex out throughout the show. Nailbomb was meant to be a studio only album and they decided to only play three shows. Those three shows became two and this album was recorded on the second. Here's how you will know if you will like this album or not. Buy Nailbomb's Remastered Point Black, Which for some reason features about half of this album as bonus tracks. I personally think that both albums should have been remastered and released as a two disc set, but Roadrunner Records is illogical. Anyways, if you like the live songs on the remaster then, you will enjoy this album. I can't give this album 5 stars because it still doesn't beat the studio recordings but it does come pretty damn close.

I AM A FAN OF A LOT OF HEAVY MUSIC. WHEN I FIRST HEARD NAILBOMB, I AUTOMATICALLY LIKED THEM. I THINK THIS ALBUM IS AWESOME. IT CAPTURES THE RAW POWER OF A LIVE SHOW. SURE THE SOUND QUALITY COULD BE A LITTLE BETTER, BUT IT ALSO PROVES THAT EVERYTHING IN THE MUSIC BISS SHOULDN'T BE PERFECT. IF YOU LIKE IT HEAVY AND LOUD, THIS IS IT.

Nailbomb has always been one of my favorite bands but not just because of the music but the idea behind it. An off-spurt fueled by pure aggression and hatred saying things the way they really are. "Point Blank" was a great album but somethings about it bugged me and most of all that would be the use of drum machines on certain songs and the whole electronic approach at writing punk/hardcore/metal. "Proud to Commit Commercial Suicide" eliminated all of the bad points. The sound quality is ok but the raw energy and power in the CD definitely is what shines through best. Also there are a pair of great covers on the album as well (Dead Kennedy's' "Police Truck" and Doom's classic "Exploitation"). At first I didn't like it nearly as much as I do now, so my recommendation is to let this album grow on you because it certainly does (and its a real treat after that)!! It's a sloppy and violent recording in the spirit of the band itself. As an added bonus Max's vocals on this live CD sound a lot better than they do on "Point Blank", go figure?!

not sure why this was even released...the sound quality is total crap and the new studio songs suck. the live tracks dont offer anything other than a muffled version of the real thing...instead of buying this album, put 'point blank' on really, really loud, and plug your ears. sounds the same.

As far as recording quality goes, this live album is the equivalent of those fuzzy snapshots of the Loch Ness monster or Bigfoot. There is sort of a vague impression of what's actually there, but it could be anything really, and is hardly convincing.

This album was always going to be a one off shot, only one chance to get it right. Nailbomb existed in the studio for one blistering album and two live shows, this being the second. It was recorded during the 1995 Dynamo festival. It may have been a great live performance. It just doesn't sound it here.

The show kicks off solidly enough with a blast through "Wasting Away". However, it is instantly noticeable the samples and electronic beats are not fully in phase with the rest of the sound. Perhaps Eindhoven was windy that day, but the samples, which were an essential part of creating the Nailbomb identity, are almost completely lost.

But after that, it just seems to all go downhill. It is a truly live album, with all the muck ups and poor sounds left in, but after the amazing 'Point Blank', this really doesn't cut it. Max's vocals seem to drown out everything else, and the rhythm guitar sounds flat.

All is not lost though. The rumbling "Sum Of Your Achievements" is an aural steamroller. "Religious Cancer" would have been an excellent fist pumping shout-along anthem in the live arena.

However, after that, the whole show really just tails off terribly. The cover of the Dead Kennedys' "Police Truck" seems like a school orchestra played it. It is out of time, and you can almost feel everyone on stage (including DK's drummer D.H. Peligro) looking around wondering what comes next. The cover of Doom's "Exploitation" is a little better, except someone messes up the vocals. The rest of the live songs are just plain poor. It is almost comforting when 'Sick Life' finally tails off into feedback oblivion.

Two studio tracks were tacked on the end of the album, apparently leftovers from 'Point Blank'. Enough said. Some things best remain unrecorded.

In the liner notes, Max and Alex say, "The Dynamo show is full of mistakes and technical problems, but that's how it was on the day. We think it captures the spirit of the band, unlike a lot of (live) albums today". I have heard better bootlegs. If this is the spirit of Nailbomb, then it was killed off just in the nick of time. This project should have stayed in the studio.