Before I get into the review I want to preface it with the fact that while I was listening to this on public transport I fell asleep and I dreamt that me and my entire family were under attack from armoured skeleton warriors, that’s how metal this is
After the death of long time member Cory Smoot (Flattus Maximus) the band have been able to bounce back with a new concept album “Battle Maximus’
The album tells the story, at least according to Orderus it does, about a post apocalyptic future where the world have been divided into 2 classes of society. The ruling class who live above ground and survived due to stock pilled, drugs, food, stem cells and steroids and the lower class who retreated underground to survive the post war fallout and are plotting to take the planet back.
They are all ruled by Mr Perfect, an 8 foot tall super being who is trying to perfect a formular for immortality so that he can rule forever.
Mr Perfect uses a time machine to discover that the secret to immortality is of course GWAR themselves. So he brings them to his present to use them and that’s when it all goes wrong.
GWAR rebel obviously and all of Mr Perfects plans go to hell
Each track tells a separate part of the story and it’s really quite interesting to have them stick to the same theme and narrative throughout the entire album
Stand out tracks are the lead single “Madness at the Core of Time”, “Nothing Left Alive” which tells of the post apocalyptic world, truly brutal “I Was Raped At Birth” and the final track “Fly Now” which is somewhat of an ode to Smoot
As far as a concept album goes this may actually be a first, it’s not boring! It’s fun, heavy and displays the tongue in cheek humour that has made GWAR the stand out band they are today. Definitely recommend all metal fans pick this one up because it’s just a great time from start to finish
“Battle Maximus” was released September 17 and GWAR will be Touring Australia in 2014 as part of the Soundwave festival
