Friday March 29th 2024

Gas Attack – “Power Drinkers and Trustees of Modern Chemistry”

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Gas Attack – “Power Drinkers and Trustees of Modern Chemistry”

 

Today we are going to have a serious discussion about humor.

I’ve received CD’s before from “funny” bands, bands that use humor in their lyrics. They see us use humor in our writing, intentionally or not, and figure we’ll dig them muchly.

The problem is some of them can’t play very well and maybe, believe this adds to the funny quotient.

For us it doesn’t. If the songs aren’t there, if the playing isn’t there…well, we’d rather go to a comedy show to see say, the Westboro Baptist Church.

Now, you see, how unfunny, funny can be.

But Gas Attack can really play. And they have great tunes with the added plus of being funny.

When I think of some of the great funny punk bands- like The Dictators, Angry Samoans spring to mind- I think of all the great music they had to back their humorous forays with.

Oh, BTW- I consider Gas Attack a metal band. (And metal ain’t supposed to be funny!)

Recently, they played at The Workshop and I was there. I had a conversation with one of the band members and he said, “But are we really a metal band, I don’t know.” I agreed, they combine traditional metal with punk, and said, “But you’re lead guitarist sure is a metal guitar player,” which we agreed upon and then we spontaneously vomited upon each other.

But the point is- it’s a fallacy to say that if it’s a humorous band that they’re a joke. It’s a misconception that if you have humor then your music must be lame.

This band has a tight rhythm section, an amazing lead guitarist, an able, engaging front man and, most importantly, they’ve created great songs.

And, along with The Trash Killers, have made the funniest local videos of any TNB has featured. “Mexico” by The Trash Killers and “Absinthe Minded” by these guys.

 

Gas Attack – “Power Drinkers and Trustees of Modern Chemistry”
Absinthe Minded

 

To describe these guys-think of the Beastie Boys if they turned toward metal instead of rap. Think of The Scorpions jamming with the Angry Samoans. Think of The Spice Girls if they all got sex changes and joined Rammstein!

On this EP this band makes music that combines elements of punk, metal and hardcore- creates the madness and then tosses it into my lap, my laptop, for me to make sense of it.

Well, like Dobie Gray I’d like to slip away, but listen! Let’s listen.

 

“Slurred Vision Blurry Speech” contrary to popular opinion, is not a song written about my usual condition when reviewing CD’s, though apt it may be. It is, in fact, a comment on the existential dilemma of drunk driving, where in order to exist in a bar/club to drink you must drive there and then at some future point exist from where you were before your conquest; and then not be detected by the police. This song would be a good companion piece with Beantown Boozehounds “D.U.I.” It starts with a terrific accented intro until they kick it in with a great lick and a pounding beat, kind of like Motorhead out for a joyride. Soon after the chorus comes in, “I’m too drunk, I can’t see, I can’t think.” This is the same exact existential dilemma I face every time I write. Luckily, I can still move my fingers and hit the keys; hence, writing commences. This is a wonderful, fun- “I can’t imagine when I had this much fun,”- rockin’, high energy metal tune that rips a hole in your soul while blowing away your mind. Thish ish a gwreat swong.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 Slurred Vision Blurry Speech.mp3|titles=Slurred Vision Blurry Speech]

 

“Party Karate” starts with four drum hits and some metal power chords grinding along. “Kowabunga/ It’s not a fuckin’ party/ The pizza guy/ Has a black belt in karate.” Some straight ahead bouncing surf beats with some crunchin’, fuzzin’ guitar and catchy chorus leads us into a metal solo that deigns to allow a few Chuck Berry licks in before ending with some ascending, bending double notes. This song is a surf, punkin’, metal, rockin’ ram-a-llama’s ding dong buffet of humor, passion and energy exploding in your ears, coaxing aural orgasms upon your face and wetting your palette for more.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 Party Karate.mp3|titles=Party Karate]

 

This song starts out slow and ominous but soon “Cisco Made Me Do It” is bum rushed into a hardcore driving beat with emphatic vocals until a minor key guitar interlude brings us towards a great, catchy chorus. “It’s not my fault/ That’s all there is to it/ It’s not my fault/ Cisco made me do it.” The propulsive beat and growling, desperate vocals are occasionally joined by chugging, metal chords and a great, stinging lead guitar that erupts into elaborate, elegant, electric effusions along the way. My favorite song on the EP.

[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/05 Cisco Made Me Do It.mp3|titles=Cisco Made Me Do It]

 

Gas Attack does not deal with the pressing issues we face today. Like, what type of I-Phone we should have or where the next bar/eating place we’re supposed to be. No, they’d rather make jokes and fine music.

But I’m less concerned with now, what people think is so important today.

‘Cause I know words like passion, truth, guts, realness, (things I attribute to Gas Attack and all the bands on our site) reside in the Joey Ramone video playing on youtube at the right side of my head next to me- “What A Wonderful World.”

And he was probably fading away at this point and his life didn’t add up to much except for what he did with The Ramones. As do any of our lives, in the long run, except for that small portion of it that we lived it, in our passion.

And this has nothing to do with the Gas Attack review, but maybe it does.

I guess, I think so.

http://ramonesmania.tumblr.com/post/27951588296/for-me-punk-is-about-real-feelings-its-not

 

(Slimedog)

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