“The Blood of Gods”
GWAR
Metal Blade Records
Producer: Ronan Chris Murphy
Tracks: 12
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
The story of GWAR is one that has been carved across the history of this barren and hopeless planet and continues on with the group’s latest offering “The Blood of Gods”. The bands 14th studio album is nothing less than a sacred text chronicling the rise of humanity against their makers, and the massive battle between GWAR and the forces of all that is uptight and wrong with the world. Over the course of the albums 12 tracks the band challenges the sins of their great mistake, from politics, pollution, and organized religion, to fast food, and factory farming. Humans are shown as what they are; a parasitical disease that must be eradicated before they suck the planet dry. “The Blood of Gods” is a sonic scar…a question asked and answered…Death cannot kill GWAR!
With the passing of GWAR front man Dave Brockie aka Oderus Urungus in 2014 many a bohabs questioned the future of the band. Thankfully the band forged on with the addition of former bassist Michael Bishop stepping up to the mic in the form of Blothar the Berserker. Though the transition caused some to start the #BlotharRuinedGwar movement the band took everything in stride allowing three years to pass before giving fans a true taste of the newly helmed GWAR. “The Blood of Gods” is a fresh take on an old favorite that will undoubtedly have some bohabs up in arms. The twelve track offering from the costume clad space aliens is made up of a variety of styles ranging from the Slayer esque “Auroch” to the catchy “I’ll Be Your Monster” (think early Motorhead). Other notable tracks include the Michael Derks (Balsac) penned “Fuck This Place” and in my opinion one of the best GWAR tracks to come out in the last fifteen years “Phantom Limb”, a haunting tribute to the bands fallen leader which details the bands doubts and insecurities while trying to satisfy a looming presence.
“The Blood of Gods” is a fresh and fitting entry into the GWAR mythos that showcases the determination of a band and its members to move past events that would end lesser groups. I will save all the “This doesn’t sound like Oderus” listeners the trouble as No! This does NOT sound like Oderus and that is ok because it’s not nor is it trying to. Each track on “The Blood of Gods” is a blending of styles which cement a new foundation for GWAR as they continue forward on their quest. Over the course of the albums twelve tracks listeners get a variety of new material which is sprinkled with familiarity making for a really an enjoyable listen.
Track Listing:
1.) War on Gwar
2.) Viking Death Machine
3.) El Presidente
4.) I’ll Be Your Monster
5.) Auroch
6.) Swarm
7.) The Sordid Soliloquy of Sawborg Destructo
8.) Death to Dickie Duncan
9.) Crushed By the Cross
10.) Fuck This Place
11.) Phantom Limb
12.) If You Want Blood (You Got It) **AC/DC Cover**
