This Week's R E V I E W ...

GWAR
Hell-o!
© Metal Blade

April 20 - 26, 2025

Year of Release: 1988
Rating:
  • Time For Death
  • AEIOU
  • Americanized
  • I'm In Love
    (With A Dead Dog)
  • Slutman City
  • world O Filth
  • War Toy
  • Captain Crunch
  • Pure As The Arctic Snow
  • Je M'Appelle J. Cousteau
  • GWAR Theme
  • Bone Meal
  • Ollie North
  • Techno's Song
  • U Ain't Shit
  • Rock And Roll Party Town

  • See how this album ranks...


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    Once again, we travel to the darker corners of Rock music, as the band GWAR marks their debut on WSVNRadio, and with their debut album Hell-O! released in 1988. A heavy metal band, known for its thematic and visual concept - as science-fiction themed mythology, portraying the band members as barbaric medieval Nordic, mythological, biblical or interplanetary warriors. Their lyrics contain of violence, sexual, and scatological humor, incorpating social and political satire. They are also known for their music and stage shows, contining that of violence, and spraying their audiences with fake blood, urine and semen. (This is what another artist G.G. Allin was known for, in his stage performances.) "Shock Rock" would be a common name for the band, defined by the media.

    So, with all the definition of the band's style of music and visuals, it is quite obvious GWAR's music is not for everyone. It is definitely hard, dark, heavy metal music. And their debut album Hell-O! is just that. The song titles on this album can even define that darkness, without even listening to one note from the album.

    "Time For Death" leads off the debut album, a loud, obnoxious sound. "AEIOU" has a somewhat party Rock sound, maybe a little punkish in sound (Ramones'ish). "Amerianized" continues that almost punkish style. "I'm In Love (With A Dead Dog)" is more heavy metal, yet it has its Punkish overtones. And with it's song title, it's obvious this is a band that will give many second thoughts in listening to this band. "Slutman City" has a mystery sound to it, and it's more of the dark heavy metal sound. "World O Filth" (another unnatural song title) is definitely more on the fast Punkish style. Likewise, "War Toy" combines both Metal and Punk (more on the metal side). "Captain Crunch" (like "War Toy" has a comparison to the early Metallica - loud music, loud vocals, loud. "Pure As The Arctic Snow" is loud Rock, metal. "Je M'Appelle J. Cousteau" continues that loud, thrash, music. "GWAR Theme" does slow down the pace, and it is a good Rock track. Yet, it later kicks into its common Rock and Punk style. "Bone Meal" is very short, loud. "Ollie North" just may have a mysterious message at it's beginning (it sounds like something played backwards). Again, the music is loud and brash, and continues on "Techno's Song," and "U Ain't Shit." Punk music at it's hardest. "Rock And Roll Party Town" has been compared to the early Kiss.

    GWAR's Hell-o is not for everyone. The album's title says it all - Hell-O! We are GWAR, and what a sound we have! Some have labeled the letters of GWAR as "God What an Awful Racket. The band's name was actually "Gwaaarrrggghhllgh," yet was shortened as GWAR. They are still together, as they have recorded studio albums from 1988 to 2022 (15). They have a cult following. There are fans of GWAR, and this music in general. Hell-O! is more of a Punk album. It also can be labeled as Speed Metal, and Heavy Metal. Luckilyl, all of the songs on Hell-o! are 3 minutes or less. However, bands such as Black Flag, Henry Rollins, early Metallica gets the comparisons. If this kind of loud, brashiness music is for you, then GWAR can be added to your list.




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