As the new millennium dawns, some things never change here at PHARR OUT! We like our music loud and proud.

SLEEP Jerusalem

(Rise Above)
It doesn't surprise me that Sleep's former label balked at releasing this 52-minute snoozer. Why, well the simple fact that it's one looooooooong song that doesn't offer much in variety or molten sludge. Fact is, there were a couple of riffs that were pretty damn good and could have be tossed into shorter songs, but did I remember them 10 minutes later-no! Actually, if I were SLEEP I'd be pretty damn embarassed about parading around under the guise of being a 'band'. These guys are so boring, so bad and so monotenous you wonder what people were smoking when they signed them. If you have trouble getting zzz's pick this up, it put you out faster than Unisom. Otherwise, spend your hard earned moolah on PENANCE's latest. I'm yawning already. (Kim August)

CATHEDRAL In Memoriam

(Rise Above Re-release)
Ya know CATHEDRAL could rerelease this their first demo a few more times and I'd buy it again and again. The most perfect marriage of death and doom ever laid down is evident here and as an added treat a live (if you could call it that, poor Dorrian sounds like he won't survive the band's set and that's a compliment! Man, I hope he starts crooning like this again, even if for a brief wail or two) concert from 1991 slams this fact home and with a vengeance. This is doom brothers and sisters, and I want more. (Kim August)

ORANGE GOBLIN Time Travellin Blues

(Rise Above)
OG once again strike out with an album of heavy, bluesy psychedelia that works for the most part. I most enjoy the band when they produce uppy bombast. Such as the wonderful Lunarville 7, Airlock 3 and the brilliant opener Blue Snow The whole album is very, very good a fine sophmore effort. My one major complaint is vocalist Ben Ward's insistance to prove to the world how drunk he can get. His inebriated rants in between a few of songs are annoying lapses that break the groove OG create. They are supposed to be cool or whatever, but instead hinder this fine band instead of adding anything. I sincerely hope Ward stops dropping this stuff in, it really takes away from the OG experience. Other than this, TTB is strongly recommended. (Kim August)


PENANCE Proving Ground

(Self Released)
PENANCE in my book, do not need to prove to anybody what a top notch metal band they are. Pittsburgh's pining pissed off sons have not mellowed in the five lapse since their masterpiece, Parallel Corners kicked me into many walls. Armed with a new vocalist and more angst, PENANCE have created an album that shines almost as brightly as the aforemented ...Corners Guitarist Terry Weston again conjures some brain bashingly monsterous riffs on tracks like Proving Ground, Bitter, Bleed You and Dead Already Mike Smail both attacks and commands the time-keeping, like Weston he's one of the best in the scene, while Ron Leard keeps the peace between the both of them on bass. New vocalist Butch Balich sounds like Ozzy, but also like a very young, furious James Hetfield. Holding up PENANCE's unique position of marrying the slower sounds of doom with the kenetic furry of the Thrash. Transcendence puts to shame every band that tries too damn hard to be like BLACK SABBATH. This effortless ode to the masters, is upbeat and heavy as lead. While album closer Slipping is a haunting descent into the bleakness this bunch can also fall into. That's another aspect of PENANCE that is so wonderful, they emote on several levels, creating some of the most powerful metal ever laid down. If only more bands were concerned with their music rather than what flavor of the monthy they should be. This is real metal, heavy, potent, moving. Not stoner rock or whatever stupid label best describes the heavier end of the spectrum these days. You should NOT miss this...for your own copy please email: eleric30@hotmail.com for prices and information, or you can write: PENANCE/c/o MIKE SMAIL/202 RAMPART BLVD./NEW KENSINGTON PA 15068 USA (Kim August)


ROB ZOMBIE American Made Music To Strip By

(Geffen)
Remixes in the right hands can lead to whole new versions of great songs. Such is the case with the second remix offering from the defrightful Mr. Z. The wizardry of Charlie Clouser creates most of the album's strongest offerings. The kickass blast beat version of Dragula with it's brilliant repetition of the line "I can never die". The wonderfully named GOD LIVES UNDERWATER offers a doozy rendition of How to Make a Monster giving that ocean depth quality to a song I like even more now because of this remix. PHILIP STEIR adds an almost middle eastern techno slant to the great The Ballad of Resurrection Joe , overall AMMTSB, is definitely worth the purchase. Enhancing the wonderful HELLBILLY DELUXE and hammering home just how much fun Rob Zombie is. Get it at Rob Zombie Direct


For more on the Zombie Devil Man himself!

FIGHT CLUB Score by the DUST BROTHERS

(Restless)
The Dust Brothers score for the brilliant FIGHT CLUB hooked me during the opening credits. It's a roller coaster ride of techno, synthy disco and anarchistic beats that truly compliment Fincher's latest dark vision. Even if you missed out on FIGHT CLUB, the score will grab you. It's full of emotion and an under current of dread. At times it reminded me of John Carpenter's early scores (particularly ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13), which is an added treat. If you buy one soundtrack from 1999, let it be this. All I need is FIGHT CLUB the soap and I'll be happy. (Kim August)


Slam your way back to the Main Contents