Artist: W.A.S.P.
Label: Metal-Is Records
Release Date: 4/3/01
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Title: Unholy Terror Artist: W.A.S.P. Label: Metal-Is Records Release Date: 4/3/01 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
OK, unlike a lot of you I was never into W.A.S.P. When I was in eighth grade, W.A.S.P. was the shit. Everyone I knew liked them- Hell when you’re twelve any band that sang shit like, “Fuck Like a Beast” was automatically cool. I was always on the outside looking in, however. I just didn’t get it, it struck me as stupid and immature, and me being a kid who still giggled every time my friends farted. Anyway, it’s been a long time since then, and I haven’t kept up with Mr. Lawless’ band at all, so I put Unholy Terror in my disc player, hit play, and expected to hear totally outdated, juvenile, shock for shock’s sake music.
"Should make all of the die-hard W.A.S.P. fans happy, and might even sucker in a couple of us resisters." Of course, things are a lot different now. Mr. Lawless is much (much, much, much) older, but on top of that there’s no one really left to fight. Without the PMRC around to keep W.A.S.P. (or metal in general) in the headlines, parents don’t really seem to care anymore. Politicians still mention violent or lewd lyrics every once in awhile, but more often then not they are citing rap groups or movies. In a nutshell, it’s hard to shock people who aren’t listening to you. One would think that with all of this malaise and disinterest it would be quite easy to make fun of this new effort, but in all honesty, it’s not.
Not that this is my favorite album in the world or anything, but it’s not nearly the waste of time I thought it would be. W.A.S.P. have found a way to keep their sound (as I remember it) intact, and somehow not sound all that dated. Their Motley Crue-plus-one sound is actually pretty cool at times, and there are actually songs on here that I think I kinda like. Don’t get me wrong there’s some really crappy stuff on here, like “Hate to Love Me” and “Raven Heart” (which sounds a lot like “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper). But these are balanced out with pleasant songs like “Let it Roar” and “Charisma”, which have a decent amount of hook that should make all of the die-hard W.A.S.P. fans happy, and might even sucker in a couple of us resisters.
Death's Review:
W.A.S.P. is the most inconsistent band that I’d still feel comfortable calling geniuses and voting into a heavy metal hall of fame. The Blackie Lawless / Chris Holmes combo has certainly been part of some of metal’s most memorable moments. The buzzsaw and meat days of “Fuck Like a Beast.” Blackie’s war with Tipper Gore and the PMRC. Chris Holmes lying drunk in the pool in ‘The Decline of Western Civilization Part I: The Metal Years’. These were the moments that defined a significant slice of the heavy metal experience in the 1980’s.
There was intermittent quality amidst the early W.A.S.P. chaos. “I Wanna Be Somebody” to this day remains one of metal’s all-time greatest anthems, and “Sleeping in the Fire” still sounds inspired. While I do confess to some significant wincing and cringing when VH1 recently aired the horribly aged “Wild Child” video, for the most part The Last Command was a pretty good record.
"Blackie deserves a little respect. But truth be told, it is simply average." But it all came crashing down with Inside the Electric Circus, a misguided album that simply wasn’t anywhere near as focused or as, well, good as the music that had come before. Was to that point had been mostly about their edge, and Electric Circus had none. I saw Slayer on the Reign in Blood tour open for W.A.S.P. on the Electric Circus tour. You can only imagine how stupid W.A.S.P. looked (no shame - Raven was getting pelted by so much stuff they were literally run from the stage - in those days, Slayer was one tough act to follow).
So I moved on to other bands. I think I noticed a decent Who cover somewhere along the way, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I went back to discover 1992’s The Crimson Idol. I’m glad I did, because it is fantastic, showing a whole different side of W.A.S.P. and of Blackie Lawless (the prior album, The Headless Children is also good). Just as new media enemies like Ice T and later Marilyn Manson and Eminem began to inherit the throne of “evil pop-culture influence on the children of America” and become the subject of their own hysteria and misguided protestations, a deeper, more sensitive and thoughtful W.A.S.P. emerged (if Tipper Gore were dead she’d be turning in her grave!) and produced what can only be described as a classic rock/metal record which is forever doomed to remain criminally underrated. Subsequently, however, Blackie has given us industrial-tinged and “party rock” albums. Where is the new Crimson Idol, Blackie? In this era where every band press release begins with, “With [INSERT RECORD TITLE HERE], [INSERT BAND NAME HERE] return to their classic sound of albums like 1987’s [BAND’S BEST RECORD - USUALLY ALBUM THREE] or 1989’s [LAST GENERALLY ACCEPTED AS “GOOD” RECORD],” you’d think giving fans another dose of the dark, dramatic side would be the way to go, ‘cause W.A.S.P. are too old to go back to throwing raw meat and wearing buzzsaws in their crotches onstage. At least without quality music to back up all the silliness.
Unholy Terror is somewhat of a disappointment when you listen to it from the perspective I did, wanting it to be more than it is. It is fairly somber, or rather let’s say “sober” sounding, when compared to the “Blind in Texas” style party rock image Blackie wanted to go for with Helldorado (although there are still riffs which sound like Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” or AC/DC.) Unholy Terror often sounds like very good classic rock and primarily sounds as if the music comes from the heart. And songs like “Unholy Terror/Charisma” really build with an interesting dramatic feel that showcases Lawless’ vocal performance. So don’t get me wrong, this album is cool. And W.A.S.P. are veterans. Blackie deserves a little respect. But truth be told, it is simply average, at least at this stage of the listening progression. Perhaps time will reveal more substance, but I don’t know if we’re ever going to hear another Crimson Idol. Unholy Terror is an adequate but not great consolation prize.
"Unholy Terror is an adequate but not great consolation prize."
Hel's Review:
This is not a nostalgia album. This is 100% all-new, done just the way it used to be. The genuine article, no excuses, no compromises, no attempts to "update" or "progress" to please the proverbial masses. Just straight up W.A.S.P. You walk around listening to this, you will bang your head and, depending upon who else may be around, either sing along aloud or repress the urge to. Catchy and irresistible to sing along to, Unholy Terror, will fill the gap for the loyal longtime fan.
The riffs are classic, the guitar solos are blistering, the vocal high notes flow with ease, and the drum fills are plenty. The worst thing I can really say about this album is that I was baffled the first time I pushed play, since the very first track, "Let It Roar", bears a startling resemblance to something KISS might have come up with. And, depending upon your KISS stance, this is not necessarily a negative factor. For me this aspect was a bit distracting, but overall, I found this and the slightly cheesy bent to "Evermore" to be the only low points on the record.
"Catchy and irresistible to sing along to, Unholy Terror, will fill the gap for the loyal longtime fan." Does Unholy Terror offer any particular new or unique experience? Doubtful, but is that really what you're looking for when you go to buy a W.A.S.P. album? If your motivation for buying this record is to listen to Blackie Lawless do what he does best, then you will be well satisfied. If you are looking for something bold and cutting edge, you are confused and should set your paraphernalia down immediately. If you want a truly old-school new record, this is your dream disc.
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