Title: Body Count Artist: Body Count Label: Sire/Warner Brothers Records Release Date: 1992 Rating: 4 Skulls
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Hel's Review:
Yeah, I know, you're all thinking, "Body Count? What the hell?" But this is the Classic section, and if nothing else, Body Count is a important part of metal history. I am right there alongside everyone else who protests the rash of crappy bands who utilize rap-style lyrics in conjunction with metal-style music here in the early part of the 21st century. But that's not the real deal, yo. Body Count, Motherfucker.

Back in the day, before pale men from the Midwestern section of the United States started joining gangs and trying to act like they're all inner-city, complete with pitiful attempts at rapping, followed by ever more pitiful attempts at combining those efforts with "heavy" music, there was Body Count. Back in the day, before the East/West wars saw some of the major names in the world of rap killed, a man named Ice-T was a major player (now he's a fucking movie and tv star, yo), and he decided to start a metal band. Body Count, Motherfucker.

Anyone who was old enough to remember a damn thing eleven years ago or so heard about the controversy surrounding this album, particularly in regard to the closing track, "Cop Killer." Those in the know back then had certainty that Ice-T wouldn't ever write a song actually endorsing killing cops, and indeed, the album is tongue in cheek from beginning to end. I've always considered "Evil Dick" an excellent starting point for those who having trouble grasping the humor - so if you are included in this group, go back and spin that track, then come back and tell me this record is lyrically serious. Body Count, Motherfucker.

Is Body Count history? Hell yeah! And Hell no! Word on the web is that they're playing a gig on May 24 in Sacramento, CA. They're like, living history or something. Now, I have always thought that Ice-T may be one of the most talented people on the planet, and at the time this album was released, I happily embraced Body Count - damn, Ice-T in a metal band! The flaw was that it was not a particularly great metal band. The lyrics were the strength, but the music itself was rather weak. So as a metal album, sure, it's not one of the best overall records of all time. But in the darkest days following the demise of metal and the rise of grunge, Ice-T did his part to keep metal alive. Body Count, Motherfucker.

 

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