Metal Sludge Presents
Hey! That's What I Call Sludge Vol. 1
Metal Sludge Records 2004
www.metalsludge.tv

Read the Metal Sludge interview

Featuring: Pain for Pleasure (Sum-41), Lit, Bowling for Soup, 40ft. Ringo (ex-Trixter), Tuff, Drill 187, The Wildhearts, The Thornbirds (members of Metal Skool), Supersuckers, Jizzy Pearl (Ratt), The Brightness, London Calling, Killingbird, Firehouse, Funny Money (ex-Kix), Glory Hole UK (ex-Warrant), Billy Morris Band (ex-Warrant), Wednesday 13 (The Murderdolls), Kevin Dubrow & Little Women, and The Metal Sludge All-Stars (Metal Skool).

What's the 4-1-1?
Infamous rock website releases its first compilation CD. Metal Sludge wanted to bring together new school bands and old school bands to create a CD they could be proud of. A CD that truly reflected what Metal Sludge is all about. The final result: 20 bands and over 74 minutes of music on one CD. According to Metal Sludge, ‘the music is so devastating that you'll hit 'repeat' on your CD player and just listen to this CD over and over again. Eventually you'll lose your job as well as your friends because you won't leave your house. You'll just be chilling in your room listening to this CD like a retard, but don't say we didn't warn you”.

Genre
Heavy metal / hard rock

The Good
The disc kicks off with Sum-41’s alter egos Pleasure for Pain singing “Reign in Pain”, a track that channels the 80’s metal sprits. Lit’s contribution, “No Turning Back”, is the heaviest song they’ve ever done. They should take the non-commercial route more often. The vocals on Bowling for Soup’s “The Bitch Song” may be like the whinny brats on the radio today, but they’re still tuneful, catchy, and lyrics more than make up for them. “Inside Your Head” by 40ft. Ringo is more melodic than metal, with a pop-rock feel to it. Remember that band Tuff? Yeah, me neither, but they have a great parody track entitled “Dear Jani Lane” that is derived from the Bloodhound Gang’s “Ballad of Chasey Lain”. Vocalist Stevie Rachelle asks the burning question ‘where did the down boys go?”

Drill 187 brings back one of my favorite 80’s clichés; naming a song after the band. “187” has plenty of heavy riffing and forceful vocals. The Wildhearts’ track (the title is just too long to list) starts off with smooth harmonic vocals, but is consumed by up-tempo rhythms and a great drum beat chorus. The Supersuckers know how to crank it up and give ‘em hell on “Someday I Will Kill You”. It’s not surprising that the name of Jizzy Pearl’s song is “Do You Wanna Get High”. It has a great punk feel to it, with Steve Stevens and Darryl Roberts jammin on guitar. Now would someone give this guy a bone already? The Brightness, which is Metal Sludge’s answer to The Darkness, chime in with “Diamonds are a Boy’s Best Friend”. You just have to hear it for yourself. Those wacky Brits!

London Calling’s “Chasing Satellites” is a catchy AOR style tune, while “Crash” by Firehouse proves that there’s more to them than image and sappy power ballads. “Good Boy Gone Bad” by Funny Money is a cross between seventies garage rock and Dee Snider-like vocals. If your wondering what happened to former members of Warrant, look no further than Glory Hole U.K. (featuring Mike “The Sack” Fasano) and The Billy Morris Band (featuring..duh, Billy Morris). “Your Mother Sucks Cocks in Hell” is the contribution from Wednesday 13 (The Murderdolls). It’s a little juvenile, but oh so dark and evil. I like the boogie-woogie piano beat. Rounding out the disc is Metal Skool (formerly Metal Shop/Danger Kitty) with “Death to All but Metal”. The comedy clips throughout the disc lead up to this new metal anthem, soon to be a classic.

The Bad
Although they are hilarious, I could do without the little skits. This isn't a rap CD.

The Verdict
All hail Metal Sludge! They’ve managed to pack a CD with twenty quality rock songs, in a day and age where you’re lucky to get one or two. No matter what type of rock/metal you’re into, Sludge has it all right here. It’s a bit early to say “CD of the Year”, but screw it! CD of the year! (as compared to other metal CD compilations released by a rock related website).

Did you know?
Metal Sludge has its own one-hour radio show on XM Satellite Radio.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne