King of the Sidewalk

Gehennah have made a hilarious record here. No, this isn't a perfect musical accomplishment that will have metal fans lined-up at the stores to purchase for it's talent and long-term listening value...but it sure is fucking funny. The band kinda stink and don't really have the goods to compose a record to give Venom, Motorhead or any of their influences a run for their money (Bewitched on the other hand, live up to these guys ideology) but this can't force me to say that I didn't enjoy the record or the bands concept. While it's not built to make any real impact, Gehennah will always be "that band who wrote that really funny song and had the pictures". That's more than a lot of bands will have, quite honestly.

If you are looking for songs you'll be singing a year from now...this might not be the place to go. (Well, "Bitch with a Bullet Belt" is a lost classic if I ever heard one!) The band pile through decently tight, but highly un-hooky classic metal that lacks the hooks of a band like Motorhead, AC/DC or Bewitched even. If this CD faces any big risk - it's that the music doesn't pick up where the joke left off. Beating up posers is only great if you are making better music than all of the posers put together. The joke is funny, the pictures better...but the music fall short of the bands "funny but not joking" way of treating those who may just not fit into their idea of what a true metal band is.

Hopefully...the next record I hear will be so catchy, funny and have such a grand booklet I'll worship them and sell my house, friends, dogs to make sure that they get the proper respect they will have finally earned.

Despite the bands utterly pointless (yet hilarious) existence it still must be said that the bands album covers are probably worth more than the music itself. The photographs and band names/descriptions (I wanna be the worlds strongest drummer) still reign as some of the funniest ever taken...but the overall feeling of the record is one of COMPLETE novelty.

This is good for three listens...but you might look to pass on the joke in trade within the near future.