Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 03/11/2008
Zimmers Hole wasn't the first band to offer a parody of
heavy metal -- the '80s gave us
Spinal Tap and
GWAR -- but there have been having some good-natured laughs at
metal's expense since 1994. Those who have an encyclopedia-like knowledge of
metal's history know that this Canadian quartet contains three-fourths of
Strapping Young Lad (guitarist
Jed Simon, bassist
Byron Stroud, and drummer
Gene Hoglan) and that
Zimmers Hole (which also includes lead singer
Chris Valagao, aka
the Heathen) existed about a year before
Devin Townsend started
SYL, but
SYL became much better known and ended up taking more of
Simon,
Stroud, and
Hoglan's time in the late '90s and 2000s. Released in 2007,
When You Were Shouting at the Devil...We Were in League with Satan is the third album by
Zimmers Hole, and like their previous efforts, this 39-minute disc is pure satire. The material is best described as an intense but melodic combination of power
metal and
thrash metal with occasional hints of
death metal;
Valagao usually favors a high-pitched wail along the lines of
Rob Halford (of
Judas Priest fame) and
King Diamond, but every once in a while, he slips into the type of deep, guttural "Cookie Monster" growl that
death metal is known for. Satirical tracks like
"What's My Name....Evil!," "Hair Doesn't Grow on Steel," "We Rule the Fucking Land," and
"Devil's Mouth" have a good chuckle at the stereotypes of
metal, although not in a condescending way; there is never any doubt that
Zimmers Hole really enjoy the music they're lampooning.
When You Were Shouting at the Devil...We Were in League with Satan is mildly uneven, but the memorable tracks outnumber the forgettable ones -- and the end result is an album that, although not perfect, is worth exploring if one appreciates the humor of
Spinal Tap and
GWAR.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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