Album Review: GWAR – The Disc With No Name

GWAR like you’ve never seen them … kinda

Known equally for their outrageous get-ups as they are for their sense of humor, GWAR toe the line of representing the whole of shock-rock and comedy in music, second only to Frank Zappa, but for vastly different reasons. Albeit with no original members since the 2014 untimely passing of lead vocalist Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus), the modus operandi for GWAR has remained true since their 1984 inception; to disgust, to shock and to entertain. 

Taking a page from AxCx, The Disc With No Name features four acoustic-reimagined tunes of typically fast, electric thrash metal GWAR tracks. Stemming from a wistful introverted reflection during the Gwarantine, the EP’s track “The Road Behind” was also featured on an A.V. Club session, where outrageous and murderous rock-n-roll finds itself in a softer, more delicate light. 

“I’ll Be Your Monster” features more of the contemporary rock-blues influence, but vocalist Blóthar the Berserker shines through with his wry lyricism on “Fuck This Place,” and especially “Gonna Kill You.” The latter song features some oddly well-crafted vocal harmonies and melodies over typical GWAR-style slasher film references and violent lyrics. There are splashes of electric guitar here and there, but The Disc With No Name, unlike the excessively imprudent album cover, finds the band at their most raw and stripped-down.

Making shocking and outrageous music statements (AxCx) and wearing outfits (KISS) finds itself fused in GWAR, and even more so as all three bands, albeit known for their electricity, have flirted with releasing acoustic tracks and albums. However much the GWAR gang has a sense of humor, the music serves no real purpose being reimagined, besides the funny aesthetic of a grown man dressed up like some sort of Hellish, Tolkien pig-demon gently strumming an acoustic guitar. All in all, isn’t that what GWAR is all about? They are known more for their highly entertaining live shows and great sense of humor in inappropriate places than they are for their memorable, well-crafted songs. 

The Disc With No Name is most likely right at home for diehard fans and completion-nerds, but any casual fan of GWAR or typical thrash/shock-rock will be disappointed.