CD Reviews

Surgical Meth Machine (review)

Surgical Meth Machine (review): Hey kids! Do you want to know what it feels like to use hardcore drugs? Do you want to float high above this world in heavenly, creative, and abstract infinity?

Published

9 years ago

May 17, 2016

Josh Drespling

SurgicalMethMachine-SMM

SURGICAL METH MACHINE

Self-titled
Nuclear Blast Records
April 2016
By Ron S & Josh Drespling

Hey kids! Do you want to know what it feels like to use hardcore drugs? Do you want to float high above this world in heavenly, creative, and abstract infinity? Do you want to experience heroin, LSD, and every other conscious-altering chemical known to man without fear of incredible debilitating and life-changing side effects? Then the new Surgical Meth Machine album is exactly what the doctor has ordered.

The new project of Uncle Al, a.k.a. Al Jorgensen, (Ministry, Revolting Cock, 1000 Homo DJs, and Acid Horse) will tickle your senses and make you feel like you are on an everlasting acid trip. It’s musical bliss and bloody back alley fist fights rolled into one nice little pill.

The twelve tracks contained on this auditory adventure never stop, as they continue from one song to the next in what has been referred to as the Pink Floyd effect. These twelve tracks are built on crazy drum loops, shredding guitars, and found sounds juxtaposed with mountains of samples and Al’s insanely provocative lyrics.

The album starts off with “I’m Sensitive.” It ramps up with a blusterous rant by Al about him being sensitive to messages and comments offered up by internet trolls or critics. Without a moment’s notice and in typical “Al fashion” he flips the script. Blasting though your speakers comes a healthy dose of industrialized-techno with Al screaming, “I don’t fucking care!”

The next few tracks take you deeper and deeper into the twisted mind of Uncle Al and the spiral of craziness that embodies him and his music. The album is chocked full of insane gabber-like beats and thrilling guitars. The track “Unlistenable” is either an odd way to state what bands Al is into or a more likely a straight-up dis to all of them with vocal lines like “This has got to be a joke,” and “You’re fucking kidding me” in reference to bands like Iron Maiden, Megadeath, Lamb of God, and the most hated band, Nickelback. “I wouldn’t even give you a penny back,” Al quips. His own band, Ministry, is not safe from the tirade, nor is The Cure or Morrissey. The only band offered any adulation is Devo, as Al declares, “They fucking rule” and then breaks into a cover of Devo’s, “Gates of Steel.”

The album goes on to experiment with some drum and bass style tracks with “Just Go Home” and “Just Keep Going.” The CD winds down with perhaps the most enigmatic piece I ever heard from Al Jorgensen, “I’m Invisible.” This song has a sort of ultra-cool lounge act vibe draped in seedy Vegas sleaze and second-hand cigarette smoke. It is a pulsing, yet slow tempo song that is captivating and peculiar. The video for “I’m Invisible” serves to enhance those feelings that come festering straight up from of the underbelly of our society and remind you that our world has a beautiful facade of ugliness.

If you are in the mood for something different and have ever liked even a note of Al’s music, then Surgical Meth Machine is for you. You will really dig it, although it made me have just a few too many flashbacks of old acid trips.

About Author

Josh Drespling

Josh is the Publisher and creator of Empire Extreme and it’s sister publication Kingdom Extreme Magazine. He is an accomplished writer, photographer and graphic designer. He is always conjuring up new ideas and has a amazing passion for the music industry and all the things that surround it.

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Related Topics:1000 Homo DJs Acid Horse Al Jorgensen Ministry Revolting Cock Surgical Meth Machine

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CD Reviews

Marilyn Manson is Back

Published

1 month ago

November 25, 2024

Ron

Marilyn Manson just released his 12th album “One Assassination Under God-Chapter 1” on November 22nd 2024.

This album in my opinion is the best album Manson has put out since Holy Wood. It has a feeling of albums old and new with little hints of Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals and Holy Wood.

The album opens up with “One Assassination Under God” which just gets you ready for what’s to come. With Manson Just finishing his tour, This is the Manson we have been needing for years now. He looks good and sounds great.

Putting out a few singles from the album , the overall feeling of this album is great. It’s been a while since I’ve like a full album of Manson, while this album isn’t perfect it’s as close as perfection of those early albums were. Of course I love the singles “As Sick as the Secrets we Keep” and “Raise the Red Flag” but I also really enjoyed songs like “Death is not a costume”, “Nod if you understand” and “Sacrilegious”

I think this new chapter of Mansons life and music is exciting , I hope we get more tours in 2025 and maybe some over the top stage shows like we did in the late 90s early 2000s. I feel the younger generation hasn’t experience a real “Full” on Manson show yet and it’s time for the King to take back his throne at the top of the Shock Rock mountain.

ALL HAIL MARILYN MANSON

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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CD Reviews

BUSH 30th ANNIVERSARY OF “SIXTEEN STONE” VINYL

Published

1 month ago

November 20, 2024

Ron

I remember when this album came out in 1994 . I was 15 and really discovering all types of music. As being a typical teenage boy I seen the band name “Bush” and thought hmm I love bush, let’s check it out. It was such an amazing album from beginning to end.

The new released vinyl that just came out on November 17th is such a testament to this album being as great then as it is now. Listening to the vinyl just brought back so many memories of being an angst teenager that just wanted to heard. The vinyl package is amazing with lots of photos of the band throughout the years and the sound of the vinyl is so pristine.

I got my hands on the opaque red vinyl and just looks awesome spinning on the player. It’s crazy to think that this album has so many hits and no filler songs, even the songs that didn’t become hits are just as good as the hits.

With the hits being “Glycerine”, “Everything Zen” , “Comedown” “Little Things” and “Machinehead” but some of my favorite songs are not the hits songs like “Swim”, “Bomb” and “Alien” which is probably my favorite song on the album. If you’re a fan of Bush or this album or just want to dive into the mid 90s Grunge/Post Grunge era this is a key album to have in your collection.

About Author

Ron

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CD Reviews

ALICE IN CHAINS “BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE” VINYL REVIEW

Published

3 months ago

October 3, 2024

Ron

Alice In Chains have Re-Released the 2009 album on vinyl. This album was the first Alice In Chains in 14 years and the first album with guitarist/singer Willam DuVall after Layne Staley passed away in 2002.

I was a huge Alice In Chains fan and was a big fan of both Layne and Jerry. When this album first came out I remember sorta pushing it the side only cause of sadness about Layne but after hearing “Check My Brain” I gave it a chance and was so glad that I did. This album is amazing and really put Alice In Chains back into the mainstream.

The vinyl not only looks super awesome but sounds amazing. If you’re a fan of Alice In Chains and into collecting Vinyl, this album is a must in your collection. It’s a great packed vinyl with 2 vinyls included.

Side A: All Secrets Known, Check My Brain and Last of My Kind. Side B: Your Decision, A Looking in View. Side C: When The Sun Rose Again, Acid Bubble, Lesson Learned. Side D: Take Her Out, Private Hell, Black Gives Away To Blue