The New Plague

Undeniably the most obscure thrash metal band out there, GWAR is an overload of the senses. Founded in 1984 in Richmond, Virginia the band is currently composed of Oderus Urungus, Flattus Maximus, Balsac: the Jaws of Death, Beefcake the Mighty, Jizmak Da Gusha, Sleazy P. Martini, several destructo side members and multiple kidnapped and mutilated human slaves. As all but one of the original members have survived the lengthy battle against Earth, GWAR pays tribute to its thirty-three retired members who have blessed the legend that has been created over the past 25 years. With twelve studio albums, three live albums, two compilation albums, and two Grammy Award nominations, GWAR is here to rock.

GWAR first ripped an inter-dimensional portal into my soul two years ago when a few friends of mine went to one of their shows at the Canopy Club. Not quite sure what to expect, they entered a world of extra-terrestrial madness, defiant, ravenous, chaos-warriors, and the never-ending battle to destroy the human race. My friends returned from the show in awe. After seeing the pictures of them covered in fake blood, I started to research the band. Within moments of listening to their "Beyond Hell" album it became apparent that GWAR is not your average metal group. This band is not one to listen to in the solitude of your own home, but they are a band to indulge in live. More known for their epic stage performances than for their studio recordings, this band makes for an amazing theatrical night out. GWAR's characters are created from costumes consisting of Styrofoam, rubber, foam-latex, and a creative use of makeup to accentuate their bodies natural features. Seeing these striking costumes is not the only breathtaking part of their live performance, as they also make certain to have plenty of on and off stage entertainment. GWAR drenches their live audience in various fluids such a carrageenan (a type of seaweed extract), water, and powdered food coloring to make horrifyingly realistic blood and gore.

When contemplating if you should enter the realm of cosmic inspired metal by attending a GWAR show, it is important to understand the band's mythos as well as the inspiration behind their music. Ultimately created by the Master, a horrifyingly ugly creature who was said to be the size of a planet, the vast universe was made for entertainment. The Master created GWAR as an army to destroy all that he had created; however as most creation stories go, the army of GWAR rebelled against the Master. Furious, the Master banished GWAR to Earth where they created the human race-a race they quickly learned to despise.

After years of barbarous and epic battles against the human race, the Master returned to imprison GWAR to Antarctica where they continued to plot the destruction of human kind for millions of years. Their savior from this icy tomb came from the overuse of hairspray that 80's hair metal bands indulged in. Metal and a man named Sleazy P. Martini released GWAR into the United States of America where they learned how to play thrash metal and have continued to ever since.

If you would like to join the madness of all that is GWAR you are in luck. On December 7 GWAR will be ruling the stage at the House of Blues in Chicago. Although unconventional in every way, this band is guaranteed to be one of the best live shows of your life. GWAR is a band worth knowing, especially as Halloween looms ever closer.

To learn more about their mythos, music, tour dates, and stage act visit www.gwar.net.