Early Man - "Closing In" (Matador, 2005) [key tracks: Feeding Frenzy, Fist Shaker]
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"This is what they do when they're after you! "
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So I have started my summer reading a little early. Currently I am reading about the Black Plague. One of the many fascinating things about the era of the Plague is that it is one of the few biological selective events humans have faced in modern times. What does this mean? Well, there are those who think that if you descended from a survivor from Plague haunted lands, that you may have a genetic mutation that will help you in ways we don;t yet fully understand how to exploit. In short, we have a receptor called CCR5, and this is used by T-Cells and the HIV virus alike. A mutation in this receptor can be traced to about 700 years ago, the time of the Plague. This mutation can either slow the progression of HIV to AIDS, or even make you immune to AIDS as we know it today. All I can say is wow. Interesting reading.
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Carl's Favorite Songs - #42 - Chop Suey! by System of a Down
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Early Man is a gift to Carl from the music gods. Not because they sound like 1980's metal, which they do. Not because they have perfectly mastered the aggro-mindless lyrical approach of thrash, which they do. Not because they rock, or make a mighty noise with 2 people, or that they can totally riff. But I love them because of their back story. The two members, Mike and Adam, were both raised in strict religious (Pentecostal) households. Once they turned 18/19 (depending on who's version of the legend you listen to), they found a big exciting world out there... including all those tapes and records of classic metal that they have never heard. Of course, they fell in love with it. King Diamond, Iron Maiden, WASP, Judas Priest, Dio, Black Sabbath... all of it sounded fresh and exciting. So what did they do? Start a metal band... an old school metal band. And they rip! All triplets, double bass, and high pitched "yeaaaaaahh!", Early Man makes an old metal fan's heart miss a beat. This LP is just over 42 minutes, but goes by way too fast. Not for the faint of heart, and definitely not ground breaking, but it is instantly one of the best metal LPs I own.
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One thing I found funny was the whole image of this band. Funny as in hilarious. They shun their parents' enforced legalistic religion and fell right into the fear of such Fundamentalists... the world of heavy metal. The second deadly sin is their name, Early Man, which alludes to another thorn in the side of Fundies... evolution. Also scary to a Pentecostal are the topics; death, war, persecution, and fire. Unbelievable, and even more so that it is not done with irony. Unlike Dragonforce, this is a band that makes you fall in love with the 80's metal scene all over again. Oh, and no keyboards on Early Man, so even better! Lastly, they shy away from over doing it. There is no gore, no Satanism, no cartoony sword wielding epics (which can be good, if you pull it off... right The Sword?). Just plain rock and fu**in' roll. So for their concerted stab at hypocrisy and superstition, we salute you.
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Horns up!