So here’s the last of the Yeah God! vinyl I own, which ironically according to the catalog number was actually their first single on Chapter 22. There’s an air of optimism on this E.P. which I definitely wouldn’t associate with the band, with tracks titled ‘Love Is Like The Sun’ and choruses singing “Lift up your head and say that tomorrow will be a better day”. OK, so one of the tracks (the best one) is called ‘Eat Plutonium Death’, but the other tracks sound like Blink-182-ish uplifting skate-punk. So yeah, not my favourite release by the band but it’s not terrible either. Just a bit too conventional (verse, chorus, verse, chorus, solo, chorus) and optimistic to be the same band who would frequently use samples and pitched-down vocals and went on to record “Everything’s Not Fucking Irie, Man“.
Track list
01-So Far Down
02-Look Better Gone
03-Eat Plutonium Death
04-Love Is Like The Sun
Yeah God!’s debut release on Chapter 22 records. Title track Sumo On My Back is a storming tune, mixing rap with thrash and some chanting thrown in for good measure! Used To Even Care brings the death growwwwwls found on their excellent debut LP. The E.P. finishes with Beast In The Box – a ludicrously fun satire of rock cliches.
01-Sumo On My Back
02-Used To Even Care
03-Halitosis Girl
04-Hypocrite Carnage
05-Big Bad Noise
06-Beast In The Box
Prior to the release of their sort-of debut album D*nce Like A Bastard!!, Ugly Noize Inc. (formally Yeah God!) released the E.P. Nitro Injected Thrash Pop For The Def! This release contains one album track (A Prayer…) and three non-album tracks, the best of which is probably Bomber. I must admit, I was a slightly disappointed with this E.P. as the songs seem a bit lazy and generic. It’s not bad, but it’s a mile away from the creative wackiness of D*nce Like A Bastard!! and Noizgasm. To be honest, tracks 2-4 almost sound like a different band. Maybe I’m being harsh – I’ll give it a few more listens – but it’s definitely not up to the band(s) prior and future releases! Anyway, vinyl rip with HQ covers (the front cover is a work of art!) in the link below.
01-A Prayer To The God Of Obscure And Skint Independent Artistes
02-Ded Set On Destruction
03-Bomber
04-! (No More, Waste Of Time)
Yeah God! decided to change their name for some reason to Ugly Noize Inc. following the release of Noizgasmin 1989. Not quite sure why, but maybe someone out there knows? Anyway, in 1990 they released the humorously titled D*nce Like A Bastard!! The album is quite a departure from their previous one. While Noizgasm was rooted in thrash, and quite experimental at times, featuring unusual song structures, loads of samples and down-pitched vocals, Bastard is a lot more like conventional metal/hard rock. This is anything but an insult as the results are fantastic. The tracks are tighter and the album flows better. The lyrics are easier to hear and the riffs are fantastic.
While The Buzzard’s vocals were often death growls and shouting on Noizgasm here he sings quite a lot, and it works better in my opinion. Not to slate Noizgasm, I love that album and the vocals suited it, but I have to say I prefer this one as the songs are more memorable and the album is more accessible in general.
There are some outstanding tracks, complete with The Buzzard’s amazing guitar playing and darkly funny lyrics. Stand out tracks for me are “A Prayer To The God Of Obscure And Skint Independant Artistes” (“I ain’t too proud to take charity, gimmy all you got just as long as it’s free”), “Bitch, Bitch, Bitch”, the dubby/metal mash up of “Everything’s Not Fucking Irie, Man” and the rap/rock track “Dance Like Your Ass Is On Fire”.
Overall an excellent album which has been on constant rotation on my phone for the past few weeks. I’ve just ordered their E.P. Nitro Injected Trash Pop For The Deaf and I’m very much looking forward to hearing it! If anyone knows if the band had anymore releases please get in touch through the comments!
Edit 12/08/16 – Paul from the band had this to say –
We recorded and mixed this in just over a week at Brian Tatlers studio (the fridge?) in Stourbridge. All I can remember of it was there was a trivial pursuit coinop that I never got to play on!
1 Back 2 Reality
2 A Prayer To The God Of Obscure And Skint Independant Artistes
3 Offin’ The Good Guys
4 Scheherazade Jones
5 Hindsight Binoculars
6 Betterways
7 Bitch, Bitch, Bitch
8 Beirut Timeshare Love Affair
9 Everything Is Not Fucking Irie Man
10 Dance Like Ya Ass Is On Fire
11 Worst Bad
12 Ogres (My Guitar Dies Screaming)
Released on Chapter 22 records in 1989, Noizgasm explodes with heavy metal riffs and raw growlllllllllls. It storms along at about 400 bpm with The Buzzard (who featured on PWEI albums and wrote the riff for The Prodigy’s track “Their Law” which also featured PWEI) shreading his guitar like a mad man. Expect lots of heavy riffing, dive bombs, samples (I spotted the beat from “She Drives Me Crazy” more than once!) and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. A great LP to bang your head to.
Edit (12/08/16) Paul from the band had this to say re: the recording of the album –
Some good (and bad) memories of the making of this album … The funniest (story) I remember is that we had traveled to the studio under the impression that it was a residential place that fed the band too. Why we thought that on our budget I’ll never know! So inevitably we arrived with no food or even much cash. Towards the end of the album when we were surviving one piece of toast and Marmite each per day Pete’s (the owners) wife took pity and us and fed us ‘proper food’ ! bless her! I’ve been good friends with Pete ever since – nice guy.
Another Boring B Side 