Scumdogs of the Universe
Encyclopedia
Scumdogs of the Universe is the second album by Satirical Shock rock band Gwar
. The album is their first album on Metal Blade Records
and was released in 1990. It is to this date the band's best selling album and greatly expanded the band's horizons.
", a song by the breakthrough rap
group N.W.A. Other references include history (Vlad the Impaler) and Lovecraft mythology (Horror of Yig
).
Most of the album is centered around twisted jokes about insane medical practices and sexual perversion. This album is viewed by many of Gwar's fans (as well as Gwar themselves) as their ultimate masterpiece. Thus the band will play more songs from Scumdogs than any other album ("Sick of You
" is the most frequently played song in concert, generally the grand finale).
This is the first Gwar album on which more than two people sing lead (Hell-O had Oderus Urungus
and Techno Destructo): "Slaughterama" features Sleazy P. Martini, Sexecutioner sings his namesake song, and the album's closer, "Cool Place To Park," debuts bassist Beefcake the Mighty
as a vocalist. All other songs featured Oderus.
Additionally, Danielle Stampe (Slymenstra Hymen
), Michael Derks (Balsac the Jaws of Death
), Chuck Varga (Sexecutioner
), and Brad Roberts (Jizmak Da Gusha
) make their debuts on this album.
Gwar
Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984. The band is best known for its elaborate science fiction/horror film inspired costumes, obscene lyrics and graphic stage performances, which feature humorous enactments of politically and morally taboo...
. The album is their first album on Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
and was released in 1990. It is to this date the band's best selling album and greatly expanded the band's horizons.
Overview
As the title implies, it is a concept album about the Scumdogs' (Gwar) reign of terror on planet Earth (the song "Death Pod" explains exactly how they came to Earth to begin with). The production is very refined compared to the independent, rushed first attempt (with each successive album sounding more and more refined). Gwar began to experiment with samples to some degree (e.g. in the song, "Maggots"). The songs are more socially relevant in this album as well. Examples include "Slaughterama" (which involves Gwar killing hippies and skinheads in a game show-style fashion) and the opening track, "The Salaminizer", in which the first verse was inspired by/based on "Gangsta, GangstaGangsta Gangsta (N.W.A song)
"Gangsta Gangsta" is a single from American rap group N.W.A's 1988 album, Straight Outta Compton. The song later appeared on the N.W.A Greatest Hits album and The Best of N.W.A. - The Strength of Street Knowledge. The song conveys the dangers of living in the streets of Compton, California and...
", a song by the breakthrough rap
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
group N.W.A. Other references include history (Vlad the Impaler) and Lovecraft mythology (Horror of Yig
Yig
Yig is a deity in H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. He appears as a serpent man, serpent with bat-like wings, or as a giant snake....
).
Most of the album is centered around twisted jokes about insane medical practices and sexual perversion. This album is viewed by many of Gwar's fans (as well as Gwar themselves) as their ultimate masterpiece. Thus the band will play more songs from Scumdogs than any other album ("Sick of You
Sick of You
"Sick of You" is the third track in heavy metal band GWAR's second album, Scumdogs of the Universe.-Overview:"Sick of You" is, lyrically, a simple song, dealing with feelings of utter distaste for a despised one in a somewhat comical fashion:...
" is the most frequently played song in concert, generally the grand finale).
This is the first Gwar album on which more than two people sing lead (Hell-O had Oderus Urungus
Oderus Urungus
Oderus Urungus, played by Dave Brockie, is the lead vocalist of the Metal band Gwar. He appears as an intergalactic humanoid barbarian with devil horns and a meaty looking face, and always carries around a long sword named "Unt Lick"...
and Techno Destructo): "Slaughterama" features Sleazy P. Martini, Sexecutioner sings his namesake song, and the album's closer, "Cool Place To Park," debuts bassist Beefcake the Mighty
Beefcake the Mighty
Beefcake the Mighty is the bassist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a stout humanoid girded in Roman-style armor. He is usually portrayed wielding either an oversized Gladius sword or a large battle-axe .-Background:According to Gwar mythos, Beefcake originates from the planet Cholesterol...
as a vocalist. All other songs featured Oderus.
Additionally, Danielle Stampe (Slymenstra Hymen
Slymenstra Hymen
Slymenstra Hymen was Gwar's dancer and occasional singer portrayed by Danielle Stampe . She is perhaps best known for fire dancing, usually during the song "Horror of Yig." On the tours for the Carnival of Chaos album, she danced to the song "Sammy," because "Horror of Yig" often followed the...
), Michael Derks (Balsac the Jaws of Death
Balsac the Jaws of Death
Balsac the Jaws of Death is the rhythm guitarist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a humanoid creature with a face resembling a bear-trap. Balsac is usually portrayed wielding a giant battleaxe...
), Chuck Varga (Sexecutioner
Sexecutioner
Sexecutioner was a character in the band Gwar, played originally Mike Delaney, and finally by Chuck Varga from 1989 until 1995-6, with one final appearance in 2000...
), and Brad Roberts (Jizmak Da Gusha
Jizmak Da Gusha
Jizmak Da Gusha is the drummer in the rock band Gwar. Although the costume has undergone many changes since the character was introduced, Jizmak's onstage get-up somewhat resembles a monstrous dog with very large teeth...
) make their debuts on this album.
Track listing
Line-up
- Dave Brockie (Oderus UrungusOderus UrungusOderus Urungus, played by Dave Brockie, is the lead vocalist of the Metal band Gwar. He appears as an intergalactic humanoid barbarian with devil horns and a meaty looking face, and always carries around a long sword named "Unt Lick"...
) - VocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Dewey Rowell (Flattus MaximusFlattus MaximusFlattus Maximus is the name of a former character and guitarist in the American heavy metal band Gwar. He is known by his red face, white dreadlocks, dinosaur-head shoulder pads and reptile feet. The name "Flattus" implies a flatulent character. His speaking mannerisms suggest a childlike...
) - Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, Rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Mike Derks (Balsac the Jaws of DeathBalsac the Jaws of DeathBalsac the Jaws of Death is the rhythm guitarist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a humanoid creature with a face resembling a bear-trap. Balsac is usually portrayed wielding a giant battleaxe...
) -Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
. Rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Michael BishopMichael Bishop (bassist)Michael Bishop is an American musician, and Bishop attended Thomas Dale high school. Most notably, he was the bass guitarist for the American heavy metal band GWAR. As a member of GWAR, he was the first to play the role of "Beefcake the Mighty") . In addition to GWAR, Bishop played bass and sang...
(Beefcake the MightyBeefcake the MightyBeefcake the Mighty is the bassist in the rock band Gwar. He appears as a stout humanoid girded in Roman-style armor. He is usually portrayed wielding either an oversized Gladius sword or a large battle-axe .-Background:According to Gwar mythos, Beefcake originates from the planet Cholesterol...
) - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals; lead vocals on "Cool Place to Park" - Brad Roberts (Jizmak Da GushaJizmak Da GushaJizmak Da Gusha is the drummer in the rock band Gwar. Although the costume has undergone many changes since the character was introduced, Jizmak's onstage get-up somewhat resembles a monstrous dog with very large teeth...
) - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Danielle Stampe (Slymenstra HymenSlymenstra HymenSlymenstra Hymen was Gwar's dancer and occasional singer portrayed by Danielle Stampe . She is perhaps best known for fire dancing, usually during the song "Horror of Yig." On the tours for the Carnival of Chaos album, she danced to the song "Sammy," because "Horror of Yig" often followed the...
) - Backing vocals - Chuck Varga (SexecutionerSexecutionerSexecutioner was a character in the band Gwar, played originally Mike Delaney, and finally by Chuck Varga from 1989 until 1995-6, with one final appearance in 2000...
) - Vocals on "Sexecutioner" - Don Drakulich (Sleazy P. MartiniSleazy P. MartiniSleazy P. Martini is a character played by Don Drakulich in the theatrical heavy metal band Gwar. He wears a gigantic gold necklace with a dollar symbol, a large pompadour, a bright purple suit, and is often seen wielding a sawed-off shotgun...
) - Vocals on "Slaughterama"