Being a complete outsider on the metal front, I am constantly bewildered at the never-ending hit parade of metal bands wearing Kabuki face makeup. I get that Kiss started this as a “cool idea” meme, but really! Face paint AND sword-n-sorcery references? And from the title of this record, I have a hard time figuring out what part of this album cover is “evil”.
There has to be a word for the kind of goofiness that’s going on with this album cover. The fire breathing is a nice touch though–at least Enochian has taken it a step up from “I wear spikes and look like I might be grumpy enough to tweak your nipple” to “Hey–I actually BREATHE FIRE and could burn your face off.” So they get danger points for being brave enough to do something edgy and kinda dangerous, as opposed to sitting in a cemetery someplace looking like they just got grounded. You know, like THESE GUYS in Pagan Altar:
This Daniel Johnston clip was posted on an intriguing YouTube account called TheLastRecordStore. Apparently that is a documentary of Dallas-area vinyl scene (I’ve only seen a trailer there so far, looking for more information). This video footage, based on what I read on YouTube, didn’t seem to make it into the final film, but fans of Daniel Johnston will love it.
It might be time to redefine the WTF album covers to include stuff like this–album covers that do not suck, offend or insult, but are simply effing hilarious; beautifully illustrated by this German thrash metal group, Tankard, and their album cover for Disco Destroyer:
When you listen to the preview MP3s of this album at Amazon.com, the title track is by far the most fun–it’s clear this band doesn’t take itself too seriously–a major crime for metal acts, to be sure. In fact, this group would probably be at its most demented on a double bill with Stormtroopers of Death. Did this ever happen? Even once? The brain cell casualties from alcohol and headbanging at such a show would be legendary.
Metal is not a genre that gets much attention at Turntabling, but with album artwork like this how can you not give it a once-over listen? This is a WTF album for sure, but definitely not thanks to the usual causes–an axe destroying a disco ball is just plain funny.
I was first intrigued by Sleep Chamber after reading a lengthy entry about the group in the Trouser Press Record Guide back in 1993. The Ira Robbins write up made this band seem naughty, daring and creepy. How right that impression turned out to be, and in all the best ways.
Sleep Chamber vinyl is rare–some feel it’s in the same rarified air as Coil vinyl, albums by Current 93 or Nurse With Wound. I’m partial to that way of thinking as it’s been difficult for me to find much to add to The Turntabling Collection and I would love to get my hands on some more.
Sleep Chamber founder John Zewizz seems like a kindred spirit with the likes of Coil, Current 93, TOPY and others…he’s got a penchant for sinister atmospheres, doomy sonic landscapes and even manages to evoke the Legendary Pink Dots at their darkest and most experimental. This is, of course, all complimentary.
To date, I’ve only managed to get my hands on two Sleep Chamber LPs. Sexmagick Ritual is exactly what you expect it to be–plenty of emphasis on the sex and the ritual make this a great mood record for lights-out time in more adventurous houses.
Sharp Spikes and Spurs is a bit more upbeat compared to Sexmagick Ritual and even includes a cover of The Light Pours Out Of Me, originally recorded by Magazine. Gotta love artists who pay tribute to Howard Devoto, one of the true geniuses of post-hippie music.
Again, fans of Coil, Current 93, and others in that musical zip code are sure to find something to love about Sleep Chamber. Those who don’t follow the 90s industrial/electronic genre but are curious will find a whole fascinating universe of discovery–the personalities from this era are every bit as interesting and colorful as the music, John Zewizz included.
John Zewizz has a Sleep Chamber channel on YouTube (these days the band seems to be presented as SleepChamber) and I’m including the video clip for Weapons Ov Magick from Sexmagic Ritual here as it’s a great introduction to the world of Sleep Chamber.
