Scumdogs of the Universe

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 on January 8, 1990. To date, it is the band's best-selling album.

Scumdogs of the Universe
Studio album by
Gwar
ReleasedJanuary 8, 1990
Recorded1989
StudioMixed by Robert Feist at Conway Recording Studios
GenreHeavy metal, crossover thrash, thrash metal, shock rock, comedy rock
Length51:55
LabelMetal Blade Records
ProducerRon Goudie, Hypo Luxa, Hermes Pan
Gwar chronology
Hell-O
(1988)		 Scumdogs of the Universe
(1990)		 America Must Be Destroyed
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

A deluxe 30th anniversary box set of Scumdogs is set for release in August 2020, with remixed and remastered audio by producer Ronan Chris Murphy, as well as a cassette containing rehearsal demos and previously unreleased tracks.[2] Those that pre-ordered the box set received a digital download of the remastered album on August 7, 2020, with the first single, "Maggots", being made publicly available the same day. The wide release of the remaster is scheduled for October 30, 2020.

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 nazi-skinheads in a game show-style fashion) and the opening track, "The Salaminizer", in which the first verse was inspired by/based on "Gangsta, Gangsta", 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 on 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 CD exclusive 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.

Reception

In 2016, Scumdogs of the Universe was ranked #90 on Loudwire's Top 90 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1990s lists.[3]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Salaminizer"Brockie/Bishop/Derks3:33
2."Maggots"Brockie/Bishop/Derks4:05
3."Sick of You"Brockie/Derks3:08
4."Slaughterama" (Vocals by Sleazy P. Martini)Bishop/Derks/Drakulich5:02
5."The Years Without Light"Brockie/Dewey Rowell2:58
6."King Queen"Brockie/Bishop/Derks4:51
7."Horror of Yig"Brockie/Bishop/Derks5:24
8."Vlad The Impaler"Brockie/Rowell/Douglas3:14
9."Black and Huge"Brockie/Bishop/Douglas3:09
10."Love Surgery"Brockie/Bishop/Derks4:55
11."Death Pod"Brockie/Bishop/Derks3:31
12."Sexecutioner" (Vocals by Sexecutioner)Brockie/Varga3:58
13."Cool Place to Park" (Vocals by Beefcake the Mighty)Brockie/Bishop/Rowell/Derks4:02

Note

  • The tracks "The Years Without Light" and "Cool Place to Park" do not appear on versions released under the Master label, only versions released under Metal Blade label. For the original 1990 Metal Blade release of the album, "Cool Place to Park" is a CD only track.
30th anniversary remaster
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Salaminizer"Brockie/Bishop/Derks3:34
2."Maggots"Brockie/Bishop/Derks4:07
3."Sick of You"Brockie/Derks3:09
4."Slaughterama" (Vocals by Sleazy P. Martini)Bishop/Derks/Drakulich5:04
5."The Years Without Light"Brockie/Dewey Rowell2:48
6."King Queen"Brockie/Bishop/Derks8:09
7."Horror of Yig"Brockie/Bishop/Derks5:18
8."Vlad The Impaler"Brockie/Rowell/Douglas3:17
9."Black and Huge"Brockie/Bishop/Douglas3:09
10."Love Surgery"Brockie/Bishop/Derks5:12
11."Death Pod"Brockie/Bishop/Derks3:33
12."Sexecutioner" (Vocals by Sexecutioner)Brockie/Varga4:00
13."Cool Place to Park" (Vocals by Beefcake the Mighty)Brockie/Bishop/Rowell/Derks4:03
30th anniversary demo cassette
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Vlad"Brockie/Rowell/Douglas 
2."Black And Huge"Brockie/Bishop/Douglas 
3."Years W/o"Brockie/Rowell 
4."Sexy" (Vocals by Sexecutioner)Brockie/Varga 
5."Death Pod"Brockie/Bishop/Derks 
6."Cardinal Syn"  
7."Cool" (Vocals by Beefcake the Mighty)Brockie/Bishop/Rowell/Derks 
8."Jellyfish (King Queen)"Brockie/Bishop/Derks 
9."Bring Me The Child"  
10."Slave Song"  

Personnel
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References
  1. Henderson, Alex. Scumdogs of the Universe at AllMusic. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  2. https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/gwar-announces-scumdogs-of-the-universe-anniversary-box-set
  3. "Top 90 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1990s". Loudwire. Missing or empty |url= (help)
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