If you're in the mood for some mindless music that simply makes you forget your woes, you could do a lot worse than Turbonegro's Party Animals. The sixth album from this glammy, poppy, punky Norwegian rock band I've never heard of is loaded with such riff-tastic (and tongue-in-cheek?) power-chord anthems as "All My Friends Are Dead," "Blow Me (Like the Wind)" "Hot Stuff/Hot Shit," and "City of Satan" (with a coda for which many symphonic progressive-metal bands would likely sacrifice their lighting technician). Other songs feature special guests that up the cool quotient: Nick Olivera (ex-Queens of the Stone Age) sings backup on "Final Warning," and Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) lends a helping lung on "Wasted Again."
A lesser band would have reduced these songs (some loaded with dumb double entendres) to absolute drivel; Turbonegro practically elevates them to classic status. Vocalist Hank Von Helvete has the perfect am-I-serious-or-am-I-snotty voice for this kind of music, and he's backed by guys who sound as tight as Velvet Revolver — or at least Brides of Destruction.
While I can't say I condone some of the messages these guys have so indelicately imparted, I also can't keep myself from feeling absolutely gobsmacked and needing to hear Party Animals over and over again.
Track Listing:
1) Intro: The Party Zone
2) All My Friends Are Dead
3) Blow Me (Like the Wind)
4) City of Satan
5) Death From Above
6) Wasted Again
7) High on the Crime
8) If You See Kaye (Tell Her I L-O-V-E- Her)
9) Stay Free
10) Babylon Forever
11) Hot Stuff/Hot Shit
12) Final Warning