1. Reggie & the Full Effect - Raining Blood (Slayer)
Initially, when I heard the opening riff, I thought this might have some novelty value and uniqueness as a more electronic take on Slayer. Then the distorted shouts of the vocals began.
2. Avail - Iron Fist (Motörhead)
Pretty good musically. I suspect the vocalist realized he couldn't emulate Lemmy, so there are
just generic gruff vocals.
3. Less Than Jake - We're Not Gonna Take It (Twisted Sister)
Sped-up, punkish, and lightweight, which is actually what I had envisioned most of the covers would be like. Not good or interesting, though.
4. Hot Rod Circuit - Sin City (AC/DC)
The playing is competent, but has none of the dirt or grit of the original.
5. The Get Up Kids - On With the Show (Mötley Crüe)
Emo vocals.
6. Jejune - No One Like You (Scorpions)
Along with the later Girlschool cover, this is the most musically-faithful rendition on the comp. They try to do it straight up, but the vocalist really doesn't have the chops for it.
7. The Killingtons - Animal (Fuck Like a Beast) (W.A.S.P.)
This is such a lethargic version that it sounds like a legitimate, non-cover alternative song (don't misconstrue that comment as being positive in any way). And the chorus lyrics aren't even right.
8. Supernova - The Trooper (Iron Maiden)
This may have been an attempt at a freewheelin' rock'n'roll version, but it's devoid of energy. Unfortunately, it's not devoid of intrusive electronic sounds during the whole thing.
9. Mephiskapheles - Necromantical Screams (Celtic Frost)
They nailed the Frost guitar tone, and I thought the sparingly used ska horns and intentionally-ridiculous-to-mock-the-original operatic backing vox were the only truly humorous elements of this entire compilation.
Vocals really bring it down though, as they're forced and monotonous.
10. Lounge - Living After Midnight (Judas Priest)
Lame pop-punk version.
11. Electric Frankenstein - Not for Sale (Girlschool)
Unexpected yet pleasant surprise both in song choice and execution. Vocals are weak but great instrumentally.
12. Modest Mouse + Califone - South of Heaven (Slayer)
Acoustic nonsense.
13. Gardner (special live bonus track) - Flying High Again (Ozzy Osbourne)
Too easygoing; severely lacking in energy.
I was actually going into this expecting most of the covers to be hyperactive and simplified punk versions played at more manic tempos, but to the contrary, quite a few songs suffer from having no power or energy. There's a lot less in terms of experimentation and parody than I would have guessed too. This isn't quite the equivalent of throwing a dollar into the gutter, but looking at the layout (a school binder covered in pen graffiti) was more fulfilling than a lot of the musical content.
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