ZIMMERS HOLE
The Hole are back with their third album and, with three quarters of Strapping Young Lad (SYL) now in their ranks, a big label, and an even bigger production, it looks like they are finally getting serious - well, kind of.
By Gav Britton
'When You Were Shouting at the Devil, We Were in League With Satan' might boast a monstrous production, feature drum legend Gene Hoglan (SYL), and be getting some substantial push by new label Century Media, but this quality slab of thrash metal is still brimming with The Hole's humorous lyrics and song titles. 'Anonymous Oesophagus' (an ode to swallowing semen) and 'Fista Corps' (pretty self explanatory) are just a few of the nuggets you will find floating in the bowl of this nasty mix. But the band's sense of humour does have its drawbacks. "It is kind of embarrassing at times," admits Fear Factory/SYL/Zimmers Hole bassist Byron Stroud, who had to field the 'Where did you get the band name from?' question from his mum. "I was like, 'Ah, we named it after a friend's ass'," laughs Stroud.
The origin of the lengthy, Motley Crue/Venom-referencing album title comes from guitarist Jed Simons overhearing Morbid Angel's Dave Vincent and a member of Forbidden discussing who was more metal. The Forbidden member closed the argument in hilarious fashion by boldly claiming, 'When you were shouting at the devil, I was in league with Satan!' And while Zimmers Hole vocalist The Heathen can be heard screaming 'Glam rock can suck a cock' on the title track, Stroud reveals there are a couple of glam metal skeletons hiding in The Hole's closet. "Jed and I shouted a little bit back in the day," says Stroud reluctantly. "We were into [Motley Crue's] 'Shout at the Devil' because it was a great record, but Gene says [puts on deep voice], 'No way, I never shouted!'"
With the similarities between The Heathen and SYL's Devin Townsend's vocal styles, and all but Townsend in Zimmers Hole, the SYL comparisons are inevitable - but Stroud doesn't seem to mind. "It doesn't bother us at all. We are hoping fans of SYL will be curious and will want to check out Zimmers Hole," says Stroud. "Devin may have written 90 percent of the material but it wouldn't have been SYL without the three of us." The remaining SYL members had barely spoken to Townsend since he announced the band's indefinite hiatus in 2007. It was Stroud who broke the ice and suggested they get Townsend, who had produced the first two Zimmers Hole albums, to produce a couple of vocal tracks. Townsend ended up having so much fun he offered to produce all the vocal tracks and mix the entire album. "Once we got in there it was just like old times," says Stroud. "He [Townsend] even said he was happy to have done it because it was good therapy for all of us." Stroud says Devin is busy producing at the moment but gives some hope to a possible SYL reunion. "[We] will probably do SYL again at some point, but I don't think it will be anytime soon and it will definitely be in a different capacity to what it was before."
'When You Were Shouting At The Devil, We Were In League With Satan' is out now through Century Media/Stomp. |
