I have to site The New Yorker's Sasha Frere-Jones, here. He alerted me to this gloriously ridiculous new development in thrash metal - animal lead-singers. There's Brooklyn's own Caninus, lead by two pit bull terriers named Budgie and Basil, and there's Hatebeak (yes, Hatebeak), led by a parrot (what the band describes lovingly as an "avian vocalist.") Caninus (myspace.com/caninus) and Hatebeak (myspace.com/beak666) recently released a split EP, "Bird Seeds of Vengeance," on Reptilian Records.
There does seem to be some motive to the madness. Caninus are strict vegans, while Hatebeak asks visitors to their myspace page to donate to the Wildlife Warriors Foundation. Caninus explains further: "the majority grindcore and fatal metal strips (orchestras) have the singers, trying to sound similarly to the broken (upset) deranged animals anyhow so they have decided to use a real thing." Oh, I see....
There really are no words.
1 comment:
Ok, in the battle of Caninus v. Hate Beak, the bird wins, and not just because I find the name oddly wonderful. First up, the dogs: "United States of Em..." conjured thoughts of Cujo (surprise, surprise)and a clogged garbage disposal. Dogs aren't meant for singing. Yes, my family and I used to listen to "Jingle Dogs" at Christmas, but that was very different...and a very long time ago.
Hate Beak was creepier, easier listening, perhaps, unless I'm mistaken here, because the parrots can actually mimic human vocals. Also, judging by the site, these guys, uh, birds, have more of a sense of humor. I mean, "Bird Seeds of Vengeance?" That's awesome. And yes, this too reminded me of a childhood memory: my talking Big Bird doll. Guess what he said? "Want some BIRD SEED??!!"
Ha ha. I'm freaking myself out so I'll just stop now.
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