A tragic loss befell demonic metal group GWAR in 2014, when the band’s singer Oderus Urungus (real name, Dave Brockie) passed away. That’s a tough thing to deal with, for sure, but the band soldiers on, and they have their first album without Brockie, The Blood Of Gods, on the way on October 20 via Metal Blade Records. Guitarist Pustulus Maximus previously said that album track “Phantom Limb” is as much about Brockie as it isn’t:
“‘Phantom Limb’ is as much about us as a band as it is about Oderus Urungus. It really is a lot more to do with what we had to do to continue to be a band. Some people suggested we should feel guilty for doing what we’ve always done. […] It’s offensive when people think we shouldn’t do it anymore. F*ck it. Is it wrong to carry on when it’s all we’ve ever had?”
As the album’s release date creeps closer, the band has shared a new track, “I’ll Be Your Monster,” which shows that the band is still channeling Brockie’s spirit. Returning member Michael Bishop (formerly Beefcake The Mighty and now Blothar The Berserker) proves especially capable of stepping in on vocals on the straightforward and heavy dose of rock.
The band’s Sleazy P. Martini says of the album:
“Sorry scoffers, you thought GWAR was finished? You’re the one who’s finished when GWAR starts their fall tour after dropping their heaviest album yet. The Blood Of Gods will be the soundtrack that covers up your pathetic cries for mercy. So go ahead and scream all you want. Just make sure your in key or your death will be excruciating beyond comprehension.”
The new album also includes a cover of AC/DC’s “If You Want Blood (You Got It),” which Maximus says makes sense because GWAR was the original AC/DC, even though that timeline doesn’t add up: “The greatest band other than GWAR to ever walk the earth was AC/DC in my opinion. […] AC/DC were always simply playing old GWAR songs that we just hadn’t gotten around to recording yet.” Perhaps a battle of the bands is still in order.
The Blood Of Gods is available for pre-order here. Check out the album art, the tracklist, and the band’s upcoming tour dates below.
The Blood Of Gods tracklist
1. “War on GWAR”
2. “Viking Death Machine”
3. “El Presidente”
4. “I’ll Be Your Monster”
5. “Auroch”
6. “Swarm”
7. “The Sordid Soliloquy Of Sawborg Destructo”
8. “Death to Dickie Duncan”
9. “Crushed By The Cross”
10. “F*ck This Place”
11. “Phantom Limb”
12. “If You Want Blood (You Got It)” (AC/DC Cover)
GWAR 2017 tour dates
10/20 – Richmond, VA @ The National
10/21 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom
10/22 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House
10/23 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls
10/25 – Greensboro, NC @ Arizona Petes
10/26 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
10/27 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
10/28 – Worcester, MA @ Palladium
10/29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
10/31 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
11/1 – Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
11/2 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
11/3 – St. Louis, MO @ Pop’s
11/4 – Sioux City, IA @ Hard Rock
11/5 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada
11/7 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11/8 – Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid
11/9 – Saskatoon, SK @ Saskatoon Events Center
11/10 – Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall
11/11 – Calgary, AB @ The Palaces
11/13 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore
11/14 – Portland, OR @ Roseland
11/15 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
11/17 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
11/18 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fremont Country Club
11/19 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
11/21 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
11/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theater
11/23 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
11/24 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
11/25 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
11/26 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
11/28 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
11/29 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live
11/30 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
12/1 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater
12/2 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity Theater
12/3 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
12/5 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
12/6 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz
12/8 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
12/9 – Peoria, IL @ Limelight
12/10 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
Images: GWAR, Metal Blade Records
