It’s Halloween time, and what better way to celebrate the spirit of Halloween than experiencing the legendary force known as GWAR. Since the group’s inception in 1984, they have turned their initial cult following into an artistic institution. The band will storm the stage at The Norva this coming Thursday for a performance that should be nothing short of extraordinary or lacking fake bodily fluids.
Easily identified by their one-of-a-kind, grotesque costumes, the group’s core thematic and visual concept revolves around elaborate science-fiction-themed mythology that portrays its members as barbaric interplanetary warriors. This narrative has served as a recurring theme throughout all of their albums and videos. Musically, their sound is a mix of metal, punk, and rock n’ roll. Their elaborate stage show includes the band spraying the audiences with simulated bodily fluids and mock mutilations of celebrities and public figures. Put all of this together, and a GWAR show plays out like a pack of 1980’s professional wrestlers performing a musical somewhere between “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and Peter Jacksons 1989 cult classic, “Meet The Feebles,” with a dash of Gerald Potterton’s “Heavy Metal” thrown in for good measure.
On this tour, the band is celebrating the 30th anniversary of their landmark album “Scumdogs Of The Universe,” which features such classics as “Sick Of You,” “Slaughterama,” “Maggots,” and “Love Surgery.” The group also recently released a full-length documentary titled “This Is GWAR.” The doc features never-before-seen footage of their legendary frontman Dave Brockie aka Oderous Urungus, who passed away in 2014. It also includes interviews with band members past and present and other artists, including Weird Al Yankovic, Thomas Lennon, Ethan Embry, and Alex Winter.
English legends Napalm Death are also on the bill. The group recently put out their 16th studio album, “Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism,” which shows no signs of slowing down. Often sighted as one of the pioneers of the “grindcore” subgenre, Napalm Death blend aspects of crust punk and death metal, with a combination of down-tuned guitars and overdriven bass alongside a whirlwind of blast beats and a vocal style characterized by guttural growls and high pitched shrieks. Although there have been multiple line-up changes over the years, the core of vocalist Mark “Barney” Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, and drummer Danny Herrera have remained intact since 1992’s “Utopia Banished” LP.
Opening the show are long-running New Orleans unit, Eyehategod. Their sound has always been a cathartic mix of feedback-laced, heavy blues-based grooves seasoned with plenty of punk rock attitude. Add in the desolate tone of lead vocalist Mike IX Williams, and you have something indeed all its own. Their latest album, “A History Of Nomadic Behavior,” shows an element of maturity and evolution to the band’s sound. William’s vocals are more precise and distinct yet still harness all of the harsh tones of past releases. EHG never disappoint live, as their shows often create a meditative-like vibe underneath layers of chaos.
Doors are at 6:30 with the show starting at 7:30. Proof Of Full vaccination against COVID 19 is required . Get all of the info on the show here.
