The Car Bomb Parade – “Death, Destruction, Chaos, Filth And Greed”
I remember my first encounter with The Car Bomb Parade. I was at the Midway and they were supposed to be playing at the evening show.
A fellow with a Catholic frock or shirt, you know- like a black Nehru jacket, entered and asked me where the men’s room was.
I kinda figured he was in a band, and he did turn out to be the, then, lead singer of The Car Bomb Parade- but I thought, what if he’s not and he’s a real priest? But I guided him correctly, you might say- towards the right path, much like Jesus showed the right path for me- from an altar boy to an alcoholic, depraved, depicter of the present, underground punk scene.
And though I lost my virginity that night, unrelated to my relations with the defrocked priest of The Car Bomb Parade, or the defrocked priest Richard Burton played, in the movie “Night OF The Iguana” based on the Tennessee Williams play, or maybe I’m mistaken and I lost my purity decades ago on a barstool of a South Boston dive while playing music with a terrible pickup band in a sordid place and life, just waiting to play the last set of the night.
Either way, The Car Bomb Parade gives birth to this album in a kind of immaculate conception, not to deny the amount of depraved, debauchery these delinquent, denizens of the underground cast their leprous, legions of sins upon our pure, sacred, punk, sacramental ears and wombs.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on this, and genuflect and then let us pray…and listen.
“Schoolyard Sniper” starts out with an abrasive metal lick followed by a death metal growl that makes me fear that I put the wrong album on my turntable. But soon, even with stops and starts, the foot is pressed firmly down to the floor for maximum acceleration. Meanwhile, the vocals makes its point clear. “The earth has too many idiots here/ It’s not about population control/ I just wanna see the whole world fall/ ‘Cause I’m sick of this place/ & the goddamn human race/ I wanna kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.” Though, subtly expressed, I can sense some disillusionment and though I don’t want innocent kids blown away, their parents are another matter. And I definitely want you to check this punkin’, rockin’ great tune.
With some fancy-schmancy drum intro, while I’m listening lustfully for some jazz-bo like Stanley Clarke to step in, masturbating his bass for us- instead I’m rewarded with some fuzzed out Black Sabbath chords zipping by with a rhythm smack dab between punk and hardcore. “Burn” is the name of this snappy number and no, this ain’t no disco inferno, baby. “Sometimes I feel dead inside/ I have no feeling, I try and hide/ For happiness I’ll wait my turn/ Until then I will burn.” And this song does burn and will melt your eardrums away with its scorching velocity, volume and venom but most likely, you’ll just grin and think it was well worth it.
“The Subtle Art Of Suicide” starts with a slower, march beat reminding me a bit of Irish punk and even has a goddamn, good guitar solo along with a great, melodic chorus. “So I’ll find a whole to live in/ And I’ll take what I am given.” I’ll take a song as good and passionate as this one, any-day. “If I got what I deserve/ I wouldn’t be alive.” Same here, my friend.
Starting with a moderate tempo, “Live For This, Die For This” rocks like the rippling after shock of an earthquake with some “wooh-oh-oh’s” and a psychedelic guitar lick dropping in like a tab of acid. “Life’s a wild ride/ I’m gonna ride or die/ Take away my life/ You won’t take away my pride.” This song is an affirmation of the punk and hardcore community. “Their game is rigged/ It’s always been/ It’s our turn to win.” Maybe not right now, but maybe it’s the time to regroup together- and with songs like this, no bullshit, full of passion and encouragement, I say you should hop on this wild ride. It may be rocky, but in the long end, it will be as worthy as this song.
You may have noticed, only if you’re more coherent than me, which I’m sure your are, that is, unless you’re being prepared for surgery, is that I left out the song “Occupation”- the only reason being that is was already reviewed on our previous album review, but I can attest to that song’s greatness.
As well as to this bands potent mix of passionate punk and powerful hardcore and terrific thrash.
There are hints of New York heavy hardcore here, where this band is from, but I hear more a raw punk influence and a “Fuck it, we don’t care where we fall, where you categorize us.” We’ll just flail and wail and smash and bash and you can make your notations on your autopsy report.
But make no mistake, this band is alive and breathing. Maybe they’re in-between the old band into a new band, much like a caterpillar into a glamorous butterfly LOL. But still showing signs of life that are vital and strong. Might I say they’re “born again?”
The Car Bomb Parade may be my current favorite band from New York nowadays. I don’t know…there are lots of great ones like Out Live Death and Zero Rights. I’d have to think about that and when I think about things that’s not a good thing…that’s when I feel like I want to re-enact the lyrics to “Schoolyard Sniper” and blow this whole stinkin’ mess away.
So instead of thinking, I’m gonna listen to this album and you should think of listening, too- instead of listening to me. I think I’ll listen while you’re listening to what I think. But, I beseech you, check out The Car Bomb Parade.
The best fucking band in New York City.
(Slimedog)
