Impaler - If We had Brains...We'd Be Dangerous (Century
Media) 198?
1. "Blood Bath"
(3:27)
2. "Puppet Master" (2:42)
3. "City in Chains" (2:59)
4. "Wasteland" (3:48)
5. "Search & Destroy" (3:35)
6. "Assassin" (2:43)
7. "Speed Thrills" (3:08)
8. "Witch Queen" (3:05)
9. "Dancin on the Edge" (2:09)
10. "Metal Messiah" (3:38)
A 1999 re-release of a 1980's underground favorite. However, the name of this CD ought to tip anyone off to it's worth. Impaler were early splatter metal, taking their image from a mixture of WASP, Kiss, Alice Cooper and a butcher shop. Musically the band was more punk in nature than pure heavy metal. This is reinforced perhaps by the bands cover of the Iggy & the Stooges classic "Search & Destroy." The production on this album is pretty thin, although apparently this disc was re-mastered, so I can't even imagine what the original release sounded like. Also, despite having ten songs, this CD barely clocks in at 30 minutes long. I have EP's that are longer. "If We Had Brains..." was released as part of a box set called "Combat Boot Camp" which also included Dark Angel's "Leave Scars," Agent Steel's "Mad Locust Rising", Possessed's "Seven Churches," and a killer compilation also called "Combat Boot Camp." "If We Had Brains" is probably not a CD I would have bought on it's own, but since it came as part of the box set, I am going to hang onto it.
Impaler - It Won't Die (Root Of All Evil Records) 1998
1. "Goblin Queen"
(2:42)
2. "Viva Santo (Santo Vs. The World)" (2:48)
3. "It Won't Die" (3:19)
4. "Monster Maker" (2:56)
5. "Graverobbers From Outer Space" (2:50)
6. "King Cadaver" (2:47)
7. "Meat Wagon" (2:32)
8. "Alice And Ozzy" (2:57)
9. "Black Leather Monster" (3:04)
10. "Shock Rock 2000" (2:31)
BONUS TRACKS
11. "Welcome To My Darkside" (2:19)
12. "Insidious Seduction" (2:58)
13. "Too Young To Die" (3:36)
14. "Meet Your Maker" (3:25)
Impaler's "It Won't Die" is chock full of ghostly, punk influenced, somewhat-thrashy street metal. The songs are catchy and energetic, although not overly complex. As might be expected, the lyrics are of the b-grade horror movie variety, with particular favor given to goblins and zombies. "Alice and Ozzy" pays homage to two guys that are a huge influence on this band. Tracks 11-12 are from the "Meatwagon" demo and tracks 13-14 are from an unreleased demo from 1992.