Austrian Death Machine

Double Brutal

[2/5]



We’re all for inside jokes, but Double Brutal has to be the most unnecessary release of 2009. When As I Lay Dying frontman Tim Lambesis released Total Brutal–the first album from his Arnold Schwarzenegger-inspired metal act Austrian Death Machine–last year, he proved he had a healthy sense of humor. However the realization that Lambesis is trying to turn ADM into a real band is what’s really laughable. Like Total Brutal, this two-disc collection is teeming with competently performed metal songs based on the actor’s films and packed with plenty of soundbites from Ahnuld himself (aka one of Lambesis’ friends doing a convincing imitation). While the results are predictable, it is admittedly difficult to deny the merits of the playing here (the album features performances from members of Unearth, Living Sacrifice and… Mr. Big?) and songs like “Come On Cohaagen, Give Deez People Ehyar” and “Conan What Is Best In Life” are brutal for a band that don’t seem to take themselves seriously. Unfortunately inexplicable covers of Megadeth and Agnostic Front ultimately ruin any credibility the musicianship may have gained. Dude, you can sample Schwarzenegger as much as you want, but inserting an arpeggiated solo into the end of the Misfits’ “I Turned Into A Martian” is pure sacrilege. Hopefully Lambesis soon turns his focus back to As I Lay Dying and Austrian Death Machine won’t be baaack. (METAL BLADE) Jonah Bayer



GO DOWNLOAD: “Come On Cohaagen, Give Deez People Ehyar”