Now Playing on the Groove Machine - Apocalypse Dudes

Tweet

Hailing from Nesodden, Norway, Turbonegro formed in 1989, playing a melding of punk, glam, and metal, or, what they call “Deathpunk” (their name translates roughly to “fast dark.”) The band rocks denim; no leather for these guys. Individually, they call themselves by names such as “Euroboy” (lead guitar,) Happy-Tom (bass,) Rune Rebellion (guitar,) etc, (in all, 18 musicians have called Turbonegro home at some point in their careers.) I’m listening to Apocalypse Dudes, the band’s 1998 album, their 4th studio record. Fronted by the late vocalist Henk von Helvete, the album is stuffed with snotty, high-energy, sometimes poppy, punk tunes with metal overtones that land somewhere between The Ramones and 80’s hardcore punk. It also marked Euroboy’s debut with the band. Musically, Turbonegro takes things seriously. They are tight, melodic, and like Bad Brains, can handle tempo changes with ease. Lyrically, songs such as “The Age of Pamparius” (about a pizzeria they worked at, and was used as the theme song to the TV show “Wildboyz,”) “Rock against Ass,” “Don’t say Motherf*cker, Motherf*cker,” and a copy of The Vikings’ “Good Head” keep tongue firmly planted in cheek, however. Not only is this a fun listen, but, produced by Pal Klaastad, Apocalypse Dudes SOUNDS great, a fact once pointed out sounding as such by none other than former Dead Kennedy’s frontman Jello Biafra during a rant about should who and who should not remix the Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables album for a reissue (he was pro-Klaastad, or, as he called him, “the guy that did Apocalypse Dudes.”) A damn fine punk record. R.I.P., Henk.