30 November 2023
Phil Anselmo is a man who lives for music. He has not lost his passion for music for years, and despite struggling with drug and alcohol problems and being hospitalized many times, he clings to his work with all his heart. As the vocalist of Pantera fame, he won’t have trouble throughout his life thanks to the income he earns from these albums, but yet it is admirable that he did not bow to the rules of the music industry out of greed for more money.
I’m a not a fan of bands like Down and Superjoint Ritual. However, especially Anselmo’s Eibon (black metal) project with Satyr and Fenriz and Arson Anthem (crust/metal) project with Eyehategod vocalist Mike Williams were the formations that excited me. Unfortunately, Eibon ended his short career with only one song. Arson Anthem, which they formed with Mike (who moved to Anselmo’s house after being homeless after Hurricane Katrina) upon listening to old hardcore albums until the morning, is one of his projects that came to an end with an EP and album. We can add a few other bands like Scour to the list.
Of course, Anselmo was not limited to the things mentioned above and opened a new path for himself with Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, which he said would be the most extreme thing he has ever done. The Illegals is the name of the trio consisting of thrash band Warbeast’s drummer Jose, Superjoint Ritual’s guitarist Marzi and bass guitarist Stephen. Although Phil performs vocals on the album, he owns all the lyrics and music.
Whether the music is as extreme as Anselmo says is a matter of debate, but it’s heavy, that’s for sure. In general, it can be told that this is his most Pantera influenced work. The album, which opens with Music Media Is My Whore, emphasizes what we mentioned at the beginning of the article, and is very intense. Almost all of the songs that follow will make those who want sledgehammer-like music excited.
To explain what the music sounds like: take very intense groove metal, add some sludge, and finally crossover elements like thrash, and you’re there. The most important feature of the songs is that each of them, without exception, has very pumped up intros. The song structures are close, but they also know how to spice it up with different attractions. The album has a complete structure that does not leave the listener unattended and that allows you to easily understand that you have moved on to the next song. It is a work that oozes metal from everywhere, including beautiful solos with ferocious and different tastes. I liked most Betrayed, Walk Through Exits Only and Bedridden, for which a video was shot. The closing song, Irrelevant Walls and Computer Screens, with 12-minute long duration sums up all the talents of the album.
The album’s lyrics are full of anger on par with the music. Anselmo calls us to collective awareness in Betrayed. In Irrelevant Walls.., he talks about what is happening in the world and asks who the real enemy is? What do you think?
We’ve been…
Betrayed…
Repulse!!
9/10
