W.A.S.P. continue to prove that a band can continue creating powerful music. The shocking songs and raw-meat, blood-and-guts stage show of W.A.S.P.'s early-1980s debut are integral to the band's history, but they are just that. History.
Blackie Lawless isn't afraid to tackle titillating and disturbing aspects of sex and violence and other controversial topics in W.A.S.P.'s music, but the vocalist/guitarist/bassist/songwriter often isn't given proper credit for evolving musically over the band's almost 20-year career. Lawless is concerned over much of what he sees in the world in 2001, and along with lead guitarist Chris Holmes, bassist Mike Duda and drummer Stet Howland, he has created the dark and brutal new album, Unholy Terror. It's scheduled for U.S. and European release on Metal-Is Records in April 2001. "Unholy Terror deals with socio, religious and political hypocrisy. I had a fundamentalist Christian upbringing and I grew up seeing the world through a very different pair of eyes. This album attempts to draw attention to those hypocritical points of view," Lawless explained. "This record in no way is intended to be blasphemous or an attack on religion, but specifically man's interpretation of what they believe the Bible says." Regarding the song "Charisma" Lawless explains: "There's a dark side of charisma that mesmerizes all of us when we look at the world figures who possess that dark gift. In the song there's a line that goes 'Preaching fear and using religion with the Bible and Koran.' Oftentimes organized religions wield a mighty power over their congregations in the name of God." Tracks include: "Hate To Love Me," "Wasted White Boys," "Charisma," "Who Slayed Baby Jane?" "Evermore," "Let It Roar," "Euphoria," "Raven Heart" and "Loco-motive Man." Lawless says: "The lyrics of 'Loco-motive Man' are an open letter, written by a person who is describing what it is they are about to do and why. It's about someone who is unloved and starved for attention and is going to their school with the intention of murder-suicide. Hopefully if enough attention is brought to the idea of 'why' it happens maybe more of it could be prevented." W.A.S.P. has been targeted for ridicule and censorship by many of these hypocritical, self-righteous, self-appointed guardians of so-called morality from the very beginning of its career. The notorious PMRC (Parents' Music
Resource Center) Senate hearings in the mid-1980s targeted many "objectionable" rock 'n' roll acts (specifically W.A.S.P.) with the goal -- no matter what its supporters claimed -- of censorship. One of the most infamous examples of rock 'n' roll allegedly destined to destroy the republic at least and all of Western civilization at worst was W.A.S.P.'s single "Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)." The provocative sleeve photo for the single was what really frightened the defenders of the faith. Lawless is used to taking shots from the conservative. Lawless certainly isn't a man who will allow himself to be backed into a corner, and he comes out fighting fiercely on Unholy Terror. W.A.S.P. takes a provocative lyrical approach on the album, and it's reinforced by the brain-pummelling music contained within.
Special thanks toThe Children Of Lawless© website, and to Death from The Children Of Lawless Yahoo Club for the info and images
