Visions: Motörhead – God Save The Queen

So today’s the day of our Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It’s also my second wedding anniversary!

Enough about my personal life though. Here’s some things you need to know about Motörhead’s cover of one of the Sex Pistols’ biggest hits.

1. I’d wager it’s better than the Pistols' original. It certainly rocks more.

2. They bothered to make a video for it. And it’s quality, as they perform on a flotilla around ol’ London town.

3. Lemmy. Without a beard! But still the coolest frontman you’ve ever seen.

4. Yep, definitely better than the original.

But that’s my opinion. You can weigh in with your two pennies below. Once you’ve watched the video, that is. It’ll only take around three minutes of your time and it’s more fun that the day’s celebrations, that’s for sure.

Peter Clegg

Visions: Primus - Lee Van Cleef

It feels like ages ago since Primus released 'Green Naughahyde', their first album in 11 years. At last, however, they have released an official video for the song 'Lee Van Cleef', which asks the eternal question burning on Les Claypool's mind - whatever happened to Lee Van Cleef? The question was apparently born out of Claypool's curiosity as to what became of the late Van Cleef, against the clamour for living legend Clint Eastwood, whom he starred alongside in some of the great Western movies in years gone by, including starring the villainous Angel Eyes in 'The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly'.

The answer apparently lies here. You see, if you watch 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' right through to the end credits, you'll see Angel Eyes reincarnated as a zombie. Apparently.

Peter Clegg

Steak Number Eight - Dickhead

This is one of the most fun videos I've come across in a while. Not quite the most bonkers, but still. This delightfully titled track from sludgy Belgian rockers Steak Number Eight has come to my attention as these guys have received some kind press attention in the UK through one or two metal publications – although when you're doing videos like this in this day and age you're bound to get noticed.

It features a bunch of animal mascots pursuing a heinous banana who seems intent on pranking his chasers as a means of escape. That includes slinging turds at them. The mucky pup. In any event, it's a chuckle and certainly one that keeps your attention. The lyrics are slightly brainless but there's an undeniable quality to the song thanks to its riffage which I feel improves as the song progresses towards its final moments.

I must say as well, it's really hard to believe that this band has an average age of just 18! Lyrics to this song aside, they sound really mature for their age, a notion I haven't had since I first clapped ears on Decapitated in 2002. You're sure to be hearing more about these guys in future.

More info on the band can be found at their official site.

Peter Clegg

Saint Vitus - Let Them Fall

The only video I can recall ever getting round to watching of Saint Vitus was on a reissue of their seminal album 'V', which featured grainy black and white footage of Vitus playing at The Palm Springs Community Centre in 1986. 'V' happened to be the last Vitus album that featured Scott 'Wino' Weinrich on vocals, until this year with the recent release of comeback album 'Lillie: F-65'. Those ever supportive chaps at Scion A/V have gone as far to put out a video for the album's opening track 'Let Them Fall'.

Directed by Michael Panduro of Siegfried Productions (who has shot vids for Cephalic Carnage and Rotten Sound among others), it's a bit of a strange one. It's basically a lot of people apparently in some sort of agony or screaming at the sky, with no sign of the band at all. That said, the song itself isn't half bad, with Wino's signature vocals over the top of Dave Chandler riffs again! I've not yet heard 'Lillie: F-65' in full but this song is a good omen of what to expect from the return of one of doom metal's overlords.

'Lillie: F-65' is out now on Season of Mist records.

Peter Clegg

Visions: Flayed Disciple - The Shrine of Dahmer (NSFW)

The serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer isn't exactly new ground for metal artists to cover - Japanese stoner boogie overlords Church of Misery didn't miss the opportunity to add him to the list of killers they've based songs on, and grind legends Macabre had a whole album on him ('Everybody do the Dahmer!'). Even so, it hasn't stopped Flayed Disciple from tackling the subject of Dahmer head on. More so, they've only gone and created a downright nasty video to accompany it - plenty of shaky camera movement and grisly imagery make this an assault of depravity, occasionally cutting away to shots of the band, who pummel away at their instruments while their vocalists emits agonized brutal howls doing his best Chris Barnes impression (visually).

In all seriousness, we recommend you check out said video, after the jump, obviously. Flayed Disciple have been one of the leading lights of the UK extreme metal underground for a while now and their debut album 'Death Hammer' is released on May 28. On this evidence, they're going to tear the scene a new one.

Peter Clegg

Visions: Municipal Waste - The Fatal Feast (NSFW)

I'm by and large a big fan of Municipal Waste, having been a big part of satiating my wish for thrash to be the in thing in my lifetime - I missed the original wave as I was blissfully unaware, due to young age, of the effect this style of music was to have on my neck one day. I've been quick to obtain their albums upon release and have enjoyed them all right up to 'Massive Aggressive', which was still a great album even if not quite on a par with the two albums that preceded it.

The 'Waste are back with 'The Fatal Feast' and the title track is the inspiration for a brilliantly and typically over the top video from the Richmond crew, as they engorge their way through a space vessel's crew and its rescue team. The track itself surprised me at first with its more melodic vocals - but its no less thrashy and old school and it certainly picks up a gear at the right time. Their bloodlust is seemingly insatiable and hence, its every bit the reason you should probably not let your boss catch you watching this. As comical as it is, there's always plenty of blood to be spilled in Municipal Waste's world, and they're not holding back here. After the jump.

Peter Clegg 

Visions: Gurt - Dudes With Beards With Cats

In what has to be one of most perplexing yet original sludge metal videos yet, London sludge metal crew Gurt have come up with an appropriate DIY video for their new track 'Dudes with Beards with Cats', taken from the soon to be released split 7" with fellow UK heavies Dopefight (available here). Sandwiched between a slight unnerving sequence of meowing cats as the cameraperson shuffles into and out of the house is a sequence of mainly still images of cats, some content, some happy, some pretty miffed, the occasional unreal cat, and the occasional scowler/roarer, and some with dudes and dudettes, some with, some without beards. It's a boss track from the Gurt lads and hopefully the sign of more quality stuff from them.

On a side note, hasn't UK stoner/sludge/doom had a cracking 2012 so far? Let's hope it stays that way!

Peter Clegg

Visions: Corrosion of Conformity - Psychic Vampire

The new Corrosion of Conformity video is like watching paint dry.

Just kidding. Or maybe not.

It's just a performance video but I'm digging the backdrop effects even if they don't contribute greatly to a video than doesn't greatly add to what is a cracking song from a cracking album. Scion A/V's last couple of videos haven't been that entertaining to previously - the Weedeater one for 'Mancoon/Turkey Warlock' was entertaining as hell. I just wish they could all live up to that standard.

Still, if you want anyone to do a performance vid, there ain't many who do it better than CoC.

Peter Clegg

Visions: The Bendal Interlude – Odourama (NSFW)

Liverpool hasn't been short on top quality bands of late, with acts like SSS, Voorhees, Lifeless, Iron Witch and The Bendal Interlude all coming up with the goods over the year. All of them know how to play nasty too when required, and the chaps in The Bendal Interlude have certainly delivered a video nasty here in the form of 'Odourama', taken from their forthcoming EP of the same name. The video itself has a real 90's feel to it – maybe it's the way it's shot that does it for me – and its mired in a mixture of jiggery pokery and sickening sights. Crafted from the twisted genius that is Tom Lee Rutter at Carnie Film Productions, prepare to be disgusted and abhorred at the sights you're about to see – while grooving out to a thoroughly righteous, heavy stoner metal jam. And yes, that is an NSFW label I'm using. It's not the most shocking, just proper graphic. If you like that sort of thing. Which you obviously do. After the jump.

Peter Clegg

Visions: Mark Lanegan Band - The Gravedigger's Song

Circumstances did not allow me to be able to go and catch Mark Lanegan on his recent UK tour, something which I regret for not having discovered it sooner. Nonetheless, he and his band have at least provided some (dis)comfort in the form of the new video for new album 'Blues Funeral's opening track, 'The Gravedigger's Song'. Right from the off, I felt a tinge of unease. Directed by Alistair Legrand and produced by Jack Richardson, this haunting bluesy number gets a befitting clip. Set in a house filled with ghosts, full of ghostly women and children staring blankly into your soul, often from nowhere, amongst other slightly grisly images of blood, taxidermy, and generally all things dark. Its a loving tribute to old-school horror films and certainly one of the more capitivating videos I've watched recently. Check it out above and indulge yourself in Legrand's mildly disturbing vision.

Peter Clegg

Visions: Wormrot - Breed to Breed

We’ve had a couple of brief video clips from grind overlords-in-waiting Wormrot in the past, but nothing on a truly professional scale. Until now. That’s because Singapore’s finest have now got a befitting video for ‘Breed to Breed’, taken from the ‘Noise’ EP that was released for free last year

The video’s concept is one I still haven’t fully got my head around, but it features a young lady placed a video tape into a TV/video combo, then staring somewhat blankly at the three figures in boiler suits with monitors for heads, as the lyrics to the song flash up on the TV. Occasionally it cuts to their faces seen on the three figures, partially hidden by bunny masks, screaming along to the words. Yep, I just tried to describe that video and quite possibly failed to do it justice. Its pretty much a mindjolt. Still, at just over a minute long, its still a cracking video, so all that is really necessary is to turn the volume up loud and let the song blow your head clean off. Just try not to blink – 62 seconds isn’t a long time.

Peter Clegg

Visions: Van Halen - Tattoo

So this video has been around a while now, but that's not going to stop me discussing it. It beats a far cry from other vids that I've covered in previous posts, in so much that its just a performance video. But if you ever needed reminding of Van Halen's effortless cool and swagger, 'Tattoo' will leave a permanent mark.

David Lee Roth might have kept the masses waiting for this moment for some time, but from the moment he appears, even wearing a flat cap and devoid of the long blond hair of the golden days, he still has a flamboyant streak in his fancy footwork and suave moves. It feels just like a Van Halen vid from the 70s and 80s, with Eddie Van Halen occasionally leaning round to look into the camera singing 'Tattoo, tattoo' with a beaming smile. The feelgood factor is definitely back.

One listen to 'Tattoo' and you'll be hooked. The chorus is real catchy and you'll probably be back for more. Just drop the sceptic in you. I went out and got the new album, 'A Different Kind of Truth', just last week. I hadn't cared much before but maybe, just maybe, the good times are back.

Peter Clegg

Visions: Red Fang - Hank is Dead

The first thirty seconds of this video for 'Hank is Dead' are ominous. Why are three men standing naked in the shower? And why are they giving each other acknowledging looks? It's rather worrying. YouTube, I didn't sign up for this! Thankfully, the two on the left are delivering an invitation to an air guitar battle to this very song. And over the remainder of the vid, there's plenty air widdling, high kicks and poses from everybody wanting to be a part of Red Fang.

I wouldn't say this is their best video - 'Wires' takes that crown - but its still an incredible song from one of the best new rock bands around. Ask me to choose between these and the Black Spiders and I honestly would be unable.to choose. We need more of this sort of rock 'n roll. It's loud, dangerous, ugly and raucous, exactly as it should be. It's for those reasons why we exist, and why proper rock remains well and truly alive.

Peter Clegg

10,000 hits!

Wowzers! We passed 10,000 hits for the site, and in just under nine months! I never actually thought we'd hit the 10,000 mark so quickly. Thanks to everyone who's ever visited and supported We Must Obey! As a show of my appreciation, here's some High on Fire. Stay heavy!

Peter Clegg

High on Fire - 10,000 Years

Visions: Mastodon - Dry Bone Valley

The last few 'Visions' posts, bar the Venom clip which was just buffoonery, seem to have focused on videos with some crazy ass scheme that simply has you asking what the directors of each were on when they made them. This next one is no different. I'm not even going to attempt to explain the meaning behind the numerous masks, symbols, colours and the Asian lady that fly out of the screen over the course of this song. All I know is that a) this would've been cool in 3D, and b) the YouTube haters are fools. Better this than a straightforward performance vid.

Whatever the meaning behind the imagery, Mastodon's 'Dry Bone Valley', taken from 'The Hunter', is another incredible video from these guys and an impressive song all the same, from an album that continues to get better with every listen.

Peter Clegg

Visions: Venom on Sky Monsters of Rock, 1985

Bands these days. So clean cut, not a hair out of place, wouldn't say boo to a ghost. Heck, you might get the odd f-word here and the middle finger there, but only if they're trying too hard to be bad ass.

Things were a lot different back in 1985, when Geordie black metal pioneers Venom rolled onto the set of the Sky Monsters of Rock Show. For anyone who hasn't seen it, fan or not, this is a must see. Prepare yourself for one of the most hilarious interviews ever as host Amanda Reddington quickly loses control of the set, as Cronos, Mantas and Abaddon overwhelm her and the show with their sheer buffoonery. Sure they had a whole Satan shtick going on, but that didn't stop them from being three lads from Newcastle-upon-Tyne out to have a laugh. It seems like this was a lab explosion waiting to happen. Proof that the 80's was possibly music's greatest time ever, rich was its diversity and evolution. There'll never be another band like Venom wreaking havoc in quite the same fashion.

But enough lamenting the downfall of the mainstream public's tastes, enjoy some proper telly gold!

Peter Clegg

Visions: Cannabis Corpse - Where The Kind Lives

Speaking of fucked-up acid trips, Cannabis Corpse are no strangers to the leaf and their latest video, for ‘Where the Kind Lives’, is hilariously overboard as you can get. Two stoners are getting high, then they see a light outside. One of them walks to the light, gets beamed up, and is subject to all kinds of probing by some crazed circle-pitting bud creatures. Oh and look, a bong rocket!

I shouldn’t keep spoiling it, its got to be seen to be believed. It was produced by The Gift Media Group, and they have done a fantastic job in bringing to life Cannabis Corpse’s weedy world in this highly entertaining video, taken from Corpse’s reefer-soaked ode to old-school death metal, ‘Beneath Grow Lights Thou Shalt Rise’. Worship!

Peter Clegg

Visions: Trash Talk - Slander

For what was only a five track EP, Trash Talk's 'Awake' has certainly spawned a few videos. Both previous vids were as punk as today's standards get - the free running of the title track, and the riot/uprising scenes of 'Burn Alive'. The video for 'Slander' takes a different tack. This is a gleefully over the top animated video, produced by Creature Skateboards with illustration from Jay Howell and directed and animated by Jim Dirschberger.

The premise is essentially one fucked up acid trip, and its consequences. Enjoy!

Peter Clegg

Visions: Every Time I Die - Underwater Bimbos from Outer Space

 

Every Time I Die are nothing if not consistent. They successfully leaped from their original metalcore leanings to the hardcore party rock style that’s made them the success they are today. Recently, they unleashed their latest video, ‘Underwater Bimbos from Outer Space’, which is set to appear on their new album ‘Ex Lives’. The song itself is a nice mix of present ETID and past ETID – there’s a nice meaty breakdown at the end and the song as a whole is a complete rager. The video for the song is a mix of live footage and some truly disturbing clips taken from old newsreels and no doubt strange archive footage. Try not to get taken in too much by that and instead, enjoy the song for what it is. It’s great to have them back.

‘Underwater Bimbos from Outer Space’ is taken from the forthcoming album ‘Ex Lives’, due out on Epitaph on Monday March 6^th. The video is after the jump.

Peter Clegg

Christmas is coming...

And I honestly could care less. OK, yes, I'm looking forward to it for my twins as its their first one, and no doubt I'll enjoy the actual occasion.

But the run-up? Phhhhhhh. Roll on the 25th.

Until then, expect occasional antipathy. Here's CKY's 'Santa's Coming'. You'd better be nice...

Peter Clegg