Goliath
Butcher Babies
Distributed by Century Media Records
Like an axe-wielding murderer, the Butcher Babies burst into the world of heavy metal with their debut album Goliath, released on July 9, 2013. The band got its name from a Plasmatics song, and cites Wendy O. Williams as one of its influences.
Fronted by former Playboy TV actresses Carla Harvey, who holds a degree in Mortuary Sciences and is a distant relative of Alice Cooper, and Heidi Shepherd, the band has gained a reputation for their intense and revealing performances which has led them to brand their style as ‘Slut Metal.’
And yet the metal band, also featuring guitarist Henry Flury, bassist Jason Klein, and drummer Chrissy Warner, showcase depth and talent on Goliath. The album largely revolves around the theme of the empowerment of outcasts, and puts its own personal touch by critiquing the lust for carnage and violence that the U.S. is believed to possess.
Songs such as “I Smell a Massacre” and “Grim Sleeper” demonstrate the merging of these two themes. The former plays off the idea of a child being perceived as evil by his parents for becoming everything that they vilified. This can be seen especially in the song’s hook “can’t stop the beast in me/It’s underneath my skin,” as well as in other lyrics, such as “your progeny becomes your enemy.” The band also draws on biblical allusions to hammer home the theme.
Throughout the album, both Shepherd and Harvey complement each other nicely, with Harvey’s quieter growls smoothly erupting into Shepherd’s unique and iconic scream, as seen especially on the slow and creepy “Gasoline,” and the industrial Nine Inch Nails-inspired “The Deathsurround.”
The band’s single, “Axe Wound,” which appeared on their eponymously named EP, is perhaps the best example of this though, with Shepherd’s screams often being used to transition between parts, as well as drop the tension in the song delivered by Harvey.
But, the pair showcase their diversity when they transition into the quieter parts of the album. “Grim Sleeper” demonstrates this as the pair begin the song with a quiet and haunting hook that flawlessly transitions into a heavy and powerful guitar and drum riff, that is brought back during the bridge of the song.
Flury and Warner themselves deliver powerful and heavy performances that complement Shepherd and Harvey’s vocals nicely, as seen during the album version of “Axe Wound.”
Klein also brings a strong performance to the album, and is heard especially on some of the later songs of the 11-track album, such as “The Mirror Never Lies” and the haunting and personal “In Denial,” which brings pain to the band’s seething rage.
Notably absent from the album though, are the other songs off the band’s EP, “Jesus Needs More Babies for his Warmachine,” “National Bloody Anthem,” and their first single, “Mr. Slowdeath.”
But overall, Goliath represents a solid debut album that delivers both musically and thematically.
The album also provides a nice foothold for the band to further diversify their sound, and potentially draw in more fans.
