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Location: Beating GNR at DDR and keying Axl's new car
Posts: 48,216
Dan Lilker Is the Unsung Metal God of Metal
For those of you who don't know, Dan Lilker cofounded Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, Stromtroopers of Death, and when he got tired of thrash, formed Brutal Truth. How many dudes are involved in three classic bands in the genre they helped found, and then go on to be in one of the most influential bands in an entirely different genre? Like, almost no one.
Judging by his other numerous side projects that are relatively unknown, he's a manimal who just can't sit still. I think he might be the less avant garde version of Justin Broadrick (early Napalm Death, Godflesh, and Jesu, just to name a few). Dan has been/is in such groups as Venomous Concept (only listened to one song, but that was a pretty ****ing awesome modern hardcore song), Nun****Ritual (who don't seem to get much love on the Metal Archives, but apparently they play black/doom metal, so I'm intrigued), Crucifist, Blurred, and a bunch of others.
Brutal Truth are making music again, and at least their first album after reforming is pretty sweet. They are committed to making grindcore that is unlistenable for more than just speed and abrasiveness, and I think that's pretty wizard, and I love that the man just isn't content to sit on his laurels and live off his considerable cult reputation. If more old school bands -- *cough*SlayerMetallicaMegadeth*cough* -- would grow a pair and venture beyond their paycheck bands to do something different, then they might still be relevant and not embarrassing.
Anyone else love Dan Lilker?
He only played on Anthrax's two demos, debut album, and two songs from their followup EP -- both of which seemed to have been cut from the final release. While their later work somewhat eclipsed Anthrax's early stuff, I love that Dan's beginning's were OG American speed metal, before it became "cool" to play "uncool" metal. Gives him the metal equivalent of street cred.
Apparently he got booted from the band because Neil Turban (Anthrax's vocalist at the time) didn't like him, and his bandmates would rather lose a bassist than a singer. Possibly for the best though, since he didn't have to be associated with Anthrax's later, crap albums.
Then he formed Nuclear Assault, while also getting back together with Scott Ian and Charlie Benante for SOD. Both bands had some tasty hardcore punk influence.
Then came mother****ing Brutal Truth. First album, Extreme Conditions Demand Extreme Responses, was some ugly, old school death/grind.
Second album, Need to Control, a more precise, crushing affair, with a heavier, less noisy production that really gave it weight.
And I love how both albums start with slower, mid-paced songs that are quasi-doom.
Last full-length before breaking up was a weird one. Chaotic, experimental, challenging, and with a muddy production that's kind of alienating on first listen, but if you give it a shot it just might become your fav BT album. No other grind album really sounds anything like it.
And yet sometimes they throw an almost rock'n'roll groove into a song that almost makes it accessible, seemingly just to **** with you. Also exposes the vocalist's Southern accent.
Then the band broke up, came back, and dropped this niceness, Evolution Through Revolution. It tricks you into thinking it's more traditional grind, but it's dissonant riffs make it quasi-unlistenable. ****ing sweet.
Haven't listened to their followup, and I've reached the limits for Youtube vids anyway, so I'll sign off. Anyone else love Dan Lilker?
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Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien
There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.
Last edited by The Batlord; 04-27-2015 at 02:58 PM.
I remember reading Sound of the Beast many years back and it gave much praise to Dan Lilker for all the reasons listed above. Love Nuclear Assault, love S.O.D., Lilker is an unstoppable musician, grit and honesty.
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Originally Posted by Bobbycob
There's 3 reason why the Rolling Stones are better. I'm going to list them here. 1. Jimi Hendrix from Rolling Stones was a better guitarist then Jimmy Page 2. The bassist from Rolling Stones isn't dead 3. Rolling Stobes wrote Stairway to Heaven and The Ocean so we all know they are superior here.
Location: Beating GNR at DDR and keying Axl's new car
Posts: 48,216
It's funny, he never quite had a high profile classic album like Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, or Slayer, but a lot of the fame guys in those bands have nowadays is based on negativity: Metallica are douchebag sellouts, Anthrax to a lesser extent, Dave Mustaine sucks as well and he's a megadouche, and Slayer are likewise crap with a growing reputation over ****ing over Dave Lombardo. Not to mention Varg Vikernes.
Yet as far as I know, Dan Lilker has never had anyone say anything bad about him, and he languishes in obscurity. Possible connection? The Kardashian Effect?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien
There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.
I'd guess that Dan Lilker is the reason Dan Lilker's reputation is obscure. Really I know nothing about him beyond his music but if his music says anything about him I'd guess he doesn't give much of a piss about his public image. The Big Four are superstars and while I don't think it would be fair to say every member of those bands embraced it, I think it would be fair to say most of them didn't push that recognition away. Most members of Metallica, Mustaine, Kerry King, Scott Ian, those guys were all over the place, eating up magazine slots, documentaries, interviews, and sponsorships like candy. And for most of those dudes (excluding Metallica and Mustaine) I don't think their participation in mass media was negative, they're experienced guys, they know their ****, they have a lot to say and they've said a lot about the scene. Dan Lilker probably could have been one of those guys if he wanted to, if he had jumped at the same opportunities.
Not everyone is cut out for being a poster child, but he was certainly cut out for making rabid music, and thank **** for that.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbycob
There's 3 reason why the Rolling Stones are better. I'm going to list them here. 1. Jimi Hendrix from Rolling Stones was a better guitarist then Jimmy Page 2. The bassist from Rolling Stones isn't dead 3. Rolling Stobes wrote Stairway to Heaven and The Ocean so we all know they are superior here.
Location: Beating GNR at DDR and keying Axl's new car
Posts: 48,216
I can't say much bad about Scott Ian, other than making some **** music and having the worst goatee in history, but I did see him whine like a vagina in some thrash documentary about how thrash bands took grunge acts out on tour with them, but wouldn't get the favor returned. Like, dude, it was in no way to their benefit to take those groups out on tour with them, so what did you expect?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J.R.R. Tolkien
There is only one bright spot and that is the growing habit of disgruntled men of dynamiting factories and power-stations; I hope that, encouraged now as ‘patriotism’, may remain a habit! But it won’t do any good, if it is not universal.
My favorite lilker release would be Hemlock's "Lust for Fire". It's fuzzed out, mostly traditional black metal.
This was my favorite track from that release. I listened to it lots way back when, which, on reflection, helps explain why I find myself liking the black metal I like.
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Have mercy on the poor.
Last edited by hip hop bunny hop; 05-01-2015 at 04:08 PM.
Dan Lilker Is the Unsung Metal God of Metal
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