For those who are under the mistaken impression that gimmicks will only take a band so far,
Gwar
has countered with its sixth full-length studio album,
Rag Na Rok
. None of the songs on this go-around sticks out as a new musical direction, but then again, music isn't what made this group famous. The title track is the most engaging, as it contains both consistently audible lyrics and a discernible melody. The song begins with a series of cheesy
Shakespeare
references, but they're all somehow tied back to the concept of death and conquest.
"Fire in the Loins"
is more of a mini-drama than a song, as a groupie captures one of the band members and tortures him for his misdeeds. Most of the other tracks are repetitive, trite, boring, and stupid. If there was any doubt,
is a purchase worthwhile for only the hardest of hardcore
fans. Fortunately for
, though, that's nearly all of them. ~ Kieran McCarthy