AIDS Wolf Albums (4)
'Dustin' off the Sphynx'
Release Date 9/8/2009
Tracks 11
Label Skin Graft
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Montreal's AIDS Wolf return to making full-length releases after an EP, the psychotic Lovvers LP, Clash of the Life-Force Warriors, and their split with Athletic Automaton. Anyone familiar with AIDS Wolf's particular brand of noise has an idea of what to expect. For the uninitiated or traumatized, Cities of Glass (a paraphrase on Paul Auster's City of Glass? Who knows?) is more extreme than anything this quartet -- two guitars, drums, and completely flip-to-wig city warbling and screaming from vocalist Claudia Deluxx -- have issued before. A tad more rhythmic than Wolf Eyes, more mental than the Double Leopards, less goodwill-oriented than Sunburned Hand of the Man -- and far less musical -- these ten "songs" are drenched in aggression, hate, nihilism, and not much else. In other words, they sound a little bit like a less structured, less metallic version of the earliest incarnation of White Zombie (the band that made Psycho-Head Blowout and Soul Crusher). That's fine, an endurance listening test every once in a while is good for the soul and all, but it does beg the question as to who actually likes this brand of self-consciously mischievous aural sadism. Sometimes it's so full of its own self-indulgence and deliberate extremism it feels almost like evil. That said, AIDS Wolf tours internationally so someone must dig them -- even if it's for the spectacle. Once upon a time the Sex Pistols pissed people off, so did Germs, Black Flag, Crass, and Throbbing Gristle, to name a few. This is far more infantile; buying a record like this strictly for pleasure is almost scary. For what it is, it works in spades: playing this at loud volume (the only way to play it really) will guarantee hostile looks from neighbors and visits from the local police and perhaps mental health inspectors. Go for it. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
'Clash of the Life-Force Warriors'
Release Date 11/14/2006
Tracks 10
Label Skin Graft
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
While it's true that AIDS Wolf and Athletic Automaton have been and remain two separate bands, the word "versus" in this set is slightly misleading. Clash of the Life-Force Warriors is basically both bands playing with one another in various configurations. People switched sides, participated partially in places, etc. -- it's a real mess. To add to the confusion there are supposedly some Athletic Automaton "songs" and some AIDS Wolf "songs" -- but there are far more Life-Force Warriors "songs." That word "song" is in quotation marks because it would be fun to see if either group or both together could ever pull off the truly amazing feat of repeating any of these performances. It hardly matters, because this is one messed-up, freaked-out record, full of buzzsaw fuzz guitar, controlled and whacked-out noise, and skittering drums that add to the trancelike feel of many of the minutes here. The crazy voice of singer Special Deluxe (who sounds like a hysterical version of Niagara from Destroy All Monsters) is featured on most tunes here, including "Letter to Al Johnson," "Tears & Blowjob," and "Dew Covered Plumage." Get the idea? Yeah, it's way weird -- weirder and noisier than Sonic Youth and Double Leopards put together and wilder than the Sunburned Hand of the Man. But it all works somehow, as chaotic, noisy, and acid-damaged as it is. This is one that has to be heard to be believed, but once encountered cannot ever be forgotten -- even in your worst nightmares. The artwork on the CD booklet is amazing, but it also appears on the vinyl LP, which qualifies as a genuine art object. Clash of the Life-Force Warriors is magnificent burned-out fun. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
