By the turn of the 1990s, New York City hardcore's flimsy juggling of punk and metal influences had taken an unquestionable turn toward the metal, and few bands embraced this development with as little post-punker's guilt as Sheer Terror. 1992's Thanks fer Nuthin' is a prime example, taking liberal license with every heavy metal trick that suits it (staccato picking, slow-as-molasses power chords, double kick drums) and going so far as to cover Jethro Tull's "Hymn 43"! With their more straightforward arrangements, the ultra ...
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By the turn of the 1990s, New York City hardcore's flimsy juggling of punk and metal influences had taken an unquestionable turn toward the metal, and few bands embraced this development with as little post-punker's guilt as Sheer Terror. 1992's Thanks fer Nuthin' is a prime example, taking liberal license with every heavy metal trick that suits it (staccato picking, slow-as-molasses power chords, double kick drums) and going so far as to cover Jethro Tull's "Hymn 43"! With their more straightforward arrangements, the ultra-confrontational "I, Spoiler" and the amusingly first-person-pooch narrative "Bulldog" tread more identifiably hardcore terrain. But even certifiable punk rock bursts like "Time Don't Heal a Thing" come off heavy as f*ck behind Mike Neuman's brick wall of guitars, and "Don't Hate Me Cause I'm Beautiful" and "Close My Eyes" feature some highly unusual harmonies and almost alt-rock dynamics. In fact, on the latter, even obdurate frontman Paul Bearer forgoes his characteristic, grumpy landlord's growl long enough to take a few stabs at melodic singing; but no particular style carries nearly as much weight in the end as his actual lyrics. Finding endless ways to disown ("Three Year Bitch"), deride ("Lulu Roman"), or outright destroy ("Yesterday's Sweetheart") the women he portrays, his reliable abusiveness and colorful choice of vocabulary rarely fail to entertain -- even when it's simply for shock value. As for Thanks fer Nuthin' as a whole -- sure it was entertaining, but not enough to convert too many new fans from outside the ever shrinking hardcore set to Sheer Terror's cause. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, Rovi
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