W.A.S.P. - Dying For The World

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Sanctuary Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 50:38:00

What is it that we expect from well known artists such as W.A.S.P.? Do we expect more of the same or do we want something different? Long standing artists usually thrive on stereotypical albums because they provide an easy reference point for the listener but also an easy get-out for the artist who doesn't wish to differ their sound. In the case of W.A.S.P., you should already know they wouldn't change. And they haven't.

Naturally, W.A.S.P. have chosen to stick with the well-travelled metal that has been their signature for many a year now and Dying For The World embraces all the influences that Blackie Lawless (v/b) and co have created over the last 20 years. List everything you'd expect from W.A.S.P.: egregious lyrics, aggressive attitude, pounding heavy metal music. And Blackie, of course - W.A.S.P. wouldn't be if it wasn't for Blackie. It's all here. And yes, they're angry, taut, and fired up over the World Trade Centre and here is Blackie's outlet for this tragedy including the opener "Shadow Man," the livid "Hell For Eternity," the vociferous "Stone Cold Killers," and the inspirational "Hallowed Ground" - a tribute to those that lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Personally I like it when the songs are aggressive because I think this is when Blackie is in his element and one of the proponents of this is the "is there such a word as" "Revengance (Be Thy Name)." Aggression is not the only element to the album because there are some hauntingly wonderful experiences to be had on this album like "Black Bone Torso" (an intro for "Hell For Eternity") and "Trail Of Tears."

Dying For The World encapsulates W.A.S.P.'s (or Blackie's) world, political, and religious views into one album and wraps this up with solid W.A.S.P. music. It's difficult to be original in writing about W.A.S.P.'s music because it's not like they've changed that much. When you compare it to classic albums then there's little difference although there are some production hiccups - in particular the drum recordings.

In the past, W.A.S.P. have been more controversial but Dying For The World always returns to the World Trade Centre attack so this album has a different focus than past albums. Dying For The World is a fairly simple and effective W.A.S.P. album that I enjoyed less than Unholy Terror but enjoyed nonetheless. A bit of W.A.S.P. is good every now and again.

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]

Tracklisting:
Shadow Man / My Wicked Heart / Black Bone Torso / Hell For Eternity / Hallowed Ground / Revengence (Be Thy Name) / Trail Of Tears / Stone Cold Killers / Rubberman / Hallowed Ground (Acoustic)

Musicians:
Blackie Lawless - vocals
Chris Holmes - guitar
Mike Duda - bass
Stet Howland - drums

Discography:
W.A.S.P. (1984)
The Last Command (1985)
Inside The Electric Circus (1986)
Live ... In The Raw (1987)
The Headless Children (1989)
The Crimson Idol (1992)
First Blood ... Last Cuts (1993)
Still Not Black Enough (1995)
Kill, Fuck, Die (1997)
Double Live Assassins (1998)
Helldorado (1999)
The Sting (2000)
Unholy Terror (2001)
Dying For The World (2002)
The Neon God: Part 1 - The Rise (2004)
The Neon God: Part 2 - The Demise (2004)
Dominator (2007)
Babylon (2009)
Golgotha (2015)
Reidolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol) (2018)

Genre: Traditional Metal

Origin US

Added: March 29th 2005
Reviewer: Gary Carson
Score:
Artist website: www.waspnation.com
Hits: 2765
Language: english