Album Review: Lawnmower Deth - Blunt Cutters
Reviewed by Matthew Williams
Here it is folks, the album that all Lawnmower Deth fans of a certain age, never, ever imagined would happen but it is has finally arrived and 'Blunt Cutters' is a bit of a masterpiece, full of witty, catchy songs with thrashtastic riffs. In fact, it’s a proper headbanger!
I’ll confess from the off, that I’m a MASSIVE Lawnmower Deth fan, from the first time I saw them bounce onto the stage at Nottingham Trent Polytechnic at the Midsummer Night Hoe Down in July 1990. Their energy, crazy lyrics, heavy thrash riffs and comedic stage presence, had me instantly hooked, and lead me to see them many times before they eventually split up in 1994.
It almost feels like a piece of unfinished business, as their 1993 album 'Billy', didn’t quite hit the heights of its predecessors, but 'Blunt Cutters' has captured the essence of '“Ooh Crikey, It’s… Lawnmower Deth' as opening track 'Into The Pit' will definitely resonate with older fans, “Geriatrics into the pit, you wish you could still lose your shit”. They know their audience well this lot, because they are of a similar age themselves.
I was immensely jealous of the people who got to see the first comeback show in 2008 supporting Bullet for My Valentine, but was front and centre on the barrier for their triumphant return on 5th June 2009 at the Woughton Centre in Milton Keynes, two weeks before they made an appearance at Download Festival. Several gigs followed, Damnation, Bloodstock, more Download appearances, Xmas party nights in Nottingham and London, and it has all been leading up to this moment. Their live gigs are a fun-filled treat, as you never know what’s going to happen next, Satan’s Trampoline anyone, and give a chance for old timers to sing the songs of their youth, but now, its backed up with 18 new songs of equal importance for a whole new audience to embrace.
This isn’t just a case of a band going through the motions trying to recapture their youth, these songs are laden with fast and furious thrash riffs, delivered by guitarists Paddy and Steve, backed up by some excellent bass playing from Chris and accompanied by Pete’s very distinctive vocal style. There are some absolute belters on here, 'Now He’s a Priest', 'Raise Your Snails' and 'Deth! Maim! Kill!' are all as fast and heavy as anything you’ll hear all year, and with Chris Billam pounding out the rhythm on the drums, these songs will set the “middle aged moshers” into a frenzy, if their bodies allow!
They haven’t forgotten how to write a catchy song either, as I can’t stop signing 'Bastard Squad' whilst embracing their past, with short, fast, energetic snippets of pure heavy metal joy that are 'Swarfega' , 'Christ Options' and 'Goodnight, Bob'. The songs 'Blunt Cutters' and 'Space Herpes' show that they haven’t lost their comedic appeal either, as the lyrics will make you howl with laughter, and the obvious poking fun at social media influencers on 'Nothing but Noise' is right on point for this current generation, as “Obsessive compulsion promoting self-worth” is an excellent opening salvo for a superbly crafted song. The band have also embraced their middle aged lifestyles with the epic ranting on 'Power Bagging' because who doesn’t love a “special buy” whilst “shopping in hell”, let’s face it, we’ve all been there.
'Blunt Cutters' may have been years in the making, but it’s been damn worth the wait. The album is full of the expected heavy metal madness that we’ve come to love and expect from the band and there are plenty of new hit songs that will entertain the masses when they next appear on stages across the land, and I’ll be front and centre once again.
Watch out Grandma, here comes a Blunt Cuttered Lawnmower.
