| Scumdogs of the Universe | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Gwar |
| Cover: | GwarScumdogs.jpg |
| Released: | January 8, 1990 |
| Recorded: | 1989 |
| Studio: | Mixed by Robert Feist at Conway Recording Studios |
| Length: | 51:55 |
| Label: | Metal Blade Records |
| Producer: | Ron Goudie, Hypo Luxa, Hermes Pan |
| Prev Title: | Hell-O |
| Prev Year: | 1988 |
| Next Title: | America Must Be Destroyed |
| Next Year: | 1992 |
Scumdogs of the Universe is the second album by American satirical heavy metal band Gwar. The album is their first album on Metal Blade Records and was released on January 8, 1990. To date, it is the band's best-selling album.
A deluxe 30th anniversary box set of Scumdogs was released in August 2020, with remixed and remastered audio by producer Ronan Chris Murphy, as well as an exclusive cassette containing rehearsal demos and previously unreleased tracks.[1] Those that pre-ordered the box set received a digital download of the remastered album on August 7, 2020, with the first single, "Maggots", being made publicly available the same day. The remaster saw a wide release on October 30, 2020.
As the title implies, it is a concept album about the Scumdogs' (Gwar) reign of terror on planet Earth. The song "Death Pod" explains exactly how they came to Earth to begin with. The production is very refined compared to the independent, rushed first attempt Hell-O. Gwar began to experiment with samples to some degree, e.g. in the song "Maggots".
The songs are more socially relevant in this album as well. Examples include "Slaughterama", which involves Gwar killing hippies and nazi-skinheads in a game show-style fashion and the opening track, "The Salaminizer", in which the first verse was inspired by/based on "Gangsta, Gangsta", a song by the breakthrough rap group N.W.A. Other references include history Vlad the Impaler and Lovecraft mythology, Horror of Yig. Most of the album is centered on twisted jokes about insane medical practices and sexual perversion.
This album is viewed by many of Gwar's fans, as well as Gwar themselves, as their ultimate masterpiece. The band plays more songs from Scumdogs than any other album. "Sick of You" is the most frequently played song in concert, generally the grand finale.
This is the first Gwar album on which more than two people sing lead (Hell-O had Oderus Urungus and Techno Destructo): "Slaughterama" features Sleazy P. Martini, Sexecutioner sings his namesake song, and the album's CD exclusive closer, "Cool Place To Park", debuts bassist Beefcake the Mighty as a vocalist. All other songs feature Oderus.
Danielle Stampe (Slymenstra Hymen), Michael Derks (Balsac the Jaws of Death), Chuck Varga (Sexecutioner), and Brad Roberts (Jizmak Da Gusha) make their debuts on this album.
In 2016, Scumdogs of the Universe was ranked #90 on Loudwire's Top 90 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1990s lists.[2]
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