early two decades ago, the soundtrack of Heavy Metal set the movie-music world on its ear with an inventive assortment of rock 'n' roll tunes. These cues, contributed by such acts as Cheap Trick, Black Sabbath and Devo, enhanced the film with a mix of hard-hitting harmonies and, on at least a few occasions, touches of humor. The accompaniment to the long-awaited sequel Heavy Metal 2000--formerly known as Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.2--does the same, offering present-day listeners 18 riotous contemporary pieces.
The high-intensity "F.A.K.K. U" launches the album with an onslaught of squealing guitars and screaming voices. This scorching fusion remains prominent throughout the collection, especially on songs like Pantera's "Immortally Insane," System of a Down's "Storaged," Machine Head's "Alcoholocaust," Full Devil Jacket's "Green Iron Fist," Puya's "Tirale" and Coal Chamber's "Wishes." Sprinkled throughout the disc are a few toned-down but still forceful metal selections, such as "Rough Day" by Days of the New, "Infinity" by Queens of the Stone Age and "Hit Back" by Hate Dept. Meanwhile, musical bad boys Insane Clown Posse join with Twiztid to rap "Dirt Ball"; industrial legends KMFDM re-form as MDFMK to electrify "Missing Time"; and Billy Idol, who also voices one of the characters in the movie, performs the haunting "Buried Alive." The recording closes with the atypically atmospheric "The Dog's a Vapour" from Goth supergroup Bauhaus.
Heavy Metal 2000 is available with four different "collectible" covers--all by renowned artist Simon Bisley--with each variant presenting a slightly different array of stills within the liner notes. Listeners can choose a version with either explicit or edited lyrics. There is also a limited-edition version featuring a CD-ROM, which links to a special Web site showcasing exclusive videos and interviews.
An unrelenting, unforgiving assault
Few motion pictures succeed at intermingling science fiction with sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll better than the original Heavy Metal. Yet, while that film's blend of audio and animation is legendary, its anthology format required a diverse mixture of musical styles. Heavy Metal 2000 spotlights a single storyline, which calls for a soundtrack with more consistent characteristics. This album achieves a more uniform quality, creating a worthy complement to the on-screen action as well as providing a selection of cutting-edge hard-rock tunes.
Opening with a sly homage to Aerosmith's lustful "Walk This Way," "Silver Future" by Monster Magnet skillfully suggests the movie's sexual energy.
Lyrics like "What kind of creature do we have here? It feels like love but it smells like fear" merge with slithering guitars and aggressive drums, echoing the movie's frequently erotic tone. The expletive-heavy "Dirt Ball" deals more directly with SF elements, telling the tale of a Galacto-Inspector and his companions who, during an exploratory trip to Earth, observe extensive prejudice and injustice. The angry attitude of this composition, which accompanies the movie's visit to the Neo-Calcutta space station, conveys the violent aspects of the adventure. Billy Idol's contribution, "Buried Alive," ties in nicely with the story, too.
Other cuts, including Zilch's "Inside the Pervert Mound," Sinisstar's "Psychosexy" and Apartment 26's "Dystopia," also capture the movie's high intensity. In short, the Heavy Metal 2000 soundtrack is an unrelenting, unforgiving aural assault. Its take-no-prisoners approach may not please everyone, but science fiction fans who enjoy contemporary heavy metal music should find this collection downright exhilarating.
