Live Misanthropy

EYEHATEGOD - Live at Emissions, 2005

Who woulda thunk that Black Flag touring with Saint Vitus would sow the seeds that would create an entire genre a decade later? What the hell am I talking about you may be asking? Well, I got me this pet theory that side two of "My War," saturated as it was with creepy-crawly, molasses-paced riffage was the product of Flag being highly inspired by their tourmates' patented doom metal. Shit, Hammerin' Hank gives such a tortured performance on "Nothing Left Inside," I can almost forgive him for later transgressions like those pathetic RCA albums and hanging out with Perry Farrell (I will forever cringe at the mention of his talk show, though-- nothing could redeem that).

Regardless, my contention is that these here degenerates from New Orleans, Louisiana were listening closely to Flag's flirtation with ominous, sluggish song structures/tempos. Throw in some Melvins and a worship for feedback rivaled only by power electronics outfits... and sludge was born. Sometimes I wonder if that's such a good thing-- for a band with such limited commercial success, EHG have influenced hundreds, mebbe thousands of bands, of which few, if any, have tapped into the alienated, tormented psyche of the masters. Then again, how many of 'em have lived in drug-addled squalor for the majority of their adult lives? Not that I recommend the lifestyle, but it seems to work for these guys (this reminds me of a review I read many moons ago of Johnny Thunders' "Copy Cats" where the long-forgotten rockcrit opined "Johnny's reaching for some money here, and certainly he deserves some; but it's a shame as poverty always seemed to suit him").

So, I bequeath unto Thee their hour-long plus set from the Emissions From the Monolith festival in Youngstown, Ohio in 2005. The sound quality is excellent, and alla their (ahem) Big Hits like "Doing Time in the Middle of Nowhere," "Lack of Almost Everything" and "Take as Needed for Pain" are included. Look in thee comments, Bubba.