Turbonegro - Scandinavian Leather

Turbonegro are perhaps the most extreme – and as a result, most totally awesome – example of “irony metal” going around these days. Taking Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford’s “leatherman” aesthetic to insane new heights, these thoroughly warped Norwegians return with more of the same homoerotic metal anthems they made rightfully famous on Apocalypse Dudes and Ass Cobra (anyone who has ever heard their “Hobbit Motherfucker” knows what I’m talking about here). From the ridiculous pomp of "Fuck The World" (“Hey now, hang on/while I fuck the world/because tonight I`m feeling sexy/gonna fuck the world/forever”) to the cartoon seediness of “Sell Your Body (To The Night)”, Turbonegro’s tongue is planted firmly in…uh…cheek. The humorous aspect of their music (and their headbanging transvestite liner note photos) is undeniable, sure, but Scandinavian Leather is redeemed from total comedy-album status by the simple fact that it ROCKS, almost profoundly so. It’s a shame that such metallic power and majesty must be done on some kind of winking, postmodern level these days, but even with that in mind, every track gallops and bellows with a theatrical energy that is sorely missed in most current rock. Your enjoyment of Turbonegro will hinge on how far you chose to be “in” on the joke. But don’t let the near-absurd lyrics of tracks like “Wipe Till It Bleeds” prevent you from giving Scandinavian Leather a chance; your inner metalhead will thank you. [www.scandinavianleather.com]