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By JEFF MAKI
I caught Municipal Waste on the 2006 installment of Sounds of the Underground and they were entertaining, to say the least. The band, clad in tight, ripped jeans, denim jackets and high-top sneakers, ripped through a 20-minute set of hardcore thrash metal circa 1985.
Their album, Hazardous Mutation, is just that. In traditional ’80s hardcore style, only one out of 16 songs tops the two-and-a-half-minute mark. The highly influential straight edge band Minor Threat comes to mind upon hearing the hardcore-style vocals and ultra-fast paced songs. The band even has a song titled “Guilty of Being Tight,” a play on Minor Threat's popular anthem “Guilty of Being White.” Municipal Waste is, however, by no means straight edge. Both on stage and on record, the band gives the impression that they are an all out party-thrash band, just having a lot of fun paying homage to their idols of the ’80s and getting wasted night in and night out. Along with Minor Threat, the Cro-Mags, S.O.D., Megadeth, Exodus, D.R.I. and Suicidal Tendencies must have been in these guys’ tape decks growing up. The album cover and band logo are even a tribute to ’80s cover artwork, as you probably have already seen.
The music is often played somewhat sloppily, giving the impression that these guys just don't give a shit—but it's damn good. Songs like “Unleash the Bastards,” “Nailed Casket,” “Mind Eraser” and “The Thrashin' of the Christ” are just fun-loving hardcore-thrash played 90 mph. Just pick any song and this is what you get. Here's a sample lyric from “Set to Destruct”: We are the army of drunks/Our weapons are set to destruct/We've come to punish all foes/Now it's our time to erupt.”
I can see kids moshing to this, skating to this, headbanging to this—anything, really. Municipal Waste, though highly comical in their approach, do all the above bands justice by perfectly encompassing everything that was great about thrash metal and hardcore music in the ’80s. Listening to Hazardous Mutation takes you back to a time when Metallica were the undisputed kings of metal, the material girl ruled pop radio and Van Halen were the number one rock band. And then there were those bands who didn't give a fuck. They were just out to make great music they loved and that kids could relate to. Municipal Waste brings this spirit back, a much needed reminder of the glory days.
The reissue of this album, or Hazardous Mutation: Redux, includes the full-length release plus a bonus DVD featuring a live concert from Richmond, Va. at Alley Katz, recorded August 18, 2006. The video features the band performing most of the album in a small club setting in their hometown. The set features many antics, such as a rapping wizard and drummer clad in a shark costume, circle pits and stage diving. It looked like a damn good time. In between songs, the DVD cuts to the band hanging out in a kitchen and cooking up various concoctions while being interviewed. It's here where we learn a lot about the band and get some hilarious questions and answers. It's highly entertaining whether you're a fan or not.
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