Published on Apr 10, 2000
On the surface, the upcoming movie
Heavy Metal 2000 can’t fail. For those who remember the
original movie, they’ll undoubtedly want to see how the story has
progressed with this film. For the casual observer who looks at the
artwork for the soundtrack – well, who would pass up a movie
featuring a heroine with bigger breasts than Anna Nicole Smith?
(Then again, when was the last time you saw a
Playboy centerfold filling someone full of armor-piercing
bullets?)
While the original
Heavy Metal could be called a cult favorite, the soundtrack
for
Heavy Metal 2000 could well be the make-or-break point of
the resurgence of metal’s popularity. For the most part, the people
who put this collection together did an excellent job – though
there one or two landmines they should have avoided.
Now, I’m not going to get on my soapbox and rattle off a list of
bands who should have been included on this soundtrack – for two
reasons. First, though I haven’t seen the film yet (and, after
reading the promotional comic book that came with the press kit, I
can’t really say I want to), I’m guessing that each selection fits
in with its corresponding scene. Second – and this is not meant as
an insult – the metal scene is so fragmented as it is that everyone
will have their own lists of who should or shouldn’t have been
included. Music supervisor Bruce Berman had a Herculean task, and
for the most part, I think he chose wisely.
Consider
Heavy Metal 2000 to be your guide through this musical genre
as it stands today. On one side, you have the all-out assault of
groups like Pantera (“Immortally Insane”), Machine Head
(“Alcoholocaust”) and Puya (“Tirale”); on the other side, you have
more experimental metal (though that term could be argued) with
groups like MDFMK (“Missing Time”) and Sinisstar (“Psychosexy”)
rocking the house. You even have a bit of rap when Insane Clown
Posse with Twiztid (“Dirt Ball”) come to play.
Do you have to know who each one of these groups are? Of course
not. But chances are, once you’ve heard some of these acts, you’re
going to be headed to your favorite online shop to pick some of the
full-length albums up. I was especially intrigued by MDFMK, Pantera
and Machine Head – three groups whose latest albums will soon be
reviewed on “The Daily Vault.” (Also making my short list of
favorites included Queens Of The Stone Age and System Of A
Down.)
For all the praise I could lavish on
Heavy Metal 2000, there are two questionable inclusions, as
well as one confusing track. Why Days Of The New – an act that can
hardly be called a metal band – was included with their song “Rough
Day” is a mystery. (If it had at least been a decent track, I’d
have been more willing to overlook the inclusion.) Likewise,
Bauhaus isn’t a true metal act, and while “The Dog’s A Vapour”
isn’t a bad track, it is rather anticlimactic.
As for confusion – well, I admit I was happy to see Billy Idol
included on
Heavy Metal 2000, but “Buried Alive” just doesn’t seem like
it was the perfect vehicle for Idol to use to get back in the
spotlight. That’s a shame – ’cause while I’m not a big fan of
Idol’s, I really wanted to see him succeed.
Heavy Metal 2000 is still a very enjoyable disc, and it’s
guaranteed to get people interested in some of the featured bands
once they’ve heard these samples of their work. Who knows? If
enough people give this disc a chance, this could be the disc that
starts sending metal acts rocketing back up the charts – and I
think this album has the potential to do just that.