Reviews

There are Hulud fans out there who have lived and died on every announcement of release dates and delays over the past few years. Every song released by the notoriously perfectionist Shai Hulud collective was treated as manna from heaven. No one knew when, or if, there would be a next release, so every song was treasured. The consistent time lapse was the one Hulud constant in a flurry of member changes, and it makes this compilation a severe aberration. Billed as the last Shai Hulud release, it is an informative and well put together collection that DIDN’T take years to make it to the shelves. Weird.
 
As terrific as this album feels just to hold in your hands and read the amazingly funny and interesting biography/liner notes, there isn’t much to recommend it musically. You get the six tracks off the Shai Hulud demo circa 1995 and then 3 tracks live from a radio show, and then thirteen tracks of jokes, real crappy demos, and some guitar scratch tracks. This other stuff you may listen to once or twice to satisfy your curiosity and then will never put on again.  
 
The original 1995 demo features Damien Moyal, known for his work in As Friends Rust, Culture, and Morning Again. The impact he had on the ban as it formed is remarkable, he seems to bring them in a much more down to earth, organic direction.  Compare the title of one of his compositions “Tree,” with later Hulud titles like “Set Your Body Ablaze,” or “Scornful of the Motives and Virtue of Others.” If Moyal had remained in the band, Shai Hulud might never have become the misanthropic headbangers that are so near and dear to our hearts.
 
The tracks featuring future NFG member and MTV2 host Chad Gilbert really lack in recording quality, but he’s got such a great voice. The stories about how Hulud almost got de-signed because their new singer was only 15 are pretty funny. Plus, the most hilarious thing I’ve heard in a long time - when Chad is supposed to be singing “I’m falling” on the demo to keep Shai Hulud signed, he’s really saying “I’m farting” and “we fart.”  Sophomoric but amazing. The liner notes ask “And this got us re-signed?!?!?!?”
 
This album is really an artifact, a time capsule, a collectors item, a fans-only type release. I enjoy it and am really glad I got it, but that’s because I love Shai Hulud. It would pain me for someone to hear these shitty recordings and early versions and be turned off forever from the Hulud.  If you are down with Hulud and want a terrific blueprint for the formation and growth of a seminal hardcore band, then this is the document for you. If you’re looking for an album of great songs recorded well, or any sort of purely enjoyable listening experience, look elsewhere.