• Voto:
Gli Exodus non hanno mai nascosto la loro ammirazione per gli AC/DC.
"Force Of Habit" è un'ulteriore omaggio ai 5 australiani (già coverizzati con "Overdose" e "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"), che sigilla mestamente la gioventù musicale degli Exodus, con le due asce Gary Holt ed Rick Hunolt come unici superstiti della line-up che ha partorito "Bonded By Blood", accompagnati da Steve "Zetro" Sousa alla voce, da Mike Butler al basso (al posto del bass player originario Rob McKillop), e dal batterista John Tempesta, mai accettato pienamente dai fans che rimpiangono il dinamismo Tom Hunting dietro alle pelli.
Nel 1992 sboccia quest'album, ultima salubre spiaggia concessa dalla major Capitol Records, dopo il fiasco di "Impact Is Imminent", colpevole di mestiere, di svogliata ispirazione e drumming ordinario, col beneficio parziale di buoni assoli di chitarra che reggono la baracca. Eccoli allora in studio fiduciosi, assieme al bennato Chris "Painkiller" Tsangarides producer dei Judas Priest (era già coinvolto nel 1976 in "Sad Wings Of Destiny").
"Force Of Habit" è l'album più potente fin qui prodotto, dal suono compatto, camion thrash proveniente dalle autostrade, motori al minimo di Scania e Volvo, riff rallentati "She's Got Balls" con ricostituente groove, parola magica, speciale, che non è stata inserita stranamente nel messaggio di Arecibo, unguento verbale losco tattico utilizzato per identificare una malsana digestione di riff pressati ed invecchiati, che passano gli anni '70 con l'hard rock, travalicano il metal anni '80 ed arrivano, dopo un viaggio allucinante in orecchie smemorate, su questo disco dall'orribile copertina e dalle promesse compositive non mantenute.
L'opener "Thorn In My Side" è l'ideale per lanciare il tutto, un frisbee metallico dal riff pesante come l'osmio, un moto del proiettile ubriaco che finisce stanco sulle nostre orecchie grazie a Zetro, ma non grazie all'assolo standard che ci costringe alla pressione lesta su FF, passando per la bella e chiassosa "Me Myself And I" (ma il brano omonimo di Joan Armatrading sarebbe stato azzeccato per una rivisitazione più fragorosa), fino alla title-track lenta ed inesorabile, dall'incedere abulico. "Bitch" è la cover dei Rolling Stones che nessuno aspetta, fedele allo stampo antico, ma dentro abiti aggressivi. E sappiamo benissimo che l'album proseguirà di questo passo, come una specie di brontosauro satollo di erbacce che non digerisce."Fabolous Disaster" è già lontano. Tredici tracce sono uno sfinimento, un palo della cuccagna assai unto, sovraccaricato da altre due bonus track nella versione giapponese, ovvero "Crawl Before You Walk" e "Telepathetic" (quest'ultima però abbellita dagli splendidi assoli botta e risposta), che impediscono all'ascoltatore di salire in alto con la fantasia, con la creazione di immagini, come potrebbero ravvivarle una "Disposable Heroes". Eppure gli Exodus non puntano a questo ma servono nel piatto temi scottanti, ed allora l'ascolto si fa più interessante con qualche pezzo d'artiglieria come l'eccellente ed evocativa "Fuel For Fire", che affronta il problema della Guerra del Golfo:
"Il Sangue scorrerà - nel deserto di sabbia/uccidere la gente - barbara terra/Una guerra per la pace - Capisco/Ottenere il combustibile - il piano maestro/Il sangue scorrerà - nel deserto di sabbia/Uccidere la gente - barbara terra/Una guerra per la pace - Capisco Ottenere il combustibile - il piano maestro.."
Spazio per la velocità in "Count Your Blessings", dove Tempesta si mette finalmente in evidenza con una buon drumming, al contrario di "One Foot In The Grave", marcia funebre senza alcuna pretesa doom ma anche sincera denuncia contro la droga, piaga vissuta sulla loro pelle, che i nostri rammenteranno anche all'epoca di "Tempo Of The Damned". La cover di Elvis Costello "Pump It Up" è una delle migliori sorprese dell'album, nemmeno paragonabile all'originale, nonostante riesca a fissarne le coordinate musicali, la sua aura rock semplice e schietta. Testo stralunato in "Feeding Time At The Zoo", ritratto di bestie e uomini che si mescolano senza soluzione di continuità, laddove tristi pensieri leopardiani si addensano in "Good Day To Die", analisi impietosa di un suicidio, la sua condanna da parte della band, una netta presa di posizione, un invito alla rinuncia:
"Hai paura del mondo intorno a te, hai paura di quello che potrebbe essere?/Pensate a quelli che vi amano/tutte le cose che voi non potrete mai vedere/Fuori controllo come un treno galoppante/disperato fino alla fine tutto il suo dolore/Hai avuto modo di capire non c'è un migliore progetto se non quello di aprire gli occhi..."
Le note fluiscono opprimenti, il ritmo è lento, nevrotico, quasi un continuo dilaniarsi e porsi domande, senza accelerare. Il thrash si decompone, si affloscia a semplice zerbino, diviene semplice mezzo. L'hardcore rutilante sparisce ma emerge la potenza, zoppicante forse, ma sempre pronta a ripartire, così come gli assoli di Holt ed Hunolt, coinvolgenti ma mai sopra le righe, a volte pieni di tristezza ("Fuel For Fire") oppure secchi e concisi, protagonisti delle novità, assieme ad uno Steve Sousa traboccante di energia. Paradossalmente è il disco più thrash della band, se per questo termine intendiamo sound grezzo, liriche che fanno riflettere, velocità (che qui latita) per meditare sulle nostre peripezie quotidiane, in mezzo a muri di autotreni, traffico beffardo, sudorazione accelerata, code agli sportelli, parcheggio vattelapesca, scartoffie dal disio chiamate, multe col sorriso fra le labbra. Ed in mezzo la musica che fluisce violenta dall'autoradio, nelle liriche come nel tessuto ritmico, ormai nervosa come noi. La varietà compositiva unita alla potenza, che aveva portato "Fabolous Disaster" nell'olimpo del thrash metal, è perduta per sempre.
"Force Of Habit" sembra un lavoro incompiuto, quasi forzato, il meno amato da Gary Holt. Oggi lo preferiremmo con 4 o 5 pezzi in meno, con qualche intermezzo acustico, qualche scenario sonico variegato a rafforzare le suggestioni dei testi. Dopo questo disco rimangono 5 anni di rimpianti prima della reunion col singer originario Paul Baloff, che produrrà il buon live "Another Lesson In Violence". Un'altra lezione di nostalgia.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Thorn in My Side (04:05)
You know that you never gave me a chance to prove myself
And I never thought that my life was worth your wealth
You never said to me anything encouraging that I could see
It's difficult to cure the pain that I've had to endure
I always tried to listen
even when I disagreed with you
Selfish disposition makes it hard
for me to respect anything you do
Then you tried to push me,
but you weren't strong enough to get the job done
Then you tried to hit me,
but the back of your hand just isn't quick enough
You are a thorn in my side,
all my life you never left me alone
Thorn in my side, in your mind you wish I never were born
Thorn in my side, through it all I think you pushed me to fail
Thorn in my side, it's about time you're recognized
for your lies and your worthless alibis
It's been a long time waiting for the judgment day
So I can cast away
The thorn that you stuck so deep inside of me
It's ancient history
You're always acting like a king of kings
Like you were a god
You wear a crown of thorns like a hat on your head
My firing squad will put an end to your facade
Like a thorn in my side
02 Me, Myself & I (05:04)
Good Samaritans are something I can't stand
Suppressing their own needs to lend a helping hand
Looking out for number one is my only creed
Self-preservation runs deep in my breed
I, me, mine suits me just fine
I won't even give you the time
Go out and buy your own watch
I ask nothing of you but leave me be
Me, myself and I - Only these three apply
Me, myself and I - On these three I rely
Me, myself and I - My only true ally
Me myself and I - I'm greed personified
Thinking of myself is all I ever do
Not a single thought will I waste on you
My only concerns are things pertaining to me
Don't bother trying to find any generosity
I, me, mine suits me just fine
I won't even give you the time
Go out and buy your own watch
I ask nothing of you but leave me be
No charity, no one rides for free
No solicitors, can't you fuckin' read?
Take your social clauses and your empty pleas
Me, myself and I is the only thing for me
03 Force of Habit (04:19)
Can't overcome it, it's what I do best
I'll pick your pocket for your last red cent
It's a disease, I'm stricken like the rest
Never return anything I'm lent
It wasn't me, yeah you know it wasn't me
It must've been someone who looked like me
Innocent until proven guilty
And you ain't got a thing on me
Your possessions, your worldly possessions
Mean more to me than your protective obsessions
You wanna hide 'em, lock 'em up inside and
Throw away the key so I can't find em
It's a shame, it's a god-damned shame
I'm the culprit but you're the one to blame
I'll take another lesson from my mother
It's better to take than get took
Steal a dollar, steal a dime
Force of habit will hit you every time
In your pockets, invade your space
Force of habit anytime or anyplace
Pay attention keep an eye on all your cash
Force of habit will deprive you of your stash
If I do it, yeah, if I get caught
Force of habit is the problem that I got
Mama told me look but don't touch,
but that only made me want it more
Doesn't matter if you're a friend or foe,
'cause your house is my candy store
I admit I know I got a problem,
but temptation is controlling me
I can't resist a five-fingered discount,
everything for me is free
04 Bitch (02:48)
[Originally performed by The Rolling Stones]
I'm feeling so tired can't understand it
Just had a fortnight sleep
I'm feeling so tired, oh, so distracted
Ain't touched a thing all week
I'm feeling drunk juiced up and sloppy
Ain't touched a drink all night
Feeling hungry can't see the reason
Just had a horse meat pie
Yeah when you call my name
I salivate like a Pavlov dog
Yeah when you lay me out
My heart is beating faster than a big bass drum
Yeah you got to mix it child, you got to fix
It must be love, it's a bitch
You got to mix it child
You got to fix it must be love
It's a bitch
Sometimes I'm sexy, move like a stud
Kicking the stalls all night
Sometimes I'm so shy, got to be worked on
Don't have no bark or no bite
05 Fuel for the Fire (06:04)
There's a terrorist, he's at the door
Says he's gonna start, the third world war
Justifies his illegal acts
The land he says that's his, he's takin' it back
Blood will spill - in desert sand
The people kill - barbaric land
A war for peace - I understand
Obtain the fuel - the master plan
Blood will spill - in desert sand
The people kill - barbaric land
A war for peace - I understand
Obtain the fuel - the master plan
All my life I've spent believin' what I'm told
I'm not a crook, I don't recall, excuse is getting old
But this time I believe that the cause is justified
So those that burn the flag should be hung until they die
I'm sorry bout the casualties you can't avoid in war
They knew what they were doin' when they signed up for the chore
And to all the people who protest aggressive act
The world's not a happy place, a sad but true fact
Now they find our allies far and wide
And now a force of one and will not be denied
When will they finally realize
Our taxes pay for war and that's no surprise
[2x]
Strong survive - in desert sand
And nullify - the outer land
Deciever lies - I understand
The storyline - the master plan
All my life I've spent believin' what I'm told
Those excuse, you know, the ones that're getting old
But this time I believe that the cause is justified
So all those people that burn the flag should be hung until they die
Yeah I'm sorry bout the casualties and people dying in the war
They knew what they were doin' when they signed up for the chore
And to all the people you know the ones who protested what went on
This world ain't a happy place, and this ain't a happy song
Fuel for the fire
There's a terrorist, he's at the door
Says he's gonna start, the third world war
Justifies his illegal acts
The land he says that's his, he's takin' it back
Fuel for the fire
06 One Foot in the Grave (05:15)
Why do people sell their souls away
Just to ride the horse another day
They're all slaves to the heroin
But it's a war they'll never win
They'll never live to see the error of their ways
One foot in the grave
Ruled by the drugs they crave
It all began as a need for kicks
Now they'd sell their lives for a fix
Powerless to break those chains
There's only losses and there's never no gains
They only live and die as a slave
With one foot, one foot in the grave
It promised an escape but only lied
Master of the world they're trapped inside
The needle and the spoon only gave
A one - way ticket leading to the grave
And suffering until the day they die
07 Count Your Blessings (07:30)
Power fortune and fame
Only a delusion inside your brain
But those who got it all
Fuckin' piss me off they got a lot of balls
To sit there and complain
That affluence is a tremendous strain
Use some common sense
Take nothing for granted, not a fucking cent
A word to the wise, you should realize
If you don't count your blessings, you're in for a surprise
That you got it so hard, but life dealt you all the cards
You better count your blessings, you better let down your guard
A word to the wise, when will you realize
If you don't count your blessings, you're in for a surprise
The roles will be reversed, and you won't be the first
To wish he counted his blessings
Substantial amounts
Of their money lies in Swiss bank accounts
And more in stocks and bonds
They should consider if it were gone
Just what the hell they'd do
They might have to work to pay for their food
Like every one of us
They'll count their blessings without a fuss
Power fortune and fame
Only a delusion inside your brain
But those who got it all
Fuckin' piss me off they got a lot of balls
To sit there and complain
That affluence is a tremendous strain
Use some common sense
Take nothing for granted, not a fucking cent
08 Climb Before the Fall (05:38)
He was just a poor boy livin' down by the railroad tracks
His father worked so hard to provide that he died of a cardiac
He made himself a promise to leave the poverty behind
Now climbing up the corporate ladder
is all that matters in his grand design
You can forget about friends in your climb before your fall
The climb before the fall
Alone at the top you feel the pressure pulling you
And you try in your mind
to repent your sins in your climb before your fall
The climb before the fall
Change your ways or you will pay in your dying days
In the end, in the end, in the end
Sunrise now and he has to get to work,
he's gotta tell someone what to do
Lives his life thinkin' how to get ahead,
kickin' of his corporate shoes
Throws his credit cards in everyone's face,
name droppin' 'cause he thinks it's cool
Doesn't realize he doesn't know how to act,
he's just lookin' like a complete fool
He left everyone he loved alone out in the cold
His mother was standing in the welfare line
while he was up to his neck in gold
Now he's become a millionaire
and he's sitting right at the top
But he found that the higher up the mountain
means the longer that you're gonna drop
09 Architect of Pain (11:02)
Let me paint you a portrait of a man
whose very name would define in times to come all things profane
Born unto privilege child of aristocracy,
so tender the young mind, yet so unclean
His was a heart of darkness that beat within his chest
Breasting life into the crimes he'd manifest
Imp of the perverse on a bloody path he trods
Scribe of the unthinkable the marquis de sade
Outraging the laws of hate and narcissism
That to fight the incubation's but in vain
Nature inspires our tastes bizarre
She paints them only as they are
From the darkest corners of the mind as real
as the morning sun shall rise, just the same
He wove his written word with threads of flesh throughout
He promised things so frightening they'll turn you inside out
When terror's grip has set your soul is set aflame
Behold the architect of pain
Unearthing fantasies too savage to reveal
Twisting your world with visions centuries concealed
Was he philosopher or was he just insane?
Behold the architect of pain
Each tale black as pitch dressed in the colors of hell
Your dreams will fill with the sounding of the knell
Feel the looming shadow of the hungry guillotine
And you'll be blinded by the blade's fatal gleam
Outraging the laws of both nature and religion
Subjugation in behalf or her domain
Or so he believed with all his hate and narcissism
That to fight the inclination's but in vain
Nature inspires our tastes bizarre
She paints them only as they are
From the darkest corners of the mind as real
as the morning sun shall rise, just the same
Nature cannot bind you, you only need to serve unto her
Harming without stint or cease at the expense of whosoever may be
Their pain becomes your paradise, your lust their demise
Forced you to recognize
The beast within, he helped you to visualize
No desire to torment flesh and bone
The mind can cause far greater destruction alone
When the seed has taken root
It grows impure, your thoughts pollute
All things please nature, she has need of our misdeeds
We serve her as we sin
The bloodier our opus
The greater her domain and her esteem for us
Outraging the laws of both nature and religion
Subjugation in behalf or her domain
Or so he believed with all his hate and narcissism
That to fight the inclination's but in vain
Nature inspires our tastes bizarre
She paints them only as they are
From the darkest corners of the mind as real
as the morning sun shall rise, just the same
10 When It Rains It Pours (04:20)
Got out of bed about 3 PM thought it was a holiday
Then my boss called just to tell me
I'm late and he's giving my job away
Well I took me a walk to the liquor store
so I could drink away my blues
Spent my last ten bucks, then I dropped the bottle
and I broke it all over my shoes
So I got home to find the power's shut off,
there was someone knocking at my door
It was my landlord serving an eviction notice
'cause my checks are bouncing off the floor
I pounded my head up against the wall
thinking what else could go wrong
But this was only the beginning to a real bad day,
it wasn't gonna be a lot of fun
I knew I should have never gotten out of bed
'Cause of the rain cloud above my head
I'm down on my luck and it's plain to see
So tell me why does this happen to me?
When it rains it pours, when it rains it pours on me
When it rains it pours, and there's a storm moving in on me
When it rains it pours, raining down on only me
When it rains it pours, when it rains it pours
I drove across town to go see a friend
when I heard a siren on my tail
It turned out I had a warrant for my arrest
and I couldn't even post the bail
So I'm sittin' in a cell for 48 hours
keepin' company with thieves and drunks
I'm free to go but my car's impounded
and I'm thinkin' 'bout becoming a monk
So I'm wandering aorund in a catatonic daze
now barely a shell of a man
I look like I live out of a shopping cart
and I'm picking up aluminum cans
I staggered my way to an overpass
and fell to the dirt asleep
I figured out tomorrow is a new day
and maybe I could buy myself a life real cheap
12 Pump It Up (03:10)
[Originally performed by Elvis Costello]
I've been on tender-hooks ending in dirty looks
Listening to the muzak, thinking 'bout this 'n' that
She says that's that, I don't wanna chitter chat
Turn it down a little bit or turn it down flat
Pump it up when you don't really need it
Pump it up until you can feel it
Down in the pleasure center, hell bent or heaven sent
Listen to the propaganda, listen to the latest slander
There's nothing under hand that she wouldn't understand
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don't really need it
She's been a bad girl, she's like a chemical
Though you try to stop it, she's like a narcotic
You wanna torture her, you wanna talk to her
All the things you bought for her,
could not get her temperature
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don't really need it
Out in the fashion show, down in the bargain bin
You put your passion out under the pressure pin
Fall into submission, hit and run transmission
No use wishing now for any other sin
Pump it up until you can feel it
Pump it up when you don't really need it
13 Feeding Time at the Zoo (04:33)
Can you hear the roar? I sounds like a war
It's feeding time at the zoo
When their stomachs start growlin' the wolves start to howl
For a bite of what's on our menu
As they pick up the scent they grow violent
And they stampede to the feast
No matter where you're at, you're in their habitat
And they're bound to be disturbing your peace
Your last meal left you dissatisfied
Now the zookeepers have arrived
First come, first served, you better get in line
'Cause it's super time
Yeah, it's feeding time at the zoo
If you get too close you'll lose a finger or two
Soothing the savage beast in you
Is the last thing we wanna do
Yeah, it's feeding time at the zoo
All the stories you've heard, every one is true
The time has come for our rendezvous
It's feeding time for me and you
See them sweat as the tables are set
And the frenzy's about to begin
Eagerly they await the chance to swallow the bait
And their patience is wearing thin
When they no longer bare to delay this affair
We serve it up, thick and raw
We only cater our way, thrash fuckin' fillets
A banquet if you're hungry to brawl
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