Turbonegro recorded this quality live disc during two shows in 1998, one in Hamburg and one in their hometown of Oslo. According to the credits on the back of the CD, the Oslo show was "the last Turbonegro show ever" however,the band reformed and continues to this day to release lazy albums of rehashed Stooges, Ramones, and Heartbreakers riffs with more unsavory lyrics about gay sex and nihilism. They continue to play shows, usually to dicks who insist on dressing in the band's trademark denim and sailor hats. Don't get me wrong, I love Turbonegro, really do. Just sometimes it seems that they have outlived their entertainment value. Ass Cobra has yet to be topped and it would seem they aren't even interested in making a "real" record. Fortunately, the choice of material on Darkness Forever is culled from the best of their catalog (Ass Cobra, and Apocalypse Dudes), even if it would have been nice to hear some Hot Cars... and Never Is Forever material revamped into full on coke rock mode. Still sits nicely among greats like Strangers In The Night, or Live and Dangerous as one of my favorite live documents. Are you ready for some darkness?
Yes I'm ready.
ReplyDeletehell yeah, awesome record!
ReplyDeleteTurbonegro is the band I have been meaning to hear forever......Ass Cobra is where to start????
ReplyDeleteExcellent post. Are you a fan of other Scandi-Sleaze rock acts? (off the top of my head, only Backyard Babies comes to mind). all the best-nick.
ReplyDeleteNick, not particularly interested in Backyard Babies. The first couple of Hellacopters LPs were okay.
ReplyDeleteTMM, listen very closely, Ass Cobra is one of the best albums ever made along with Feel The Darkness, Necroticism, Bergtatt, De Mysteriis...
Turbonegro's Ass Cobra has yet to be topped, you are 100% right Aesop, as always.
ReplyDeleteThese days Turbonegro are quite boring, even live they have lost a lot of energy. I guess shoving beer bottles up one's arse ain't fun any longer (that's what the singer used to do on stage).
Thanks for summing all that up perfectly, as always. I don't think I'll go out of my way to see them again after the last couple of disappointing shows. Knut Schreiner (aka Euroboy) is awesome and he, too, looked bored. It's a bummer cause the first time I saw them (Chameleon, Ass Cobra tour, 1996) was easily one of the best, most indulgent performances I've EVER seen. Their songs all just sound like anthems to themselves now.
ReplyDeletethanks I've been meaning to check this band out but never know where to start
ReplyDeleteWell hey here's a comp with Turbonegro AND Hickey.
ReplyDeletehttp://onesidedwar.blogspot.com/2009/05/this-aint-no-fcking-melodic-punk-7-1995.html
I was actually blasting this on my turntable last night! ASS COBRA is hands down their best album!
ReplyDeleteForever Darkness - Forever Turboneger!
ReplyDeleteBy the way Aesop, what do you think of the Scum - Gospels For The Sick album?
Beer Bottles? I've only seen the ass-rocket with roman candles/sparklers. The Denim Dudes of Turbonegro will always be one of my favorite bands, but I agree that since the re-union things have been very stale. I saw them their first year back, and it was a good time for sure, but... I will always wear my Levi's jacket with the Turbojugend MPLS patch with pride. No sailor hat. No eyeliner, or lipstick. I got erection.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I still have an active link up for "Ass Cobra".
http://nobodyknowsimnewwave.blogspot.com/2008/12/vacation-all-i-ever-wanted.html
There aint nothin to do with the Sonic Reducer type chord sequences...But excellent!!! in the vein of Strangers and Dangerous Live in the night as you suggest
ReplyDelete"ASS COBRA"? That...is...a ...real title? holy shit!
ReplyDeleteI have to hear that.
The first thing to come to mind was the "Shit Sandwich" review in Spinal Tap.
Everything up to and including Apocalypse Dudes was good shit.
ReplyDeleteWhy do bands have to come back and ruin their legacy?
SF is full of so many ass-clowns into this shit, but not until they missed it the first time - you know how it is.
Aesop, you're dead right about 'Too Fast for Love'! "Live Wire" has been kicking my dick in all week.
ReplyDeletewhat's wrong with lazy albums of rehashed Stooges, Ramones, and Heartbreakers riffs with more unsavory lyrics about gay sex and nihilism? there's killer song on all their records (and very often the same riffs they've been stealing since the first lp). Anywat, grate blog, just spent the day ignoring my girlfriend and stealing music from the internet so thought i'd leave a comment before she kicks my head in. Smash up the kitchen. Cheers
ReplyDeleteYeah, Whats wrong with it? Apocolypse Dudes is one of my all time favorite records. I felt like Ass Cobra was the escalator to this greatness. Although my biggest beef with the 2000 releases is the lyrics "brass kuckles and a 2x4" is a bitchin line.
ReplyDeleteWhy do hardcore people have issues with guitar solos? I can understand the BM fanatics having issues, we wouldn't want to actually HEAR anything..."Prince of the Rodeo" and "GoodHead" will forever be burned into the neo-cortex of this reader, particularly after witnessing Euroboy rip the solo for the former whilst perched most precariously upon the shoulders of Rune Rebellion. Truly gargantuan rock. I'm ready...and I don't even own a denim jacket.
ReplyDeletei liked all the later records too, and i am sure objectively people who liked asscobra and apocalypse dudes should too...but for the bad rep no one's even bothering to listen to them later records, whatever
ReplyDelete