Prime Cu*ts – Meatbeaters (Heavy Medication)
Over 24 years and five albums Adelaide’s Meatbeaters have never minced words, so seeing how the rest of the world takes to their good, honest low brow Aussie humour on this ball-tearing compilation from Polish label Heavy Medication is going to be a hoot.
Eleven slices of Meatbeaters high-energy over two sides of vinyl and subtlety isn’t anywhere to be seen. That should be no surprise from a band that’s named past long players “Crusty Seamen” or “Carry On Tuggin’”. Yes, it's Yob Rock, but it’s not just about beer (drinkin’) and skittles – there’s also a song (“Spit Roast”) about being pilled-up.
You could call Derrick Ogrodny from Heavy Medication an evangelist for putting this out. He’s noted that the sounds of Aussie stalwarts like Powder Monkeys (RIP), Cosmic Psychos and The Onyas have profile outside their home country, but these Meatbeaters couldn’t get arrested outside South Australia.
So a Polish label bringing “Prime Cu*ts” to the rest of the world is (in our words) performing a public service. What a dobra cipa Derrick is.
The thing that made bands like Powder Monkeys stand out is that they could play. Tim Hemensley, for example, was a monstrous bassist with lungs to match. Meatbeaters aren’t Powder Monkeys by any stretch but are in a similar league.
Have a listen to the fretwork from Slammin’ Stan and Kid Ock on “Name Of The Father” and say you’re not impressed. The late John Nolan would be. Splodge drums across all of these songs and locks in with each of the three bass players with frenetic drive.
Meatbeaters can write a song, too. They just cover them in so much scuzz and distortion that you might not notice. There’s no missing the power in a track like “Cracking Skulls, however. or the self-deprecation and (maybe) shock value in one like “C.O.A.B.”. Rock and roll is about shaking shit up so if easily offended, perhaps sir or madam may try considering fucking off?
So Adelaide can be a quiet place. Many of the people are genteel. Local tastemakers pay a lot of attention to high culture, the sort of stuff the rest of us refer to as “the yartz”. Is growing up in a place that its populace refer to as “the City of Churches” when it’s really the Seriak Killer Capital of Australia likely to turn you into a Meatbeater? It’s a question only the band can answer,
Crusty fans might note that this is the first time most of these songs have appeared on vinyl. If they’re not too busy hiding bodies in barrels.
File next to Motorhead.
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