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Probot

Probot (2004)
Southern Lord

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Adam
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on March 9th 2004

I've tried with no avail to convince my fellow editors that I'm the worst person to tackle this review.

It's not so much an age issue, as like many of my generation I've had no problem immersing myself in punk material from the 70s despite not being around then (or at least too young to be conscious of it). 80s metal on the other hand represents a big gaping void to me, something I'll respect for what it is but can't rightly pass judgment on. What makes Probot so interesting to me is how much of a labor of love this was to Dave Grohl and how much that's reflected in the end recordings.

Rightfully the songs here fall more on the side of hero worship then they do on parody, which is always a risk when dealing with a form of music with so many well-recognized and oft misunderstood extremes. Grohl plays most of the instruments on the record, his characteristic drumming shining on every track. Soundgarden's Kim Thayil contributes some guitar work as well along with Zwan/Chavez guitarist Matt Sweeney.

However it's the vocalists that make this project. Grohl not only collected an all-star cast of metal vocalists but he wisely let them write their own lyrics over his music. This gives the songs an air of authenticity that a tribute like this might otherwise lack.

Cronos from Venom kicks things off, followed by a raging track from Soulfly / Sepultura's Max Cavalra. Motörhead's Lemmy appears on the infectious "Shake Your Blood," an obvious single and a highlight of the album for me. The same can be said of the contribution by DRI's Kurt Brecht. Also appearing are Corrosion of Conformity's Mike Dean, Lee Dorrian of Cathedral / Napalm Death fame and Wino of Palace Of Skulls / Obsessed and others. Filling out the roster is Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost / Apollyon Son, Voivod's Snake, Trouble's Eric Wagner and King Diamond of Mercyful Fate. Diamond's collaboration is the album's most blatantly theatrical song, and one that almost borders on self-parody.

Probot should be an absolute joy for anyone who had even a passing interest in the 80s metal scene. For those of us outside that crowd there's still a lot to like here. The effort Grohl threw behind Probot goes a long way in turning this curious concept for a sideproject into something far more legit and endearing.

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Anonymous (March 15, 2004)

Score's for Raffi. And the '80s, when I was also listening to oldies and Desmond Dekker.

- Fatty Arbuckle

moneenerd (March 14, 2004)

I honestly can't tell if this album is supposed to be a joke or not... cheesy lyrics, god awful vocals for the most part, and is no different from any of the chugga-chugga meaningless metal I see on MTV everyday. I can't believe this asshole is supposed to be a legend! (RIP Nirvana)

Anonymous (March 14, 2004)

"Well, since he was probably listening to INXS in the early 80's, that will be forgiven. :)"

I'm in my early 20s. So I was probaby listening to Raffi in the 80s.

-adam

Anonymous (March 13, 2004)

corporate whores they are all together..heavy metal review..what a joke.
Fuck Nirvana, Fuck Heavy Metal, Fuck MTV

Anonymous (March 13, 2004)

Reviewer forgot to add that one of greatest guitarists of "the punketh rocketh" from the 80's, Bubba Dupree from DC's Void also makes an appearance. (on the Mike Dean track.) Well, since he was probably listening to INXS in the early 80's, that will be forgiven. :)

Anonymous (March 13, 2004)

Heavy Metal sucks and so do the Foo Fighters. I hope he is the next after Cobain who shoots himself

Chips (March 11, 2004)

The song with Lemmy is obviously going to be the single. Partially because Dave and Lemmy have been doing all the promotion together in mags and stuff.

Anonymous (March 11, 2004)

If u don't like real metal, you'll hate this..Other wise it DESTROYS!

Anonymous (March 11, 2004)

score is for airheads quote

Anonymous (March 11, 2004)

King Diamond "Abigail" is better than your favorite cd. "Them" is better than your second favorite cd.

gladimnotemo (March 11, 2004)

The song with Lemmy and the ones with the guys from C.o.C. and DRI are excellent. The rest of the album is a bit too metal for my tastes. But I bought it based off "Shake Your Blood", so my opinion doesn't even count.