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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Shai Hulud

A Comprehensive Retrospective
2005
Revelation

Shai Hulud - A Comprehensive Retrospective (Cover Artwork)


Review by: pwfanatic
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Revelation Records (Logo)

Published on January 28th 2005

Hardcore bands come and go faster than the crappy Mexican food I just ate. Most take the form of one of those revolving doors with members joining and leaving and forming new bands that half the time sound the exact same as the old band they were almost involved in. For the most part, Shai Hulud is one of those bands. The only difference is that they have been busier since their demise than they were throughout their short but sweet career.

A Comprehensive Retrospective... is just that, a collection of early recordings, a few live tracks and a few demos. It includes songs recorded for their first demo with their original original lead singer Damien Moyal as well as the first demo with their original vocalist Chad Gilbert from Hearts Once Nourished With Hope and Compassion fame.

The first couple tracks were recorded in 1995 with Moyal on vocals. Early Shai Hulud resembles all the Shai Hulud that some of us learned to love. Moyal has a biting, bark-like scream and although the songs itself aren’t nearly as complex as more recent Shai Hulud songs, it is still a familiar song. The lyrics are brutally honest and intensely angry, and the guitars reflect this. However, the guitars do not do their standard guitar-hook-leading-into-yet-another-guitar-hook-into-another-guitar-hook etc. thing nearly as much as they did before their demise. It’s an unpolished sound, but in the world of hardcore, nothing works better.

The most interesting part about A Comprehensive Retrospective... is to watch the slow progression of Shai Hulud into what they became before they died: by far one of the more intense hardcore acts in existence. A lot of times, when bands release B-sides of sorts, they release songs that got most of their way through the recording stage, almost to the point of mastering..not with this album. The Chad Gilbert demos are hideous sounding and the tracks of Matt Fox recording his guitar riffs are even worse sound quality. But this is a view into the band that now we only see on little DVD extras showing the band behind the scenes, and for a band now defunct, it is a bit hard to do that. Likewise, the live songs have a poor quality, but this fits the overall scheme of the whole album.

It is a retrospective album: nothing more, nothing less. This is an album for the tried and true Shai Hulud fans that have nothing better to do than eagerly await the new Zombie Apocalypse release like me. Shai Hulud may sort of live on in the Warmth of Red Blood, but the hardcore world will probably never see such a fine-tuned machine of pure rage in a long while.

[originally written for readysteadyjedi.com]



People who liked this also liked:
Various - Fat Music Volume VI: Uncontrollable FatulenceSage Francis - A Healthy DistrustChoke - Slow Fade Or: How I Learned To Question InfinityNo Trigger - Extinction In StereoBane - The NoteTen Foot Pole - Bad Mother TruckerThe Transplants - The TransplantsPoison the Well - You Come Before YouOnly Crime - To The NinesShadows Fall - The War Within



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    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 10, 2005 at 4:23 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This is the worst record I've heard in my entire life.
    Don't buy it, it's unlistenable.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 at 10:37 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Neve Campbell will give you a copy if you go down on her. That's what I did.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 1, 2005 at 12:57 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    where can i get this at??

    Posted by swingline on 2005-01-31 22:37:30
    My Score:

    i wish i was in new found glory

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2005 at 9:40 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I never really got into this band.. probably because they suck dick

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2005 at 8:02 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    this band fucking sucks.
    i'm glad they're gone.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2005 at 2:34 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Take a quick trip to the store and find a long, smooth object - the greengrocer is often useful

    Joe

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 31, 2005 at 2:26 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    What happens if they don't have anything to stick in your ass?

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 30, 2005 at 6:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I just say 'Hi, you wanna come back to my place and have anal sex'
    The bluntness works a charm.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 30, 2005 at 4:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    "I'd do her anal for sure"

    I'd love to know how you chat up girls when you're out

    Joe

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 30, 2005 at 8:03 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    "Neve Campbells nipples are most certainly not ugly. you could spend hours on them having fun"

    Damn straight you could. She is so hot. I'd do her anal for sure.

    Posted by p-fresh on 2005-01-30 03:01:15
    My Score:

    Score is for the cover art.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 8:04 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Shai Hulud covered Linoleum and Anesthesia by Bad Religion. Evergreen covered Dying Degree. Yeah. Get your shit straight.

    SHai Hulud and Evergreen...two very shitty bands

    Posted by IheartAdam on 2005-01-29 16:39:49
    My Score:

    Help fight gum disease that can lead to tooth loss.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 2:08 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    All I have to say, like them or not, is that Shai Hulud is one of the most creative, different bands in a very generic genre.

    Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-01-29 13:01:09
    My Score:

    Zombie Apocalypse has 4 minute long song on there.

    That's longer than 5 tracks of the EP. 6, if you count the intro.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 11:54 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Shai Hulud covered Linoleum and Anesthesia by Bad Religion. Evergreen covered Dying Degree. Yeah. Get your shit straight.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 10:42 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Neve Campbells nipples are most certainly not ugly. you could spend hours on them having fun

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 10:21 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    shai halud can eat me-

    the other baldwin brother

    Posted by ThriveToFailure on 2005-01-29 09:28:48
    My Score:

    Shai Hulud was the name the Dune natives gave to the giant sandworms in Frank Herbert's 'Dune' books.

    Not the only band to get their name from 'Dune' - see also Harkonen...

    Score, by the way, is for the forthcoming Zombie Apocalypse/Send More Paramedics split (although I haven't heard ZA's half yet)

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 7:14 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Any hardcore band that takes their name from a movie with Sting in it has to earn some respect....or not, I dunno if Sting is cool anymore.

    Joe

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 5:24 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    no thanks.

    -!GreenVandal!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 29, 2005 at 1:50 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Neve Campbell's nipples are ugly.

    Posted by SethCohen on 2005-01-29 00:32:51
    My Score:

    "I think Shai Hulud never got too popular because:
    1) Their haircuts weren't cool enough
    2) Their jeans weren't fashionable enough
    3) And, theirs songs didn't consist of: BREAKDOWN, BREAKDOWN *"you broke my heart...wwwhhhaaa...slit my wrists..wwwhhhaaaa"* BREAKDOWN "Fucckkk youuuuu" BREAKDOWN

    Hell, Atreyu is making a killing off this recipe."

    Copycat

    http://www.punknews.org/comments.php?op=sh owreply&tid=271453&sid=11430&pid=271452&mode=&order=&thold=#27145 3

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 11:18 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    as much as i didn't care one way or the other about this band i would have rather seen them get big than say sworn enemy. i'll take thier style over macho touch guy crap any day

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 9:45 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Actually, I think it's safe to say they never got very popular because THEY WEREN'T VERY GOOD!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 9:38 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I think Shai Hulud never got too popular because:
    1) Their haircuts weren't cool enough
    2) Their jeans weren't fashionable enough
    3) And, theirs songs didn't consist of: BREAKDOWN, BREAKDOWN *"you broke my heart...wwwhhhaaa...slit my wrists..wwwhhhaaaa"* BREAKDOWN "Fucckkk youuuuu" BREAKDOWN

    Hell, Atreyu is making a killing off this recipe.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 9:35 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Yep. Shai Hulud covered 'linoleum' back in 98..99? It was one of second (and last) singer Geert Van Der Velde's first recordings with the band.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 8:41 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    actually hulud covered the same song years before evergreen existed

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 8:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    dude it was evergreen terrace who covered that NOFX song. they made it sound truly awful

    Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-01-28 19:55:04
    My Score:

    How does Shai Hulud and oi go together?

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2005-01-28 18:51:06
    My Score:

    WHAT THE HELL!?!?! NO SHAI HALUD REVIEW!?!?!

    OI OI OI

    Posted by backupdork on 2005-01-28 18:19:01
    My Score:

    the name comes from the movie Dune. Shai Hulud was the name of some snake creatures or something akin to that.

    Posted by slippy on 2005-01-28 17:44:52
    My Score:

    I agree with sickboi, the last vocalist was the best.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 4:52 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    nice how you didn't mention damien or chad's more popular bands. if nothing else this stuff shows how much damien's voice improved by hte time as friends rust released "won"

    Posted by theevilmonkey on 2005-01-28 16:31:50
    My Score:

    I think it means "Say Hello" in gibberish speak.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I can't stand this band

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:06 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Commercial success breeds my disgust

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:05 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Drive-Thru blows

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:05 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Didn't these guys try to cover linoleum by nofx? Can't you legally be shot in the testicles for covering nofx?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Vagrant Records sucks

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Victory Records sucks

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This isn't punk!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Rules

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 3:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Sucks

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-01-28 14:07:59
    My Score:

    my favorite sand worms.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 1:39 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I'm surprised Dan didn't review this.

    I haven't heard much from these guys but I enjoy their cover of anesthesia.

    Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-01-28 13:36:10
    My Score:

    http://www.truepunk.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/topic/82/3227.ht ml

    Search for Kal-el, that's Fox's name.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 1:36 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Where is their name from? What does it mean?

    I was told a few years ago, but have since forgotten.

    Posted by innocentbystander on 2005-01-28 13:34:06
    My Score:

    i can't wait to get mine!!

    Posted by Medley on 2005-01-28 13:27:52
    My Score:

    I have to agree, that's some terrible cover art.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 12:40 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    shai hulud is good and all, but GODDAMN that is some bad cover art.

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-01-28 12:38:32
    My Score:

    I think the last vocalist was the best.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 12:30 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Anchors, you're the fuckin' shit!

    Posted by adamfromohio on 2005-01-28 12:28:14
    My Score:

    I hope you did not just call Shai Hulud 'the band with that guy from New Found Glory'......

    -adamfromohio

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 12:24 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    is this the band with that guy from new found glory.

    they suck

    Posted by primeevil7 on 2005-01-28 12:24:14
    My Score:

    ITS NOT A B-SIDES CD.

    The release, as Matt Fox put it, is entirely songs that were not meant to be released.

    That said, I'm looking forward to picking this up.

    Posted by Anchors on 2005-01-28 12:16:54
    My Score:

    My favorite song of theirs will always be 'My Heart Bleeds The Darkest Blood.' Sadly, I never got to see it live.

    Score's for that song.

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-01-28 12:05:48
    My Score:

    I would give this six stars. The Moyal tracks and first live show is phenomenal, but after track eleven or so, it starts to get not so good.

    Whose bright idea was it to put on a bunch of 4-track sounding guitar only tracks on this?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 28, 2005 at 12:03 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    I used to scoff at SH until I picked up "That Within..." on a crazy whim and realized it might be the single best hardcore album ever recorded.

    OC