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Botch

061502 [DVD/CD]
2006
Hydra Head

Botch - 061502 [DVD/CD] (Cover Artwork)

Review by: pwfanatic37
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Published on December 12th 2006

I am going to go out on a limb and declare Botch one of the greatest heavy bands of all time. The quartet from Tacoma was a sonic force to be reckoned with, destroying crowds throughout the world till 2002. June 15, 2002, approximately 1200 kids piled into The Showbox in Seattle to witness one last glimpse of Botch’s creatively violent take on the world of heavy music. An announcement of a DVD specially for those that missed out was announced years ago, and finally, after many days of wallowing in a Botch-less world, 061502 has been released.

The whole impressive package is that 14-song-long set from June 15 and an accompanying live CD of that show. The set list is very finely chosen, taking equal doses from the entire discography and even including the fantastic cover of “Rock Lobster.” The sound on the DVD, considering the fact that the show wasn’t necessarily going to be made into a DVD at the time, is great. All of Dave Knudsen’s manipulative nutty distortion tricks sound just as unstoppably heavy as on the albums. The onstage banter is even kept in. Starting with “St. Mathew Returns to the Womb” and finishing with “Man the Ramparts,” it is a spectacular set through and through.

Unfortunately, since the show was filmed but not filmed with a DVD release in mind, much of the camera work is quite grainy. There are some good angles, but the editing too often starts to flash back and forth from different cameras too quickly, often with the accompaniment of a strobe light. It is incredibly hard to actually watch the show when these rapid-fire scenes take place, but it only happens a few times.

Added bonuses include a few live songs performed in Bellingham and a music video for “St. Mathew Returns to the Womb.” But the true shining moment of the entire disc is the included commentary that seemed to delay the release of the DVD for so long. The band gets together to have a few beers, ridicule themselves, ridicule others, and explain the best and the worst that was Botch. It is an interesting insight to hear which riffs make the top 5 coolest Botch ever performed and such. Often times commentaries on many DVDs are dreadfully boring and that is not the case here. And if anything, to hear bassist Brian Cook say what everyone has always thought about Norma Jean makes the purchase entirely worth it.

Those that saw this show live were treated to a fitting testament to one of the best heavy bands of the past decade. For a band whose fan-base practically grew exponentially after the break-up, 061502 is a perfect display of the ferociousness of a band that had few peers in its time and still blows most bands of today out of the water.

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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 10:40 AM (EST)

"I am going to go out on a limb and declare Botch one of the greatest heavy bands of all time".

Just a random thought, why is it that _everything_ is "one of the greatest" whatever ever? Why can't something just be flat out the best thing ever? That phrase has been used so much it's lost all meaning.

Posted by Hey_Asshole on 2006-12-15 01:07:24

i know a girl who compares every fucking band in the world to Botch. no matter what the band sounds like. i suspect she might be retarded.

so, good job Botch. now every girl with big tits who listens to shitty hardcore/metalcore has a band to compare the shitty bands to.

Posted by DickAround on 2006-12-14 19:56:04

Check your local indie store. I think Hydra Head ships CDs to Best Buy, I dont know about their DVDs, I wouldnt count on it. Also; check out hydrahead.com.

Posted by Rocktopus on 2006-12-14 00:37:32

I didnt need to read any more of this review after the first sentence.....

Where can i buy this?

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 5:19 PM (EST)

alright, i confess, that comment about botch ripping off norma jean was a joke, i was trying to stir a hornet's nest, and low and behold.... not much.

GET PISSED! SOMEONE GET PISSED! I'M SO BORED!

Sorry Getty, I'm glad you enjoyed this.

Who got to see Botch when they were on tour with the Murder City Devils?? I DID!

Posted by pwfanatic37 on 2006-12-13 17:12:52

if i remember correctly, during Japam, Brian Cook says something along the lines of, God i love this norma jean song.

then everyone oohs and aahs, and the drummer tim says, its amazing how we got away with blantantly ripping those guys off.

its great to hear the band say exactly what everyone thinks (and a lot of people say as well).

Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-12-13 17:12:05

"i heard these fuckers ripped of Norma Jean! What the hell?! Come on! No band that rips off another band deserves the time of day."

Dear god I hope that's a joke. Score is for the comment, unless it's a joke, in which case I would have to re-evaluate my score. Until then ... die.

Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-12-13 17:08:31

No worries Kenjamin, that was not directed at you.

Posted by russe11 on 2006-12-13 16:35:26

What does he say about Norma Jean? I'm dying to know (I ordered the dvd yesterday).

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 3:18 PM (EST)

i heard these fuckers ripped of Norma Jean! What the hell?! Come on! No band that rips off another band deserves the time of day.

kill them all and let God sort them out!

Posted by Laurier on 2006-12-12 23:05:14

The commentary is fucking hilarious and they're using the dvd as a drinking game hXc.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 11:02 PM (EST)

the botch guys are the nicest of folk. two of their members went on to form the band Roy, my favorite thing that came after Botch. They wrote the perfect soundtrack to the town of Tacoma, WA. Listening to it again, Ive re-fallen in love. What brilliant musicians, and diverse as fuckng shit. Botch to Roy? Cant get much different than that.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 8:43 PM (EST)

I think it's retarded when bands on indies put out DVDs.

Leave that shit for N*Sync!

(negative Punk Points assessed!)

So they should release VHS tapes? SUPPORT DEAD ENTERTAINMENT MEDIUMS! DIY!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 6:45 PM (EST)

I tried to buy this, and my girlfriend was like "NOOO< that's your present, stole it from me, wrapped, and is forbidding me to opn until X-mas. HARDCORE!!!!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 6:37 PM (EST)

man these guys totally ripped off norma jean ;)

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 4:48 PM (EST)

Harkonen is the best Verellen brothers related project.

Shake Harder Boy > Elvis

Posted by kenjamin on 2006-12-12 15:51:51

Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-12-12 14:53:06
My Score:

And please, I hope no morons post that these guys ripped off Norma Jean.

Fuck, I was kidding in the other review.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 3:45 PM (EST)
My Score:

i got my preorder package last week on wednesday and fortunately they remembered to include my hoodie. too bad they couldn't have printed it on american apparel... the stiching on the jerzees hoodie is pathetic...

anyways... wonderful live show. they couldn't have ended any better.

Posted by SilentStorms on 2006-12-12 14:53:06
My Score:

Best. Band. Ever. I ordered this the day it came out and I'm waiting for it in the mail. Considering I bought their albums years ago I can't believe I still listen to almost all of them on a daily basis. Fanfreakingtastic. And please, I hope no morons post that these guys ripped off Norma Jean.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 10:27 AM (EST)

ferocity, my dear.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 8:34 AM (EST)
My Score:

I think it's retarded when bands on indies put out DVDs.

Leave that shit for N*Sync!

(negative Punk Points assessed!)

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 7:01 AM (EST)
My Score:

I ordered this a while back, so it should be arriving soon. Im SO stoked for this.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 4:05 AM (EST)

botchreviewsnews.org?

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 1:18 AM (EST)

i'm mad at hydra head for not including the promised shirt with my pre-order, but it's a pretty great dvd. watching it made me remember what a truly special band they were. bands like that do not come around often. i can't help wondering if we have one like that now and don't even know it.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 1:04 AM (EST)

Botch's light show kept the stage dark alot of the time and while it worked if you were there, it does not necessarily work for filming. The graininess comes from trying to get as much exposure from the footage.

Posted by kenjamin on 2006-12-12 00:53:11

I downloaded the accompanying cd today and it is awesome. I can't wait to pick this up in a couple of days. I can't believe I've been waiting for this since highschool!

Posted by Archangel on 2006-12-12 00:39:50

I wish I could afford to buy shit for myself right now. Damn holidays.

Posted by Laurier on 2006-12-12 00:38:06
My Score:

Awesomeness

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