The Devil’s lettuce. Let me be your lying, backwoods guidance counselor who tells you it’s a gateway drug. It never led to harder drugs for me, only giggles while playing video games. Not that I’ve ever done it, FBI agent who monitors me. It’s all hypothetical.

I don’t think it is hypothetical for Bonginator. Their social media confirms it. A few characteristics are going to stand out for you other than the persistent weed references. Listening to the first track, you’re going to hear an excellent old school death metal production, as well as frontman Erik Thorstenn’s Corpsegrinder roar. I believe I am forgetting something obvious, too. Oh, yeah. That snare. You know the kind.

The first standout track to me is “Brined, Smoked, and Deep Fried,” which features Mutilation Barbecue, a band from my scene away from home, Cleveland OH. This track has chunky, deep riffs throughout, and it, as the kids say, fucks. This track is just pure nastiness, and the guest vocals, although brief, are excellent. They also live up to their description of “Two-Stepping Neon Weed Death,” with the quick section around 3 minutes in.

Your enjoyment of this album is going to hinge on your tolerance and acceptance of potty humor. Take for instance “420 LB Poop” and the repetition of the phrase “stinky poo poo mess.” I make poop jokes all the time, so it doesn’t bother me. This poop sounds quite traumatizing, so thanks for bringing some emotional heft, Bonginator. Some might find this immature and unbecoming, but dudes, the band name is Bonginator, and if you listened to the intro at all, I think you can expect this. Just enjoy the brutality and maybe laugh.

Okay, so maybe the humor factor doesn’t work and you’d like some more brutality? If you’re cool with some more butt and poop jokes, “Ritualistic Marijuana-Related Anal Defilement” should do the trick, as it’s a little over 3 minutes of such. Some chugging riffs dominate most of the runtime, but so does the “put the plug in your butt” line. Hey, whatever floats your prostate or some shit.

As for the last track, do you remember when I mentioned “two-step?” Enjoy its presence on the closer, “Chopped 2 Pieces.”  The heavy riff with of course some pinch harmonics starting around 2 minutes in, will undoubtedly get people punching grandmas in the pit. It’s her fault anyway. Why the fuck is she in the pit? It’s an excellent balls to-the-wall (man) closer to an album of highlights.

If you’re into or can simply accept the weed references, you’re going to have a lot of fun. I have no gripes with the humor, especially when it’s in this excellent style of the “new wave of old school death metal,” and I pick up new lines which make me chuckle on every listen, making for a memorable listen. If there is one complaint to be had, it’s this: fuck cassettes. I don’t get it, I won’t get it, and I don’t understand it as someone who knows why cassettes are a garbage format. In other words, I can’t find the CD for this one or I’d purchase it. Top-shelf stuff, even if it is a little low-brow.

[Visit the band's website]

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