13 Flavours of Doom

Review

Once dubbed the Canadian Motörhead, it is easy to see why this release contributed to the continued dichotomy surrounding this band. They were almost as long-serving as Motörhead by the time this release came out – and just as prolific in the studio – but while Motörhead were in the metal camp but admired by punks for their attitude and sound, it was the reverse for D.O.A.. They were punk, but admired by metal fans for their hard and heavy sounds and rasping vocals – particularly on this album. Free of all influences from either Californian or East Coast U.S. hardcore punk, they had whittled their own sound which still managed to fit seamlessly into any live setting with bands from elsewhere. Songs on this album are split into two distinct types – those written by Keithley and those written by Goble. Keithley's are the ones with the less than serious titles and lyrics – "Use Your Raincoat" and "I Played The Fool" but two examples – and they tend to be more uptempo and straightforward musically. Goble's tended to be more worldly issue related – "Bombs Away" and "Time Of Illusion" are typical – and musically slower, more technical, and of greater structure. The thing the two songwriters have in common, however, is the sheer heaviness of the music – "Too Fuckin' Heavy" for punk is open to debate, and not just "Beatin' Rock 'n' Roll To Death", but also their instruments.