Philip Anselmo Unleashes New Project, Arson Anthem

Title: Self-titled EP

Label: Housecore Records

Release: February 19, 2008

When it comes to extreme music, Phil Anselmo has had his finger on the pulse of some of heavy metal's most famous groups of all time -- Pantera, Down and Superjoint Ritual. Now, Anselmo brings the heavy music community another offering in the form of a hardcore group, Arson Anthem.

Like the Quentin Tarantino of heavy music, he continues his use of top musicians from other groups in the southern metal circuit. Finally, Anselmo is able to play live on lead guitar with this group. Although he recorded and wrote the guitar parts for Superjoint Ritual, he never played on guitar live. Instead, he has given vocal duties to EyeHateGod frontman Mike Williams. Instead of being on bass like he is in Superjoint Ritual, Hank Williams III is on drums. Collin Yeo, a rather unknown face up until now, is on bass guitar.

In true Anselmo fashion, he has kept his fans eagerly waiting for quite some time. Now that Superjoint Ritual is done -- for largely unknown reason -- and completed work on the third Down record, he is now able to place focus on side projects he has been involved with in the past. With his label, Housecore Records, he will first release the EP from Arson Anthem and eventually recordings by Christ Inversion, Body & Blood and other groups he is either involved with directly or has a sincere interest in.

The Arson Anthem EP has eight songs of absolute, balls-out fury. It's hardcore through and through, which is obviously what Anselmo and crew were shooting for. The songs themselves are direct and too the point -- again, as hardcore usually is. Williams' vocals are just the right touch of tortured angst the music needs to help push it over the edge.

The guitar parts are similar to those in Superjoint Ritual, but there are times when Anselmo attempts riffs in the vein of Pepper Keenan. This makes sense since he plays with Keenan in Down. The bass guitar is almost indecipherable since the recording is rather lo-fi, indicating it was recorded on some home equipment, and wasn't touched up. While the album has eight songs, they go by pretty quick, bringing into question whether it's worth paying $8.49 on Amazon.com. No price has been listed on Housecorerecords.com yet, but chances are it'll be in the $8 range.

Frankly, this is an album only a diehard Anselmo, EyeHateGod fan or fan of southern sludge metal and hardcore would consider buying -- but mostly fans of Anselmo and EyeHateGod. Samples can be heard on Amazon.com under Arson Anthem's music listing for the EP.