What’s hotter than having two hot chicks banging their head along with you at a metal show? Two hot chicks playing the metal that you are banging your head to. Butcher Babies make that dream come true.
Century Media’s new find Butcher Babies debut album “Goliath” landed last week with a brilliant, head thrashing, mosh-pitting, fierce 11 songs to please even the true metal enthusiast. Yes, fronted by beauties Carla Coates and Heidi Shepherd, made their presence first known primarily for their looks (both former Playboy TV personalities) and their stage antics (topless with only a small “X” of black tape halting a triple XXX rating), but these two ladies know how to thrash.
The idea of two vocalists battling between a “clean and scream” duel, or a call-and-response, is not an uncommon trait in metal bands over the last several years but rarely is it seen with two women, or at least on every song. Butcher Babies prove this formula can work and not become boring or stagnant. From Heidi Shepherd’s opening scream on “I Smell A Massacre”, “Goliath” takes you journey worth holding up your metal-fingers throughout. Album highlights the adrenaline fused “Magnolia Blvd.”, followed by the slower-paced and heavier “C8h18 (Gasoline)”, the introspective “In Denial” and “The Mirror Never Lies” not only show off Coates and Shepherd’s vocal ability but really showcase the powerful and talented trio of musicians they have supporting them; guitarist Henry Flury, bassist Jason Klein, and drummer Chris Warner. Having seen them live on this year’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival before listening to the album, I wasn’t sure how well their ferocity would translate onto CD but veteran album producer Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Hatebreed) really captured the essence of the band and the energy they throw out at an audience.
Butcher Babies really knock it out of the park on their debut; I think they have a real possibility of having a lasting career. Fans of Otep, Kittie, along with Century Media label mates In This Moment and Arch Enemy, need to look past the tape and give “Goliath” your full attention.