As we have found out, Tim Lambesis (As I Lay Dying) apparently has tons of time on his hands. The result of which is the creation of the hilarious and ass-kicking side project known as Austrian Death Machine. Which is made up entirely of songs that reference Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s movies and signature macho Austrian vocals. ADM’s first go at comedy metal resulted in “Total Brutal,” which was an instant classic (in my opinion) that was not only funny to the very end, but featured some talented guitar work and percussion courtesy of Tim himself. After just over a year and some change, Tim decided it was time to revisit Austrian Death Machine with its latest 2 CD effort, aptly titled “Double Brutal”

I wanted to mention first off that the new Arnold impression (from Howard Stern’s Arnold) is so spot on that I know he could fool just about everyone with it. In comparison, Tim’s impersonation sounds like poop. Which is why “Double Ahhnold” is so hilarious — as both voices duke it out with recognizable catch phrases starting a fantastic intro track. Austrian Death Machine‘s first record may have taken all of the highly memorable themes from Mr. Schwarzenegger’s movies, but there are tons more where those came from. So fans of Conan the Barbarian, Total Recall, and the classic Terminator, should have no fear, because there are comical tracks featuring satire from all of them. We even have songs based off of Arnold’s work on Kindergarten Cop, Jingle All the Way, and even Batman & Robin.

“Double Brutal” also has a ton of guest guitar work, much like their debut record — helping the effort avoid the metalcore boredom zone. While both records had guests on the tracks, this record feels like there is more separation between each song, as artists such as Andrew Tapley (The Human Abstract), Kris Norris (ex-Darkest Hour), and Jason Suecof (Capharnaum), tend to make more of a presence than Tim’s fretwork.

Then the issues come in. “Double Brutal” is a double CD — the first disc is pretty much the only one with theme driven songs, and it doesn’t last very long, being exactly 29:58 minutes in length. The second disc is simply covers of other bands songs done in “Ahhnold” format. Yeah, Metallica, The Misfits, Judas Priest, and Megadeth songs covered may sound good to some of you folks, but to me it just feels like Tim ran out of ideas (or time) for more original songs and fell on the crutch of a covers CD to support it. After several listens, I don’t even bother putting the second disc in to my stereo, in favor of looping the first.

Personally I am a fan of Tim Lambesis, Austrian Death Machine, and both of the projects records, but “Double Brutal” just didn’t offer the same fresh, solid, punch to the face that “Total Brutal” did a year before. Entertaining and funny tracks like “Double Ahhnold,” “Who Told You You Could Eat My Cookies?,” and “Come On Cohaagen, Give Deez People Ehyar,” give the record personality and will have you continuously laughing — but the disappointing lack of more original material, replaced by a cover album, leaves a big hole. At least Tim can have another go with “Quad-Br00tal,” coming out in Summer 2010. (not really)….(maybe) ~Staff

Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:
1. Double Ahhnold
2. I Need Your Clothes, Your Boots, and Your Motorcycle
3. Let Off Some Steam Bennett
4. Who Writes the Songs? (The Real Bomb Track)
5. It’s Simple, If it Jiggles it’s Fat
6. See You at the Party Richter
7. Hey Cookie Monster, Nothing is as Brutal as Neaahhh
8. Who Told You You Could Eat My Cookies?
9. Come on Cohaagen, Give Deez People Ehyar
10. Who is Your Daddy, and What Does He 2?
11. Come on, Do it, Do it, Come on, Come on, Kill me, Do it Now
12. Allow Me To Break The Ice
13. Conan, What is Best in Life?
14. Intro to the Intro
15. T2 Theme
16. Hell Bent for Leather (Judas Priest cover)
17. Time Travel: The Metallica Conspiracy
18. Trapped Under Ice (Metallica cover)
19. Iron Fist (Motörhead cover)
20. Recalling Mars
21. I Turned into a Martian (Misfits cover)
22. Killing is My Business…and Business is Good (Megadeth cover)
23. Tactically Dangerous – Cannibal Commando (Goretorture cover)
24. Gotta Go (Agnostic Front cover)

HOLY 80s METAL BATMAN! Edguy, formed in 1992 by kids who were 14 at the time, are a power metal / 80s metal band from Germany, but not power metal in the almost overtly obnoxious Dragonforce meaning. We’re talking bringing back the days of Judas Priest, classic Motley Crue, even a little bit of Scorpions and Poison, bands that make me think of my youth. But the best part of the whole band is that Edguy isn’t fake power metal, these guys are legit, they live it, breathe it, it’s who they are, they’re not faking. This is the most awesome quality about this band.

The first two songs are your standard power metal, standard drumming, nothing too showy, excellent guitar work, and vocals that would make Steve Perry jealous. “The Pride of Creation” throws an interesting wrench in the gears with the addition of an almost poppy track, as poppy as power metal can get. In all honesty, power metal isn’t a genre that I look upon with much integrity. It’s fun, it makes me think of wearing a denim vest and driving a camaro, and it’s fun to drink to. But there’s a reason it was left in the 80s for the most part. The sound is one that’s very dated, you don’t see very many power metal bands these days. While all trends in music are cyclical, I don’t know as if this one is ever coming back.

Long story short, Edguy is a wondrous band for what they are; you will be hard pressed to find a better band in this genre. But it’s hard music to take really seriously. If you’re any fan of 80s metal, checking out Edguy is something you need to do. Otherwise, this is an album you can probably pass on. ~Staff

Score: 3/5

Track Listing:
1. Ministry of Saints
2. Sex Fire Religion
3. The Pride of Creation
4. Nine Lives
5. Wake Up Dreaming Black
6. Dragonfly
7. Thorn Without a Rose
8. 9-2-9
9. Speedhoven
10. Dead or Rock
11. Aren’t You a Little Pervert Too?!