On The Cover Anger Overload: December 1993

I don’t know what it is about this group of guys and the music they produce, but they always seem to create some of the best music from the Salt Lake scene. Before I start babbling, I suppose some introductions are in order: Anger Overload is a five piece band that includes Speedy (guitar), Gene Gene (Drums), Chuckles (voice), Johnny Bend (guitar) and Brent (bass). I really should have forced them to give me their proper given names, but then I would be writing for the Utah Chronicle.

I did one of my world-famous interviews over coffee at Coachman’s and walked out with a pad of paper with nothing but the band’s names on it. We shot the shit for a while about everything from GG Allin to Aerosmith, but I found that getting to know the band was a lot better than a word-for-word interview that usually doesn’t make any sense laterI sat across from Chuckles, the vocalist and lyricist for the band. I have known him for a long time, but for some reason I know almost nothing about his musical drive. The band is easily one of the toughest bands I have ever encountered in the past seven years I have been involved with the alternative music scene. This is one of those bands that knows what they want and are making it happen.

They come from the burbs and wound up in a collaboration with varied influences and talents. You have seen their faces in Victims Willing, Truce, Alcohol Death, Hair Farm and probably a dozen other bands. Chuckles has been around since some of the very first punk bands reared their ugly heads some umpteen years ago. His talent and knowledge of both music and the music business could push the band right out of our big-little town.

I was hangin’ out with Brad Collins (Raunch) today, and when I told him Anger Overload was going to be on the cover, his first words (often sarcastic) were very complimentary of the tape he heard of the band’s newest material. Now, if any of you know Brad at all, you know he is very picky about the music he likes. When I asked A.O. about their recording session, they too were very positive about the end results. These are five of the least egotistical people I have ever met. I look forward to hearing it myself. Their release on the new SLUG Compilation is better than anything else on the 90 minute, 22 song tape, hands down.

When I asked them what they planned to do with this relatively expensive recording, the room went quiet. In a nutshell, the band has been sending their music around the world, and things look good for them. It was refreshing to see a band who was taking real action with their talent.

The thing that impressed me most about my chat with these boys was something they said when I asked them if they had anything more to say about their band: “We are proud to say that we don’t sound like any other bands in Salt Lake.”  I have noticed in the past few years that a lot of the bands sound a bit too much like Iceburn, Bad Yodelers or The Stench. Anger Overload is fighting for a new sound. This is by far the best way to go in the long run. The only problem is, they don’t catch the tail end of anybody else’s scene and get in on the hip cool trendy crowds that seem to follow some of the other bands. This is a shame. They are good, and they are original. If you have ever seen them play they will knock you on your ass.

One time, I ran into an old friend (who almost never goes to shows) at the Bar & Grill one night when Anger Overload was playing. I asked him what he thought after the show, and all he could say was, “Whoa, they sound like a fuckin’ freight train comin’ right at you.” I couldn’t agree more. Their sound is fast, hard, and they create an amazing variety of sounds with what they play.

I have seen them about four times, and I have heard many of the songs several times. Each time the songs sound different. They are constantly experimenting with new sounds and techniques they add to their music. When I asked them how that worked in the studio, they felt that the songs they had picked had evolved to where they wanted them to. Except for the driving musical style they have chosen, no two songs sound the same. This is due to the fact that no one person is a principal music writer. The songs are written collectively by the band, and each member adds his own part to each song. Since everybody’s influences and musical styles vary so much, it adds a lot of interesting textures and layers to their sound.

This is a solid band that is working together better than most other Salt Lake City bands. They have a bright future to make it outta here. They may not get the big crowds because of the chicken-shit mindset of most concert-goers in this town, but if they play a show where people are already there, the crowds love them. I think it is time to check these guys out.

Read more from the SLUG Archives:
Cover Story: One Eye
Stoneface: February 1993