GOLDEN BLACK (Normal Edition)(Japan Version)

One of the few Japanese bands to have attracted a cult following both locally and overseas, three-man band Guitar Wolf sure can make noise. A lot of noise. Their style of rocking, self-termed "Jett Rock 'n' Roll" after music icon Joan Jett, is an amalgam of garage, punk, rockabilly, Ramones, hard rock, and noise. A lot of noise. Think punishing distorted guitars and feedback, fierce drumming, howling vocals, nonsensical "lock 'n' loll" lyrics (when you can hear them), and raw sounds (of the recorded in a kitchen sink variety) - all delivered with intense angry cheer. Piercing eardrums since 1987, Guitar Wolf consists of Guitarwolf (lead vocalist and guitarist Seiji), Drumwolf (Toru), and Basswolf (Billy and Ug). Sadly, Basswolf Billy passed away last year and this album makes a fitting tribute to ten plus years of noise-making with some of Guitar Wolf's best tracks.

I am normally not an advocate of greatest hits albums, as they often seem to miss the point. However, with Guitar Wolf, you are basically buying the "Guitar Wolf sound" more than anything, which frankly has not changed all that much over the years. Given the relative difficulty of tracking down the whole catalogue of their works, particularly the earlier releases, this anthology does the job just fine.

The Golden Black collection includes Mars Twist (Track 17) and Red Rockabilly (Track 20) from their 1993 LP, Wolf Rock!, and All Through the Night Bottobase!! (Track 2) from their first studio album, Run Wolf Run (1994). Appropriately enough, there are seven tracks from their 1999 manifesto, Jet Generation, which has been called the loudest album ever made. From Fujiyama Attack (Track 18) to a searing cover of Eddie Cochran's Summertime Blues (Track 26), the band always manages to be surprisingly fun amidst the screaming and riffing. The album also includes tracks from Planet of the Wolves (1997), Rock 'n' Roll Etiquette (2000), UFO Romantics (2002), and Loverock (1994), not to mention the rare single I Love You, OK (Track 25), an odd cover of veteran rocker Yazawa Eikichi's signature hit, and a previously unreleased version of Missile Me (Track 3) that is, if possible, louder than the original.

For those who like their music blaring and brutal, I can give no higher recommendation than Guitar Wolf.