With the demise of Strapping Young Lad (SYL), the members departed to commit to other projects. But three out of the four main SYL members stuck together to focus on a previously used comedy thrash metal project. The only SYL member who is not directly involved in the band is Devin Townsend (vocals), but even he is producing of ‘The Holes’ third album. The vocalist goes by the name of ‘The Heathen’, a fire breathing (live shows), beer, weed, gore and smut loving man painted in red, holding host to a fine mane of curly locks and some horns.

Many of ZH’s fans will no doubt have heard of them through a previous love of SYL, so it would only see natural to expect something along the same lines seen as all four of the members are working together. You won’t find the uncompromised aggression that was given out in SYL, but the humour is apparent even more so than before. Tongue in cheek would be putting the lyrical content lightly in this album. We are listening to multiple tongues in a singular cheek. With song titles such as Flight of the Knight Bat, We Rule the Fucking Land and Hair Doesn’t Grow on Steel, it would seem obvious that one isn’t going to have to search for the humor or decipher the lyrics and gain some abstract meaning. But please don’t think that the album is purely based on vulgar and immature humour, the music is fast and heavy. Thrash in one of its purest forms.

The opening title track builds up slowly, and then Gene ‘The Atomic Clock’ Hoglan’s drumming kicks in. The sheer speed makes it sound like Linford Christie has recorded himself running a triathlon with a one man band bass drum on his back. The lyrics mainly focus on badmouthing glam rock, and promoting the truthfulness of Exodus’ lyrics. ‘Exodus was fucking right! All the posers must die!’. As tracks pass they become less subtle in their less than elegant humor, but that’s not to say they aren’t funny.

By track five (Devil’s Mouth), you wonder if the albums can get any more obscurely amusing. Track six (The Vowel Song) answers your question with a highly recognizable, grunting yes. A guest vocal spot is filled by fellow comedy metal member, Nathan Explosion of Dethklok. The song highlights in an ironic and insulting manner, the issue of dyslexia and how it is suffered by American adults. The penultimate track title seems to be making fun of Manowar-esque songs and titles a-like. The song is called Hair Doesn’t Grow on Steel; even from the opening few seconds some would be able to tell it is parodying Manowar’s song, The Warrior Prayer. The album ends on a brutal note, (What’s My Name…Evil!), the song uses some of The Heathen’s harsher vocals. It even includes some reversed speech (or indecipherable words) on tape, how very Evil Dead. And what heartless souls couldn’t end a metal album without yelling ‘Satan!’ in a demonic tone? Not Zimmers Hole.

With most of the band being Canadian (Gene Hoglan hailing from Texas) it does make one wonder, what are they putting in the maple syrup?

7.5/10
Standout tracks: While You Were Shouting at the Devil, Devil’s Mouth and Hair Doesn’t Grow on Steel.

Zimmers Hole Are :-

Vocals: The Heathen
Guitar: Jed Simon
Bass: Byron Stroud
Drums: Gene Hoglan