The Blood of Gods
The Blood of Gods is the fourteenth album by thrash metal band Gwar. It was released on October 20, 2017 by Metal Blade Records. It is the band's first album without founding member Dave Brockie, who portrayed Oderus Urungus, due to his heroin overdose death on March 23, 2014. The album is also the first to feature Michael Bishop since 1999's We Kill Everything, portraying the newest character, lead singer Blöthar the Berserker, as opposed to his role as the original Beefcake the Mighty. It is the band's last album to feature Jamison Land as Beefcake before his departure in 2019 as well as the last to be released through Metal Blade.
Overview
During their set on the first day of the 2017 Vans Warped Tour, the band debuted "Fuck This Place", a tribute to Oderus Urungus.Track listing
- "Fuck This Place" contains an unlisted orchestral reprise of "War on Gwar" after the main song concludes. Vinyl pressings of the album feature a re-ordered track listing and place the reprise at the end of side C, following "Crushed By the Cross."
Personnel
- Mike Bishop – lead vocals, bass on "Viking Death Machine" and "Crushed By the Cross"
- Brent Purgason – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Crushed By the Cross", additional vocals on "El Presidente" and "Death to Dickie Duncan"
- Mike Derks – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, additional vocals on "El Presidente"
- Jamison Land – bass, backing vocals, additional vocals on "El Presidente" and "Fuck This Place", glockenspiel
- Brad Roberts – drums, percussion, additional vocals on "El Presidente" and "Fuck This Place"
- Matt Maguire – lead vocals on "The Sordid Soliloquy of Sawborg Destructo"
- Bob Gorman – spoken words at the end of "If You Want Blood"
- MC Chris – additional vocals on "Death to Dickie Duncan" and "Fuck This Place"
- Jenna Ottinger – additional vocals on "War on Gwar" and "Crushed By the Cross"
- JW Adkins – orchestral arrangement on "War on Gwar" reprise
- Danny T. Levin – all horns and horn arrangements on "El Presidente"
- Jonah Kane-West – B3 organ on "Viking Death Machine", "I'll Be Your Monster", and "Phantom Limb"
- Nicole Roberts – additional percussion, tambourine, vibraslap, and Tibetan chimes
- Mark Kilborn – additional sound design
- Ronan Chris Murphy – production, keyboards, additional percussion, and backing vocals