You might think someone who’s been a vegetarian for well over 30 years might have a hard time enjoying a band called Meat Whiplash. Well, when you consider the band’s affinity for post-punk and shoegaze sounds of the ’80s and the fact they shared the stage with The Jesus And Mary Chain, it didn’t take me long for to warm up to these Scottish legends.
Though they only released one single in their career, they left an indelible impact, and here we are three-plus decades after they broke up with a double album that assembles their lone record, a John Peel session, demos, live tracks and, interestingly enough, several tracks of other bands covering Meat Whiplash.
The first two tracks, “Don’t Slip Up” and “Here It Comes,” stem from the band’s only official release back in 1985. Both of the songs feature the well sung vocals of Paul McDermott alongside the swirling guitar from Stephen McLean and the scrappy rhythm section of Edward Connelly and Michael Kerr.
From there, we’re treated to the rumbling bass of “Eat Me To The Core,” where a darker mood enters, while the demo version of “Always Sunday” drones with a distinct dreaminess that’s also a bit ominous. The last tune before the covers is the raw and thumping “Cuddle Up With Cancer,” which illustrates Meat Whiplash’s live energy via both noisy and shoegaze qualities.
The last portion features bands that are largely unfamiliar to me. A Place To Bury Strangers flesh out “Walk Away” with plenty of buzzing noise that sure does tip its hat to Meat Whiplash’s legacy, while “Eat Me To The Core” is performed by Unlettered and places throbbing bass, hypnotic guitar and even a sing-along into the dense execution. Bubblegum Lemonade deliver the final track, “She Comes Tomorrow,” which carries a bit of a jangle alongside melodic singing and even pop nods.
Sure, they only released a single, but I’ve been seeing the name Meat Whiplash tossed around fanzines since the early ’90s, so they were clearly onto something. This release documents their existence with incredible packaging and a preservation of their time that all fans of post-punk, shoegaze and early alt-rock will appreciate.
I choose to listen while eating tofu.
