If you're a fan of As I Lay Dying, then you're no stranger to Austrian Death Machine. The side project originally started as a joke band, which is odd to think cause they're better than most "serious" bands. After raising funds on Indiegogo and a life-changing controversy later (Google it), Triple Brutal is finally seeing the light of day!
Typical with previous ADM albums, the record starts out with a skit. This one finds Ahhnold (voiced by the very talented Joe Gaudet) and Tim doing a soundc heck before leading into the first song, I'll Be Back. The concept with each ADM record follows the same formula: watch an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, pick your favorite quote(s), write a song featuring said quote(s), add in "Ahhnold", and pretty soon, you'll have a whole album. With that being said, the record features quotes from Schwarzenegger's extensive filmography, including, Kindergarten Cop, Terminator (1 and 2), The Running Man, Conan The Barbarian, Commando, and Total Recall. The last two tracks, I'm Not A Pervert, and It's Turbo Time are from the band's previous EP, Jingle All The Way.
Near middle of the record, there's a song called, "Pumping and Humping" which makes light of Arnold's widely publicized affair with his housekeeper ("this song goes out to all the housekeepers!"). Acting Advice is another skit that has Ahhnold giving Tim pointers if he was gonna be a extra in one of his movies. Ahhnold's advice includes, flexing your muscles whenever shake someone's hand, and eating a block of cheese before heading to the set because it binds you up and makes you constipated. And it gives you a pissed off look, I mean, just look at him in True Lies. (Come on, baby).
I Lied, from one of my personal favorite Schwarzenegger movies, Commando, has Tim and Ahhnold recalling the time he told Sully, "You're a funny guy, that's why I'm gonna kill you last." Near the middle of the movie, Arnold's character John Matrix is holding Sully upside down with his "weak arm" and subsequently says, "Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last? I lied." He then drops Sully, walks back to his car, where his sidekick asks him what happened to Sully. Arnold replies, "I let him go."
It's worth noting that "Consider Dat A Divorce" (featuring Scott Lewis from Carnifex) isn't on the record but that's understandable considering the circumstances it came out under. Fans of As I Lay Dying, metalcore, heavy music, etc should pick this up and give it a fair chance, regardless of your thoughts on Tim's situation.
8/10