Gwar - Live at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia
December 18, 2010
Source/Lineage: Core Sounds Cardioids (pointed towards stage) -> Sony PCM-M10 (line-in, 48kHz 24 bit) -> Soundforge 9.0e w/Izotope Ozone 4 Mastering Plugin (mastered and downconverted to 44.1kHz 16 bit) -> FLAC Level 8
Recorded, mastered and processed by: Yours truly ... Starclassic.
Location: Outdoor concert. In line with PA stacks, approximately 15m away to avoid the fake blood and spew (!), stage right.
Notes:
Holy shit. Gwar have finally graced Australia with their disgusting presence and it couldn't have been a better show from the boys (though I wish they wouldn't show us their arses, hehe).
Anyway, onto the music.
These guys aren't just funny on stage. They can actually play metal. Compared to the other homosexual emo bands that were playing on the other two stages at the time (part of the No Sleep 'til Sydney festival), this was definitely the stage to be. A fine setlist, coupled with unrelenting brutality and power made for probably the highlight of the day second only to Megadeth's playing of the entire Rust in Peace album shortly after. Oderus Urungus was as filthy in his commentary as I expected, which is my brand of humour. If you're easily offended, why are you even interested in Gwar in the first place? Leave this torrent alone before your ears and face melt. :)
Onto the technical bits, I'm not sure what the hell was going on with the sound. Even when the crowd wasn't moving around, I was getting seriously audible phasing of the high end. Was it the sound guy? Were there other unforeseen factors given that it was an outdoor concert? I can't say for sure but I do know this is why I hate outdoor concerts given the lack of a controlled environment. Thankfully the wind noise was down to a minimum and only audible during quiet passages.
Overall, I give the sound a rating of C-. There's far too much phasing going on which I've tried hard to control but unfortunately, a turd shaped into a cupcake still tastes like a turd. Oderus might actually like that cupcake, I can't say for sure.
Nevertheless, I certainly enjoyed this gig and I hope you do too! That's why I figure it's still worth releasing. All feedback appreciated as always.
...and please do not sell this bootleg, otherwise you're just plain old scum. That and Oderus will sick Gor-Gor onto you.