Some metalheads are sticklers for the rules, but no cow is too sacred for Insanity Alert. On their new EP, the Austrian pranksters tear through a four-pack of familiar classics. But while the first single from Moshemian Thrashody yanked the chain of a saxy pop icon, the title track crashes classic rock's night at the opera with a whole clown car full of crossover thrash hijinks.
Watch the hi(gh)larious video for "Moshemian Thrashody" below.
Moshemian Thrashody comes out May 17 on Season of Mist.
Pre-order:https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/insanity-alert-moshemian-thrashody
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/moshemianthrashodypresave
For Insanity Alert, spoofing "Bohemian Rhapsody" is like bagging a white whale. Scan to any classic rock station and you'll be hard-pressed to find another song that combines balladry bombast, vocal theatrics and arena rock fist pumps with the fatalism of a French novel.
"We think of 'Moshemian Thrashody' as a tribute to the greatness of the original", says Heavy Kevy, the band's moshpit maestro. "Mixing a song that's as over-the-top as 'Bohemian Rhapsody' with our blend of speed, fun and brutal weirdness just feels right".
If you're coming for Queen, then you best not miss. After all, who hasn't suffered some tone-deaf soul doing the Fandango during bar karaoke? Of course, Insanity Alert check all the necessary boxes. Maybe those leather pants are a pinch tight, but the Wayne's World cosplay is a fitting homage.
But the band hit all the right notes, too. The riffs thrash. The D-beats chug. As if by some especially potent magic mushroom, Galileo is transformed into Ronnie James Dio. Heck, the guys even manage to keep a straight face long enough for the squeaky-clean a cappella parts.
"So you think I'm a stoner that never complies?", Heavy Kevy spits as if shooting a snot rocket. Now, that's not far from the truth. But everybody knows that thrashers do it better. Amidst double bass flurries that pop like fireworks, Dave of Death launches into a climactic guitar solo with the reckless abandon of doing a keg stand in the mosh pit.
On "Moshemian Thrashody", Insanity Alert go anywhere the weed blows.
The video for "Moshemian Thrashody" was produced, filmed and edited by Max "Mugs" Raggl in Innsbruck, Austria ( www.mugs.at ).
The concept was created by Insanity Alert.
"Maddening and powerful thrash from guys who understand the sound and culture" - Metal Injection
"Experts in crafting immense and blistering fun" - Distorted Sound
"Heavy, fast, old-school and right in your face" - Grimm Gent
"They make quite a noise...combining retro thrash with their own boozy brand of skateboarding-crossover thrash which hits at such a speed that by the time you've slapped the disc on you're already getting back off your arse to play it again" - Metal Forces
[Movie trailer voice] In a world that’s plagued by war, natural disasters and TikTok dance challenges, one band are hell-bent on partying like there’s no tomorrow. Sure, the hangovers might hit a little harder now that they’re four albums in. But on Moshemian Thrashody, Insanity Alert are still nothing but a good time.
Ski parties visit Austria for its powdered slopes, but when Insanity Alert banded together from around Innsbruck in 2011, these adrenaline junkies had a different, more dangerous type of shredding in mind. Their destructive appetite for ‘80s crossover thrash is only rivaled by an unquenchable thirst for ice-cold beer.
While under the influence of older party monsters like Suicidal Tendencies and Municipal Waste, Insanity Alert roll their riffs with the same strand of humor as labelmates Cannabis Corpse. Their songs parody everyone from perennial punching bags like David Guetta and Milli Vanilli to sacred cows Iron Maiden.
“We think of our renditions as tributes to the greatness of the original songs”, the band says. “Mixing their greatness with our blend of speed, fun, brutality and weirdness just feels right.
On the strength of their demo tape alone, Insanity Alert sent skate punks and metalheads running into the pit. First Diagnosis was quickly confirmed by follow-up EP Second Opinion. Critics properly diagnosed their self-titled full-length as a much-needed dose of derangement, but the band has upped their prescription of snot-nosed speed and grinding d-beats with each release.
Moshburger was served up in 2016 while Insanity Alert were on tour with Hatebreed, Madball, Terror and Power Trip. They then shared a 666-Pack with festivalgoers at Wacken Open Air. With names like Slapmaster Puke and The Inphiltrator, this band will go to comically absurd lengths just to jump into the circle pit with their fans -- so long as there’s a full fridge and good bud(s) waiting backstage. When Insanity Alert played the main stage at Hellfest in 2019, Dave of the Death could barely feel his fretting hand after taking one heck of a stage dive the night before.
Moshemian Thrashody keeps the festivities going with new parodies of familiar classics like Guns N’ Roses and Iron Maiden. One might surprise you, though. Lead single “Beerless Fiesta” gives the crossover thrash treatment to (checks notes) George Michael? Insanity Alert aren’t going into mosh retirement anytime soon, though. The title track sees Queen’s theatrics and raises it with a clown car full of hijinks, including a Hauwitzer guitar solo that pops off like a bottle of champagne. Don Melanzani chugs down blast beats as the band joins in an acapella gang chant about “letting it snow” with Santa Claus that’s rowdier than a German beer hall.
“These are some killer tunes that we threw in our drunken 420 blender”, says Heavy Kevy. “Moshemian Thrashody rides the thin line between familiar and super awkward – like seeing your old grandpa in the mosh pit or masturbating for the first time with your other hand”.
After almost 15 years of bringing crossover thrash to party animals everywhere, Insanity Alert will still go anywhere the weed blows.
Line-up
Heavy Kevy - Vocals
Don Melanzani - Drums
The Inphiltrator - Guitar
The Dave of Death - Guitar
Slapmaster Puke: Bass
Guest appearances
"Welcome to the Moshpit" - Hauwitzer (guitar solo)
Recording Studio
Subsound Station (Telfs, Austria)
Producer
Matthias Mayr
Mixing
Andy Reinhardt
Mastering
Andy Reinhardt
Cover art
James Callahan / Barf Comics
Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/insanity-alert-moshemian-thrashody
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/moshemianthrashodypresave
Links
https://www.facebook.com/insanityalert
https://www.instagram.com/insanityalert/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw79GR8zx8EsZ13DIwhye5g
Available formats
Digital Download
CD
10" Vinyl - Black
10" Vinyl - Colored (Translucent Turquoise)