American Head Charge burst onto the scene last summer and have been turning heads ever since. We thought it would be cool to take a little look back and see what all the excite is about. With that in mind we wanted to give you a second chance to check out over past AHC coverage. So if you missed these articles the first time around, here are the CD and live reviews we previously posted on antiMUSIC. 
 

American Head Charge – The War of Art 
Label: American Recordings
Rating: 
 

Tracks: A Violent Reaction Pushing The Envelope Song For The Suspect Never Get Caught Self Just So You Know Seamless Effigy Americ*** Evolving Into Useless Psychic Garbage Shutdown We Believe Breathe In, Bleed Out Fall Reach And Touch All Wrapped Up Nothing Gets Nothing

As if Slayer’s new CD wasn’t enough pure metal for the summer of 2001 Rick Rubin’s American Recordings have unleashed a new metal monster with American Head Charge. Their debut “The War of Art” packs a punch that only a seven-piece band can deliver. That intensity was discovered this summer as the band amazed Ozzfest crowds and annoyed tour organizers with their full-throttle show that included burning flags and the band shooting off a shotgun during their performances. The mayhem only continued after the Ozzfest was over and the band began hitting the clubs, where one unlucky fan was the target of a thrown bottle from stage. Even before the release of their album, American Head Charge was writing their name in the rock history books with their insane live performances. 

We know they can deliver the goods live but can they capture the same intensity in the studio? After one listen to “The War of Art” I give you a resounding HELL YES! Forget what the fans and critics have come to call nu-metal, American Head Charge only uses a little of the watered down modern sounds and instead they go straight to the thrash and speed metal archives to achieve the bulk of their ear-splitting sonic direction. 

From start to finish “The War of Art” is an uncompromising heavy album filled with righteous screams, in your face bass and drums and searing guitars. The song titles speak for themselves; “A Violent Reaction”, “Pushing The Envelope”, “Americ*** Evolving Into Useless Psychic Garbage” and “Breathe In, Bleed Out”. There is no mistaking this band with their less intense nu-metal contemporaries. 

 Viddy well my little brothers and sisters this CD is not for the weak at heart or the mall-core crowd but if you want to do some serious head banging and inflict irreversible damage to your eardrums this is the CD to own in 2002! 
 
 
 

(from the Live review of Slayer and AHC)

I’d hate to be the person that has the impossible job of putting together Slayer’s tours. Who in the hell can you get to open up for Slayer that won’t bore the s*** out of the audiences? Who ever decided on American Head Charge for this tour needs to be commended. I can’t think of another relatively new metal band that meet the challenge of opening up for legends like Slayer. The first time I saw AHC was at Ozzfest. I’d never heard of them before that and I was expecting yet another nu-metal, rap-core formula band but was blown away once they launched into their first song. Then when the shot gun came out I knew these guys were nuts. I loved every minute of it. Here is power-metal from a new band, it can’t be? I thought all new metal bands were knock offs of Slipknot or Korn, not these dudes they have more in common with Slayer and Pantera than the likes of Drowning Pool or Adema. 

Their live show is insane, they take total command of the stage and you never know what to expect; be it burning flags, shooting shotguns into the air above crowd or one of the members playing the entire show in the nude. They didn’t go that far this night but they were on fire the entire 45 minutes of their set. After you see AHC live you understand why some people call them the angriest band in the world! They ripped through most of the songs on their CD “War or Art” like a wrecking ball, assaulting the audience with their pumped up, ferocious brand of metal. 

Martin Cook’s violent vocal screams entranced the Slayer faithful as he belted out new classics like “Seamless” and “Never Get Caught”. Wayne Kile and David Rogers provided one of the most potent duel guitar assaults I’ve heard in ages. Their furious chops gave the audience pause as drummer Christopher Emery brutally attacked his drum kit pounding out the song’s driving rhythms as Chad Hanks couldn’t keep still, hammering away at his bass as he bounded across the stage like a wild animal on the prowl. By the time they closed their set with “Violent Reaction,” the hardcore Slayer fans were entrenched and ready for more. I didn’t think any band could hold their own opening for Slayer but you know what, American Head Charge did just that, whipping the audience up into a frenzy for the bloodbath that would follow. Screw the imitators, American Head Charge is 100 % pure metal and should reach headlining status soon. If you get the chance to see these guys live, don’t hesitate a moment, you’ll be blown away. Until then you can blow your speakers out with their balls to the wall debut “War of Art”. 

Listen to sound samples and Purchase "War of Art" online