Wardog?

Any fans of this defunct Arizona band around here? (Ult, I was surprised to see no Wardog on NLTM; I'd have thought that this band would've been right up your alley!) I picked up SCORCHED EARTH ('96) for a couple of bucks at a used CD store (still sealed no less!) a few years ago on a whim, and it turned out to be some pretty cool power/thrash (let down by some occasionally silly lyrics). Wardog featured Tom Gattis on guitar/vox, who was once a bandmate of Marty Friedman's in his early band "Deuce" (Tom was also a member of "Tension," an early 80s band that I'm only dimly aware of). The album was released on Metal Blade as part of some kind of "developing artists" series but since metal was all but dead in the US the album presumably sold about ten copies at the time.

Second album A SOUND BEATING ('99) was only released in Europe (where Gattis still had a fan following from his Deuce/Tension days) and it was much more solid than the debut. Unfortunately, the band fell apart shortly after the album's release. Gattis resurfaced in a similar sounding band called "Ballistic" that put out one album on Metal Blade Europe in 2000 or so, but hasnt' been heard from since... I hear health problems have sidelined him the past few years.

Anyway, killer discs, y'all who have never heard'em oughta give'em a spin!

I have Scorched Earth. It's been awhile since I've played it, but from what I remember, I liked it pretty well. The one thing I remember is that it seemed a little unbalanced or unfocused. They had some thrashy songs, some barroom/bluesy drinking songs. They performed both styles well, but they didn't seem to mesh. Am I remembering that correctly?

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I have Scorched Earth. It's been awhile since I've played it, but from what I remember, I liked it pretty well. The one thing I remember is that it seemed a little unbalanced or unfocused. They had some thrashy songs, some barroom/bluesy drinking songs. They performed both styles well, but they didn't seem to mesh. Am I remembering that correctly?

Yea, the first album does have some oddball moments (like the goofy tracks "Bucket O' Beer" "Damned") but the second album (A SOUND BEATING) is much more in-yo-face speed/power metal. Very cool stuff.

I dont know why I listen to you and spend more money Anyway,Amazon has a copy of Scorched Earth for a little over 2 bucks if anyones interested.

Edit-Half.com has a copy of Scorched Earth for 75 cents.

I loved TENSION, and this band was talented but I didn't enjoy their songs as much.

I liked BALLISTIC more than WARDOG.

Temple of Blood wrote:

I liked BALLISTIC more than WARDOG.

Ballistic is damn good, I must admit... but for whatever reason I dont' seem to listen to it as much as I do these two... perhaps that'll get a spin tomorrow now that I'm thinking about it..

I have both of those Wardog albums and have yet to add them to my site.

ultmetal wrote:

I have both of those Wardog albums and have yet to add them to my site.

Cool... as I said, I was a little surprised that they weren't there already...

Temple of Blood wrote:

I loved TENSION, and this band was talented but I didn't enjoy their songs as much.

I liked BALLISTIC more than WARDOG.

Is there some connection among these 3 bands?

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

I loved TENSION, and this band was talented but I didn't enjoy their songs as much.

I liked BALLISTIC more than WARDOG.

Is there some connection among these 3 bands?

Tom Gattis was a member of all of them.

I've got Scorched Earth. I enjoy giving it a spin every now and then. As previously stated, it is a bit uneven. The band can play each style well, but the album feels unfocused because the tracks don't flow seemlessly. I'll say, though, that the tune Killing Speed from that album blows my socks off every time!!

I need to get a copy of A Sound Beating, especially if it is a more focused release and stays pretty much speed/thrash centered.

I met a few of these guys last year in Phoenix. James Rivera (Helstar, Seven Witches, Destiny's End, etc) does a side band called Sabbath Judas Sabbath and he does all Black Sabbath and Judas Priest covers. Anyways 3 of the dudes made up part of Sabbath Judas Sabbath for 2 shows. Cool dudes!

As far as Wardog, they were hit and miss as far as settling on a style and sound, but they were great at what they did on their instruments.

I brought Scorched Earth into work with me this week and while I still dig it, I stand by my original statement. Mixing the 2 different styles makes the album seemed unfocused or something.

Been spinning A Sound Beating alot lately.Much better and more focused than Scorched Earth.

I have Scorched Earth got it for like $3.

Wargod49

I own the self titled debut. This album seems to be very rare. But it is very good!

tul wrote:

I own the self titled debut. This album seems to be very rare. But it is very good!

Yea, I have a CD-R of that album (it was self released by the band in '94 or so, and is indeed rare as hen's teeth)... good stuff, you gotta love a song called "C**t B*tch!"