Bill Zebub is not your average heavy metal journalist. His magazine The Grimoire of Exalted Deeds contains interviews one will never see in the typical metal mag because he asks atypical, often humorous questions. His line of questioning sometimes engages the subject to do something silly or provide an answer to an arbitrary question.
Many times these questions confuse or piss of the artist to the point where he/she/the band quits the interview.
Originally meant for release under the title ”The Grimoire of Exalted Deeds Magazine DVD Volume 1,” Metal Retardation shows footage of Mr. Zebubs most hilarious interviews.
Metal Retardationone of Zebubs 30 DVD releasescould not contain a better title. The humor conveyed by Bill Zebub and the reactions elicited through his interview subjects require the viewer possess a certain sense of humor, a juvenile sense of humor.
One of the better examples of his funny questioning involves CANNIBLE CORPSE front man George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher. Zebub relentlessly pushes Fisher into singing Mary Had a Little Lamb. He even persuades Fisher to rub his belly and the top of his head (dexterity test) while singing the song.
Another part shows Zebub ask various Finnish bands such as FINNTROLL and TURISAS about words containing fin, as if they should know everything relating to that word because they are from Finland.
Although Bill Zebub interviews bands from all around the world, the interviews with the Finnish bands are the funniest because, if you didnt know, the Finnish like to drink. As FINNTROLL continues to drink, they become less and less focused on Zebubs illogical questions. Bill Zebub often uses women to ask his questions, and one sequence depicts one of his interviewers asking FINNTROLL stupid questions at the bar. The band members pay the journalist no mind, only seeming interested in getting in the girls pants.
Whether he intended this or not, Zebubs interviewers are more of a distraction than anything. Many times, these females are in a comfortable position interviewing his subjects, as seen with one girl sitting on Pete Steeles (TYPE O NEGATIVE) lap. He elicits a kiss between another girl and Sharlee D'Angelo (ARCH ENEMY, MERCYFUL FATE).
Metal Retardation provides plenty of extra material that would not translate well in text. Just seeing the bands facial expressions after hearing an off-the-wall question is something meant for seeing and not reading about. Metal Retardation is not for everyone, some may not get the jokes or even have a dissimilar sense of humor, but if this humorous line of questioning does not appeal to the viewer, he/she can always check out Bill Zebubs (mostly) serious side on documentaries such as Pagan Metal: A Documentary or Black Metal: The Norwegian Legacy?
http://www.billzebub.com/
note: 8/10
Tracklist
Interviews
Band Introductions
DARKTHRONE Phone Interview
VENOM Phone Interview
Line-up
FINNTROLL
KING DIAMOND
TYPE O NEGATIVE
DARKTHRONE
MY DYING BRIDE
CANDLEMASS
NEVERMORE
VENOM
GWAR
S.O.D.
TYR
TURISAS
ENSLAVED
CANNIBAL CORPSE
LEAVES EYES
ARCH ENEMY
ENSIFERUM
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