Arnocorps at Myspace

Arnocorps has to have one of the best concepts for a gimmick band I’ve heard in quite a while. All of their songs are about Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, although the band claims that they’re actually based on “Austrian folktales” which got ripped off by Hollywood. Their vocalist does a hilarious Arnold impression (I’m guessing that Robert Smigel’s impression from Late Night with Conan O’Brien was a strong influence). The music is thrash that leans more towards the punk side of the spectrum (crossover thrash isn’t a genre with which I have much experience), but the band dubs its music “Action-Adventure Hardcore Rock and Roll,” or “Arnocore”.

I have to admire the band’s audacity in titling their full-length debut “The Greatest Band of All Time;” while I can’t go quite that far in my praise for this album, most of the songs are quite catchy. The subject matter covers all of Schwarzenegger’s greatest movies, from Predator to Terminator to the Conan films. I would’ve liked to see some of his lesser films featured; while there is a song about the enormous flop “Last Action Hero,” I would’ve liked to see a few songs based on his comedies like “Kindergarten Cop” and “Jingle All the Way”. High points include the ridiculously catchy “Total Recall”, “Terminator,” and the semi-acoustic “Crom (Strong on His Mountain).”

Where should Arnocorps go next? My humble suggestion: a concept album about Arnold, from his role in “Hercules in New York” to him capturing the Governor’s Mansion. That would be brutal.

Thursday, July 10th, 2008 @ 12:26 am Thrash Metal
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