| Headtrip to Nowhere | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Flybanger | ||||
| Released | February 20, 2001 | |||
| Recorded | Rumbo Studios in Los Angeles, California | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Matt Wallace | |||
| Flybanger chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Headtrip to Nowhere | ||||
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Headtrip to Nowhere is the major label debut album by the Canadian heavy metal band Flybanger. It was released on February 20, 2001 through Columbia Records. The CD is enhanced to include a video of the song "Outlived," not otherwise heard on the disc. The album was preceded by a 5-track Outlived EP which was released through Gotham Records. This included an additional disc with two tracks that would later appear on Headtrip to Nowhere. Their debut effort would prove to be Flybanger's only major release before disbanding.
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According to vocalist Garth, the band was given "100% complete creative control" by Columbia. The album was produced by Matt Wallace, known for his work with Faith No More and Deftones among other successful bands. Indeed, two songs feature a guest appearance by former Faith No More guitarist Jim Martin. The third and final single, "Blind World," was featured on the Dracula 2000 film soundtrack.
Various subject matter is examined throughout Headtrip to Nowhere. Garth, the group's vocalist, described "Cavalry" as having "sort of a 'Mad Max' vibe to it" and adding "It's a futuristic story about a guy who refuses to conform to the new world order." The track "Evelyn," explains Garth, "delves into the downward spiral of the human spirit." The hype revolving Y2K is examined in the single "Blind World"; the singer noted, "On New Year's Day, people actually seemed disappointed that there were no earthquakes or mass destruction the night before. They acted as if they'd been ripped off. It was ridiculous."[1] Blatant references to the dark world of drug use are also made in "Crackballs."
The album cover photo depicts art director Sean Evans; the band was working on a photo shoot in the desert where an old gold mine with various mechanical objects inside resided. This is thought to be where the eye piece was found. The album's title comes from a lyric in the song "Evelyn" which the band felt suited the cover photo. The said track may have been considered for a single as Garth considered it "like our little jewel in our back pocket we're going to bring out later."[2]
In promotion of Headtrip to Nowhere, Flybanger toured with Clutch and Corrosion of Conformity before performing shows with extreme metal bands like Sepultura, Soulfly, Hatebreed, and Chimaira in early 2001. That summer, they joined the nu metal likes of Stereomud, Endo, and The Union Underground for the Pain & Suffering tour. A DVD would be released of the aforementioned tour and included a live performance of "Cavalry."
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [3] |
| CANOE | (unfavorable)[4] |
| PopMatters | (unfavorable)[5] |
While not a significant commercial success, Headtrip to Nowhere was critically praised for its allegiance to traditional heavy metal and neglect for styles of popularity at the time such as nu metal. William Ruhlmann of AllMusic commended drummer Rob Wade for his engaging rhythms, noting "His work makes the band's music far more impressive than it would be otherwise."[6] Natalie Hawk of Fast Forward Magazine cited bassist Tom MacDonald's work among the most outstanding and compared the overall style to that of Pantera.[7] However, the zealous amount of expletives used throughout the album, as well as its lack of musical originality, have received criticism, particularly by Jason Thompson of PopMatters.[8] Various album reviews also panned the song "Crackballs" particularly.[9]
CANOE's Mike Ross expressed overwhelming disappointment in the album's overly produced sound: "Every power chord, scream, atonal riff, gritty lyric and thundering groove - there's way too much going on, that's another thing [wrong with the album] - has been polished to perfection, sucking the life out of what could've been a worthy new hard-rock record." Contrary to other reviews, however, Ross showed favor toward "Crack Balls." He also foresaw Flybanger as an exceptional live act but summed up the review by calling Headtrip to Nowhere "middle of the road metal."
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cavalry" | 3:11 |
| 2. | "Radical" | 3:19 |
| 3. | "Blind World" | 4:03 |
| 4. | "Pull" | 4:01 |
| 5. | "Evelyn" | 4:57 |
| 6. | "Haul" | 3:35 |
| 7. | "Demon Away" | 3:49 |
| 8. | "Crackballs" | 5:02 |
| 9. | "Weapon" | 3:22 |
| 10. | "This is Bliss" | 4:39 |
| 11. | "When Are You? (Gonna Die)" | 2:40 |
| 12. | "Company" | 3:42 |