Cherubs - Heroin Man (Album Review)
Cherubs - Heroin Man (1994) My copy: 2023 limited reissue on hot pink vinyl by Brutal Panda Records. Heroin Man is probably the greatest (or at least most underrated) example of the 90s alternative zeitgeist - in that their drunken, cantankerous persona reflects an obsession with the extreme; from destructive waves of guitar to grainy artwork depicting the supposed death of a close friend. Heroin Man is dedicated in part to the aforementioned Mike Lara, with lyrics and song titles painting images of violent, alcohol-fueled benders that could have led to the untimely demise of the “bathtub man.” “Stag Party” loops dial tone sounds under crashing waves of distortion, with unintelligible shrieking from Kevin Whitley only piercing the vein halfway through the song - and to great effect. Whitley sputters and panics with equal parts disgust and confusion, reflecting a universal urge to shed any and all inhibitions. “Animator” carries on with a heavy vigor into the forceful bound of “B