Back in the very early 1990’s, the Daves and I went to see the Melvins play at a little place called Edge of the Looking Glass and a then-unknown band named Helmet opened for them. I was so blown away by this band that I bought the records they were selling (the Helmet first 7″ and a compilation 7″ called Dope Guns and Fucking in the Streets) which turned me on to a whole slew of new bands. That was my first exposure to a label called Amphetamine Reptile, and at the time they were putting out some amazing noise rock records at a time when that style of music was new and exciting. I snapped up every release there was and I was always ordering their records through the mail and eagerly awaiting new releases, especially the 7″s. In my eyes they were the best label around at the time and could do no wrong.
At their height, they started releasing these videotapes that were collections of music videos featuring their great roster of bands. The tapes were hosted by the odd Dr. Sphincter, who was a total nerd but somewhat amusing. In the time the label was active, they released three volumes of the series, and they are all compiled here on this DVD. From the disturbing images of Lubricated Goat playing nude, to the dementia of The Cows, to the sheer greatness of Helmet in their early stages, it is all here in full color and 5.1 sound, that looks and sounds better than the original VHS releases.
As a bonus, the DVD contains all the videos that were going to comprise a fourth volume of the series that never saw the light of day. As time wore on, I lost interest in the label as the newer things they were releasing just didn’t do much for me so a handful of the bonus videos are bands I am not hearing for the first time. Sadly, Amphetamine Reptile Records ceased operations a few years ago and all we have left is a website with some history and insanely priced leftovers that eclipse what the records fetch on ebay, and now this excellent video document of a time now gone. If you were a fan of this stuff, it’s a great couple hours of nostalgia to sit down and watch this stuff, or would make for something cool to have on at your next party.
