Archive Review: Probot's Probot (2004)

Probot is Foo Fighter Dave Grohl’s labor of love, a four-year project that saw the former Nirvana skinman writing songs for his favorite heavy metal artists. Grohl would create a song in the vein of the chosen artist’s style, record the basic tracks, and then get together with the collaborator to pen lyrics and record vocals and final instrumentation. In the current corporate rock climate, however, no major recording label – not even those for which Grohl has earned millions – would touch the project.

Metal label Southern Lord finally released Probot’s self-titled “debut” and they deserve every dime they make on the gamble. From a pure heavy metal perspective, Probot kicks ass in more ways than you can count. As a kid growing up in the Washington DC area, Grohl may have played in hardcore punk bands, but he had his ear turned towards the mid-80s underground metal scene. Grohl has a zealot’s appreciation of the genre and it shows in every monstrous beat that he brings to Probot. His choice of collaborators is a literal “who’s who” of late ‘80s/early ‘90s metal myth, from obscure tastemakers like Cronos of Venom and Voivod’s Snake to better-known rockers like Max Cavalera (Soulfly) and Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilminster.

It’s the songs that make Probot a headbanger’s delight, Grohl’s co-conspirators all bringing inspired performances to the project. Grohl’s staccato drumbeat propels Cavalera’s haunting lyrics on “Red War” to new heights of metallic mayhem and Lemmy proves with “Shake Your Blood” that the old dog can still rock with the young pups. Corrosion of Conformity’s Mike Dean provides “Access Babylon” with a maddening energy while King Diamond’s dark-hued charisma infuses “Sweet Dreams” with a diabolic ambiance. Celtic Frost’s Tom G Warrior, the Obsessed’s Wino and Lee Dorrian of Napalm Death are also among those contributing to the musical madness while ringleader Grohl provides solid instrumental accompaniment behind his guest stars. Loud, dark, evil, and relentlessly rocking, Probot is a welcome throwback to the classic age of heavy metal. (Southern Lord Records, released 2004)