Mentors
You Axed For It!

Before writing this review, I want to clarify that I do not at all endorse the extremist message of this band.

There's very little positive in the songs of the Mentors, but in a certain way, I have always appreciated provocative lyrics or improper messages just to stir up chaos among the gullible masses. Let's say that the Mentors were the pioneers of the movement dubbed "shock rock"—that music designed to shock and nothing more. After them, some other bands made their way into the genre by copying their attitudes (see G.G. Allin). Drug and alcohol abuse, sexual depravity, chauvinism, and a purely fascist orientation gave the band its cursed touch, leading it to the height of success.

The band was formed in 1976 in Seattle by three classmates: Sickie Wifebeater, Heathen Scum, and Eldon Hoke, better known as El Duce. After several years of trying to break through in Seattle, they decided to move to Los Angeles in search of success. As often happens in Los Angeles, someone became interested in their music, especially their image. The Mentors thus began performing dressed as hooded executioners, in Californian clubs, managing to secure a contract with Mystic Records, releasing their first album in 1982: "The Trash Bag," followed almost immediately by a second live album. In 1985, their third album, "You Axed for It!" was released, with which they gained the most recognition.

After years of provocations and heresies, the Mentors managed to attract media attention, thus participating in television and radio shows, demonstrating their madness to all of America and thus capturing an important slice of the public.

"You Axed for It" is a heavy metal album, exhibiting no particular qualities, with thrash-like nuances, a poor imitation of the best Venom, heavy riffs that rarely take on their own personality, primitive and superficial tracks.

I'm not saying all of this is trash, but evidently, the instrumental side of the band was somewhat sidelined to make room for provocations. The same drummer/singer, El Duce, has a voice without merit, and the vocal lines are unremarkable—"neither here nor there." Among the songs, "Sleep Bandits" can be mentioned (even if it sounds like a sick Cronos is singing), or the catchy "Four F Club" about which I can't say much. As for the lyrics, it's better not to talk; some titles can explain everything: "Sandwich of Love", "Sex Education" or "In and Out of You".

The merit of the Mentors, therefore, was that they anticipated many bands in many ways, which is already something, achieving maximum results with their limited abilities, even if only for a short time. Many groups have paid tribute to their music, such as Anthrax or Ministry.

In 1997, El Duce died, and with him died many answers to the legends surrounding his character; was he really serious about what he said? Was he really the one who killed Kurt Cobain as many believe? Not to mention his own death.

The album is not that indispensable, but if you feel like buying it, go ahead.