Sheer Terror at le Poisson Rouge

Paul Sheerer

Sheer Terror was formed in New York in 1984 when former Fathead Suburbia vocalist Paul Bearer answered a classified ad for a hardcore punk singer. The hardcore punk scene was prolific then, and Sheer Terror was among the circuit bands that played clubs like CBGBs. The band combined elements of heavy metal with a hardcore punk base, pioneering a heavier style of hardcore that would become popular in the following decades. The band went through many personnel line-ups, temporarily split up and reunited several times, and released a landmark debut album, Just Can't Hate Enough, in 1990. Sheer Terror formally broke up in 1998, reunited in 2004, and continues to reunite periodically. Standing Up For Falling Down is Sheer Terror’s first full-length release in 18 years.

Opening for the Subhumans at le Poisson Rouge tonight, Sheer Terror performed 10 old songs and two new songs, "Heartburn in G" and "The Revenge of Mr. Jiggs," closing with the band's most familiar song, "Just Can't Hate Enough." The axis of the set was spun on blunt, metal-style power chords and manic punk attitude, but what kept it spinning was Bearer's strong personality. Between almost every song, the musicians waited for Bearer to wind down his banter so they could forge into the next song. Relentlessly pacing the stage in circles between songs, Bearer was very much like an insult comic, ranting foul-mouthed decrees about seemingly anything that came to mind. He was as hard and heavy as his music.

Visit Sheer Terror at www.sheerterrorfya.com.