AllMovie

Japanese raucous rock outfit Guitar Wolf finally hits U.S. shores with Guitar Wolf: Red Idol, a fuel-injected DVD loaded with various live sets, interviews, and sci-fi-inspired music videos. Sporting a steady stream of noise-filled punk rock, this DVD is a must for new and old fans alike. That said, some might be disappointed by the exclusion of their "Jet Generation" video (supplied on the Everything Is Nice: Matador Records 10th Anniversary Anthology DVD), though the other clips, including "God Speed You,," "UFO Romantics," "Murder by Rock!!," and "I Love You, OK" will no doubt leave the rest of your rock-drenched soul satisfied. Various friends of the band show up for some anecdotal love, with Eric Friedl sharing the best story about their first visit to Nashville and their subsequent unintentionally noise-saturated 7" with his label Goner Records (spawning a future history with well-needed noise warning labels). Although it contains a few over-the-top and some surprisingly humbled interviews with the band, the main focus on Red Idol is, inevitably, Guitar Wolf's infamously loud and insane live shows. Whether they're ripping through versions of "Summertime Blues" while jumping off ten-foot stacks of Marshall amps or endlessly blowing out other band's equipment, this DVD should prove that these boys from across the sea would do anything to spread the fury and love of rock & roll. Released in part to capitalize on their zombie actioner Wild Zero, this disc should be a perfect introduction to a band that needs no such thing.