Enter the Chicken
Encyclopedia
Personnel
- Tracks #1-7, 9-11 Recorded at John Merrick Recorder
- Track #8 Recorded at the Serjical Strike Dungeons
- Vocals for Tracks #1-4, 6-10 Recorded at the Serjical Strike Dungeons
- ProducedRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Serj TankianSerj TankianSerj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist... - EngineeredAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, MixedAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
and Co-Produced by Dan MontiDan MontiDan Monti, also known by his stage name Del Rey Brewer, is a musician, composer, producer and engineer who has worked with such bands as Metallica, Slayer and Guns 'n' Roses... - Mixed at the Binge Factory
- Vocal Engineering on Track #5 by Bill LaswellBill LaswellBill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....
, Cam Dinunzio - Additional ProgrammingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
by Dan MontiDan MontiDan Monti, also known by his stage name Del Rey Brewer, is a musician, composer, producer and engineer who has worked with such bands as Metallica, Slayer and Guns 'n' Roses... - MasteredAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
by Paul MinerPaul MinerPaul Miner is the bassist for Death by Stereo, who left the band early 2005 , to produce, engineer, master, and mix music full time...
at Buzzbomb Studios - A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
Coordinating by Serj Tankian and George Tonikian - Art Direction by Bryan Theiss @ Frankenseuss Laboratories
- Buckethead's Legal Representation: Stan Diamond Esq., Diamond and Wilson
We Are One
"We Are One" was chosen to promote Enter the Chicken and thus was released as a video single.The song features vocals by System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
frontman Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
who also produced the album.
Music video
The music video tells the story of Buckethead paying a man called "Marquis" (played by Serj TankianSerj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
) to bring him killed animals. Buckethead uses the animals to perform taxidermy
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
on them (a real life hobby of the guitarist). Several animals appear, with flashbacks showing shortly how they died. Buckethead combines parts of all the animals together to create a new animal, which then immediately attacks Buckethead. The video has comparisons to the Frankenstein tale in that, Buckethead creates a monster, by bringing his creature to life by electrocuting it. The video then focuses on the fight of Buckethead to survive the attacks but the creation manages to kill his creator. The monster then drags Buckethead to the resurrection table, and zaps him back into being, however when he is brought back to life he discovers that his being had performed taxidermy on him, cutting off his arms and legs and replacing them with animal parts, the creature killing the maker and then bringing him back as a monster in its own right, has many layers of meaning and connotation.
Usage in Masters of Horror
The song appeared on the soundtrack of the horror series Masters of HorrorMasters of Horror
Masters of Horror is an informal social group of international film writers and directors specializing in horror movies and an American television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network.- Origin :...
and was also used in the episode Dance of the Dead
Dance of the Dead (Masters of Horror episode)
Dance of the Dead is the third episode of the first season of Masters of Horror. It originally aired in North America on November 11, 2005. Richard Christian Matheson adapted the episode from a short story of the same name by his father, Richard Matheson...
of the award winning series, when main character Peggy arrives at the town of Muskeet with her friends.
Reception
The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
described "We Are One" as one of the standout tracks of the album, being "concisely spastic, metallic and reminiscent of Tankian's Armenian-influenced headbanger band, System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
." Other reviewers also compared the song to the singer's former work with System Of A Down, nameley with songs from Toxicity
Toxicity (album)
Toxicity is the second album by American heavy metal band System of a Down. Produced by Rick Rubin, Toxicity was released on September 4, 2001 by American Recordings, debuting at #1 on both the United States, with 220,000 copies, and #1 on the Canadian charts...
. JIVE Magazine
JIVE Magazine
JIVE Magazine is a popular-entertainment, technology, and urban-culture magazine. It publishes features, reviews, editorials, photo galleries, and art productions on the web as well as quarterly in print. The web edition is updated frequently. JIVE Magazine launched its website in August 2000...
named "We Are One" and "Three Fingers (song)Three Fingers" as being highlights of the album.
The clip gained airplay on several music related television stations.
Personnel
- BucketheadBucketheadBrian Carroll , better known by his stage name Buckethead, is a guitarist and multi instrumentalist who has worked within several genres of music. He has released 34 studio albums, four special releases and one EP. He has performed on over 50 more albums by other artists...
- guitar - Serj TankianSerj TankianSerj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
- vocals, producer - The track was recorded on John Merrick Recorder.
- The voice track was recorded on Serjical Strike Dungeons
Botnus
"Botnus" was inspired by the evil character Dr. Botanus on Giant RobotGiant Robo (tokusatsu)
, is a manga and tokusatsu series created by Mitsuteru Yokoyama. It is similar to his famous Tetsujin 28-go , though Giant Robo has more fantastic elements....
, a Japanese television show that heavily influenced Buckethead's work.
The original name for the song was "Dungeon Stilt". A demo version of this song appears on the DVD Secret Recipe
Secret Recipe (Buckethead DVD)
Secret Recipe is a two disc DVD set by musician Buckethead, containing a compilation of video and music clips, photos, artwork and concert footage documenting the guitarist's first 13 years as a performer....
.
Reception
The song has been described as "storm[ing] out of the gates with hellish fury letting up for only a few bars to allow the listener a quick breath" and being about "a creature that features the voice of Death By StereoDeath by Stereo
Death by Stereo is a hardcore punk band formed in Orange County, California circa 1996 by frontman Efrem Schulz. They are well known for their energetic performances and intricate guitar work...
participant Efrem Schulz
Efrem Schulz
Efrem "The Bean" Schulz is the lead singer of Death By Stereo. As of Paul Miner's departure in 2005, he is the only remaining original member of the band....
. Botnus may scare younger visitors, as it is very aggressive when disturbed."
The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
called Buckethead's guitar work on the song as "lickety-split riffing and soloing," backed up by 411mania, writing that "[t]he metal influences are in full force as Buckethead supplies the blistering rhythm for Shulz [sic] then inserts a grand, soaring solo into the song while he's at it."
Three Fingers
"Three Fingers" features vocals by Saul WilliamsSaul Williams
Saul Stacey Williams is an American poet, writer, actor and musician known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop and for his leading role in the 1998 independent film Slam.-Biography:...
who was invited to perform on the track by producer Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
. As with the rest of the album's vocalists, Williams recorded his part separately from Buckethead's work, and the two never met during the process. The song was also included on the soundtrack of the horror film Saw II
Saw II
Saw II is a 2005 Canadian-American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and co-written by Bousman and the first film's co-writer Leigh Whannell. It is a sequel to 2004's Saw and the second installment in the seven-part Saw film series...
.
When asked about the song, Buckethead responded: "Every day is like a strange movie for me."