I got a copy of their first release – Tales From the Unknown – the first night I saw them play. The production on that one is a little rough, but also beyond what I expected from a local band I had never heard of. And the quality of the music itself was unquestionable. The guys have a talent for fun, accessible horror rock that urges you to just listen to the whole album. My initial reaction was, “Oh, crap – this guy can actually sing”. The Casket Creatures don’t just put a few catchy tunes on an album, they create a full force experience that drives you through to the final track. Tales From the Unknown was immediately put into my regular rotation.
I know that album well
now and “Bad 2 Hearse” (what are you guys, Prince?) and “Sweet
Screams” have grown into a couple of my favorite horror rock
tracks.
But you never know what a
band’s new album is going to be like. The production will change,
the band might find a new direction, the spark might not be there
anymore – there are all kinds of things that can prevent a release
from being as favored as the ones you are already familiar with
(though that familiarity often plays a strong role, as well). When I
heard the Casket Creatures were working on a new album I was excited
in a reserved sort of way. I wanted it to be as good as (or better
than) Tales,
but I had also gotten to know a couple of the guys and if it sucked I
was going to have to tell them.
The opening track “Bats,
Blood, and Bitches” is ripping, powerful, and silly; and I mean
that in the nicest way possible. The Casket Creatures are no
shoe-gazing, angry death-metal group. They are making music because
it’s a rad thing to do. They’re having fun. And the opening track
tells you everything you need to know about them.
Just to run down some of
the more standout tracks:
“Lizzie’s Song”
strikes me a as very 80s for some reason. I can totally hear it
playing in that scene in the horror flick where the doomed teenagers
are driving around looking for somewhere to party.
“Curse of the Mummy’s
Tomb” comes with one of the most awesome videos ever:
And reminds me a lot of
Michale Graves-era Misfits.
About the last thing I
expected out of this album was a duet with a lady singer, but that’s
exactly what “Black Widow Bride” is. I’m not familiar with
guest vo-kill-ist Jenny Dunn, but she has a great voice and
compliments Cadaver quite well. It’s the punk rock version of Ozzy
and Lita. Great track and possibly my favorite on the album.
The Casket Creatures have
a tradition of doing a cover of “Halloween” at their shows, and
while I’m not suggesting they should stop that, they now have their
own very good Halloween anthem. “Devil’s Day” isn’t
derivative of any other Halloween songs I’ve heard, but still
evokes the holiday even without the lyrics (though a lot of the
Creatures’ stuff does that). I could definitely see this one
leading directly into the “Halloween” cover at a live show.
“B-Movie Massacre” is
janother good, fun song. If “Black Widow Bride” weren’t so good
this one would be my favorite.
Those are just the tracks
that immediately stuck out to me the first time I played the album.
The ones that had a life all their own. But the whole album is full
of fun stuff. There isn’t a single track that I’ve skipped in the
many times I’ve listened. As a whole, “Sex, Blood, & Rock N
Roll” is a total horror rock success. If you are a fan or collector
of that special brand of rock that includes The Misfits, Alucard, Calabrese,
Balzac, and Michale Graves then you need to own this release. It’ll
go into your Halloween playlist immediately.
Speaking of immediately,
you can see The Casket Creatures LIVE tonight at the official album
Sex,
Blood, & Rock N Roll
album release party, which also happens to be
Monstrosity
Championship Wrestling’s
Great
American
Monster
Mash
Hosted by yours truly,
Phantom Troublemaker!
Dark Mon competes in his first officially sanctioned MCW match against newcomer "The Juggernaut" Jon Malus!
Lord of the Undead Papa Marko will take on the DCW Hooligans' official mascot - CHIP MOTHERFUCKING DAY!
The Undead Luchador Supernatural is one up on the DemiGod Mason - see if the DemiGod can balance that dark debt!
Finally - your Monstrosity Championship Wrestling Main Event...
The Great American Monster Mash Battle Royal to determine the Number One Contender for Phantom's MCW Championship!
It's gonna be eyeballs-to-the-wall madness and mayhem in the squared circle and you do not want to miss it!
The action starts at 9 PM at Club Famous!
2947 N Druid Hills Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
-Phantom
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