It’s
no secret that I am a huge fan of Calabrese. They have been putting
out consistently great horror rock for (?) years now and became one
of my favorite bands almost as soon as I first heard them. I’ve
preordered the last two albums they put out and this new one was no
different. I want their new stuff as soon as possible, but I am still
stuck in the mindset where I need to hold the album in my hands. I’d
rather wait a week for the disc than download something the day it
comes out.
So
I was excited about the new Calabrese album, but I was fearing the
possibility of change. The whole time, though, I kept “Heart
Possession” in mind. It’s a track off of the last album, Dayglo Necros.
I did not like it. At first. It was a little slower and more melodic
and I was all like, “Oh, no – what does this mean for the future
of horror rock!?!”
Now
I think it’s one of the best tracks on the album.
So
with “Heart Possession” in mind, I’m going to take a look at
the newest offering from… well, this guy says it best:
American
Rebel Death Riders
– The guys chose to open this one with a rousing, sped-up intro;
Reverend Horton Heat style. This is the kind of track that kicks in
your front door, pours whiskey down your throat, and says, “GET UP
MOTHERFUCKER! IT’S TIME TO ROCK!” I love those kinds of tracks.
Born
With A Scorpion’s Touch
– It’s very important for the title track to make an impact if
you decide to have one. It needs to set the overall tone for the
album and be one of the standout tracks that you look forward to
hearing every time you listen. Calabrese nailed it with this one. It
has the Calabrese sound – there’s no denying who is performing
this one – but it is also twangy and leans more towards rock n’
roll than punk (a line Calabrese has always walked skillfully – I
would not categorize them as a punk band).
I
wanna Be A Vigilante
– This one is a slower tune and tends more towards pulp fiction
sensibilities than horror. As a matter of fact, it’s probably the
most different song on the album. I don’t love it, but I’m
adjusting. I bet Bobby Nash would really dig it, though.
At
Night I Am the Warmest
– That newfound twang works its way into the classic Calabrese
sound here. “At Night I Am the Warmest” probably could have been
slipped into one of the last two albums without drawing too much
attention. But here it feels like part of the different newness and I
dig it.
Loner
At Heart
– Straight-up full bore punk rock. The placement of this track
within the album is perfect, as it follows two songs that are very
different from traditional Calabrese and reminds you that they still
do their rapid-fire horror rock thing. Plenty of “whoa-a-o”s.
Danger
– If the guys make a video for “Danger”, it had better feature
a vintage Camaro driving full speed across a desert covered in flames
and demons. Because that’s what this song makes me think of.
Mindwarp
– I feel like “Mindwarp” has the most variety of the tracks on
the album. It has a very catchy guitar part – definitely a
signature riff. The vocals are a little more smooth and easygoing,
but then there’s a jam-out part with Bobby (I think) screaming,
“SATAN
IS HERE”.
This is a wacky track. In an odd way I could see it as the theme song
for a TV show. A fucked up TV show, but it works.
Ride
With the Living Dead
– “It’s a riot in the burlesque tent, jaded women and
degenerate men” is the opening line here and I fucking love it.
Much of Born
With a Scorpion’s Touch
puts me in mind of vehicular mayhem; this track with “Ride” right
there in the title is a bit more overt about it. Calabrese always
makes for excellent road music, but I think this album in particular
is going to be kickass on a journey.
Only
the Dead Know My Name
– Calabrese’s passion for horror is on display here. Gruesome
lyrics blended with a deceptively upbeat and melodic tune. I had to
listen to it a few times in a row the first time. I think this might
be my favorite song from the album.
I
Ride Alone
– Okay, so the road trip theme is pretty apparent. This is the sort
of kickass tune that would accompany Johnny Blaze in his travels
across the USA. There’s sneering, a frantic pace, and this break
towards the end that feels like nightfall.
There’s
An Evil Inside
– The closing track starts off sounding like the Stray Cats
covering Danzig.
So
just think about that for a minute.
Okay.
Then
it sounds like Elvis stepped in and took over vocals and told Brian
Setzer he could just handle guitar this time around and the thing is
so full of attitude and swagger and just pure rock that I bet this
song gets the guys lots
of pussy out on the road.
AND
THEN IT JUST ENDS. WHAT?
But
“There’s An Evil Inside” actually clocks in at a healthy 2:44,
about average for a rock song. It just has this build and pacing that
gets you into it and just when it really has you, it’s over. I wish
this song were three minutes longer.
I
feel like Born
With A Scorpion’s Touch
was a major success in every way. Calabrese said they wanted to make
something that was noticeably different and they have. But it is
still undeniably their sound and a solid, kickass rock album. It goes
into my Halloween playlist and fits in just fine, but in a weird way
is going to be just as comfortable in regular rotation. It retains
the cult and horror aesthetic of all of the previous albums, but
somehow feels more accessible and less niche.
But
still 666% a product of the Kings of Horror Rock.
5
out of 5
And
believe me – I have listened to this thing many
times to arrive at that score. In the car, at work, in the Phantom
Zone at home. I’ve listened to it straight through and one song at
a time. It’s the real deal.
I
love all of Calabrese’s albums and I wouldn’t even say that this
is my favorite, but I think if I had to recommend one of their albums
to a newbie, this would be it. If you’re not already a fan, Born
With A Scorpion’s Touch
is the must-have. It should be in any rock n’ roll fan’s
collection.
You
can download it from all of the usual suspects, but I highly
recommend you order it now from CalabreseRock.com and get your hands
on the real deal. You can pick up one of their awesome t-shirts while
you’re there. I forgot to buy that damn Castlevania shirt at Dragon
Con, so I need to make a purchase myself.
Phantom
Troublemaker vs. 31 Days of Halloween
I’m
changing the format a bit this year in order to more accurately
portray SyFy’s schedule and also to preserve my sanity. I had the
genius idea to cut and paste the schedule directly from SyFy’s page
rather than typing it out in my own format. This has saved me an
awful lot of time and also means that individual episodes are listed
rather than blocks of programming like previous years. So what I’m
going to do is provide commentary where I feel it is needed rather
than posting next to every single entry. Don’t worry – you’re
getting the same amount of hilarious, then kind of funny, then
labored, then thoroughly disenchanted Phantom content. Just in a
different way.
Like
last year, I am covering the programming from the time this posts
until the time of the next post. That means that on Fridays you are
going to be treated to a shit-ton of this stuff.
Let’s
do it!
Or
not. You guys – I just can’t comment any further on these ghost
shows. What more am I supposed to say? I know people out there love
them, and I think that’s just super. But you know what I think
night get me a little more interested?
Check
this out:
Oct 9 11:00 AM Goat Mine, Season
2 Wandering Spirits
Oct 9 12:00 PM Goat Mine, Season
2 Goats Of The Geiser Grand
Oct 9 01:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 All Goats On Deck
Oct 9 02:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 Goats From Hale
Oct 9 03:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 Scream Park
Oct 9 04:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 The Goat Hasn't Left The Building
Oct 9 05:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 Goat Friends Forever
Oct 9 06:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 Vintage Spirits
Oct 9 07:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 Hoover Damned
Oct 9 08:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 Something In The Water
Oct 9 09:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 Undying Love
Oct 9 10:00 PM Goat Mine, S2
Oct 9 11:00 PM Goat Hunters, Season
9 Undying Love
Oct 9 12:00 AM Goat Mine, S2
Fuck yeah! I
would totally watch every bit of that programming above! Especially
“Goat Friends Forever”!
Oct 9 01:00 AM Syfy Original
Movie Witchville
Also look for
the sequels Whereville,
Whyville,
Howville,
and the Christmas special that wraps it all up, Whoville.
Oct 9 03:00 AM Syfy Original
Movie Ghouls
If this was just
about literal ghouls – people who eat the flesh of corpses – it
would be really creepy. I bet it’s not about that.
Oct 10 06:00 AM Paid Programming
Oct 10 08:00 AM Ghost Whisperer No
Safe Place
Oct 10 09:00 AM Ghost Whisperer Weight
Of What Was
Oct 10 10:00 AM Ghost Whisperer Double
Exposure
No, no, no – I
will not defile the magical presence of Jennifer Love Hewitt by
goating her show. Bless her and her sweet, sweet can.
-Phantom
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