Considering how often I bitch about things that obviously sound precisely like other things the following review should make everyone cry “hypocrite” and complain and whine and bitch and cry. Which is aces with me.
I read the press release thingy for Devil’s Whorehouse and was so utterly turned off I actually physically felt tired at the thought of having to listen to this record. A couple of ex-Marduk guys putting together a band that plays Misfits/Samhain style punk/metal. Hell yeah, this is gonna suck. I anticipated some shit BM production and the sloppy stupid BM musicianship with some twit snarling like a troll that was trying to channel the energy of Glen Danzig’s best work and failing because the troll licks semen stains from bathhouse towels and the lint has made actual vocals an impossibility.
Fucking joke’s on me.
What this is in fact, is a REAL, honest to God classic Misfits tribute that actually destroys the recent “Misfits” “records”. And with original material to boot! This is actually a little closer in execution to Danzig II, as the Tommy Tägtgren production is warm, deep, slamming and HEAVY. The drummer really captures Chuck Bisquit’s pummel while maintaining a little death and roll edge that just drives the songs like Casey Jones on Meth. But he also beats a simple accented 4/4 like his life depends on it when the songs slow down. Which they do, spending a good deal of time in the sludgy, grooving end of the spectrum.
The riffs are dead simple, as you might expect, and the guitar has a great chorused, nearly Sun studios feel. The bass is caught in the mix, but that is the Misfits way, really. Regardless, the sound is nice and thick. The singer really DOES channel the spirit of Glen Danzig, albeit without that teenage voice-cracking flair, but he displays a reserve and focus that does the music proud. His voice really comes across as a Joey Ramone take on Danzig…which is pretty cool all by itself.
The fact that I was so ready to hate this, but ended up loving it is amazing to me, but I can’t deny the quality this disc contains. I don’t think I would want to hear another disc like this by this band or any other. It would be overkill. This is a one time affair, at least for this style. Maybe they could take it someplace more original and be OK, but this is a moment in time. And it’s a moment I believe will make metalheads furiously happy. It’s a record for a headbanger, for a Misfits or Danzig fan, and for anyone who just wants to fucking rock.
