Wow, "Knifeman," the first "cut" from this new monster of an album, Pure aggression, rugged and raw right to the red trust me, it will leave a mark! A man driven by demons, Sonny Vincent's resume is out and out disturbing-having played with so many well respected artists that have made underground music what it is, you'd have to thoroughly clean out the disc player before even the second tune's finished. For the accompanying cast alone, "Parallax in Wonderland" is worth picking up-just check out names like Kramer, Captain Sensible and the Asheton brothers filling out the rhythmic noise pumping forth and to anyone who's anyone, little more needs be said. This is not something that can be allowed to escape until it's managed to reach a listening audience of epidemic proportions. Vincent's got that retro-punk vibe working to the max a sound only equaled by the original greats that first delivered 'em-we're talking MC5, The Stooges, The Damned, there's something serious happening here amidst all this terror and torment draped in this blackened guise called "wonderland." With only the slightest trace of harmonies, it's just plug in, wail, and hope Vincent's unrelenting scream vocals do him in before they get you! Expecting a weak point? You'll find none and like it! Chilling, yet fulfilling, try out a dose of "I Don't Care Anymore," "1, 2, 3 Boom," and "Do What I Want" for starters. Within every song, it's like getting a refreshing blast from the past where one minute, The Damned peak through the clouds momentarily, and the other, it's like "Kick out the Jams" or "Raw Power" revisited as note after note contorts and shoots like darts from the neck of the guitars! A vehemently violent pace sets the tone for "Parallax in Wonderland" a truly wondrous place where for a brief moment in time the unearthly power is granted to one Sonny Vincent, summoning those tortured souls up from under the ground, and they combined, possess the ability to transform trash to treasure. Live Long Sonny!!!
Skinny - 06/19/00 18:09:10