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BLITZKID :
REVISITED
Well, I finally got my grubby mitts on the Blitzkid's back catalogue. First up for review is their debut CD from 1999 called "Revisited". Only seven tracks here, but that's all the band needed to show their raw talent. While not as stunning as their later work, Revisited shows us the basic blue print for future greatness. There are a couple killer tracks such as "I'm A Zombie", "Slaughter At The Sock Hop", and the friendly little love song "Hate Better Than You". That last song I just mentioned, makes one ask the burning question, "does saying "Fuck You" 100 times in a song make it instantly cool? The answer is of course, yes, yes it does. Solid Horror Punk from a band that's on the move. The only real draw back to this release is the production, which sounds a little muddy at times. Then again, it's not like the early Misfits recordings were any better produced.
RATING = 7.5 Horror-Punk (Released 1999)
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BLITZKID :
TERRIFYING TALES
Holy crap! This disc was only recorded seven months after "Revisited", but the band has improved beyond what should be humanly possible. After hearing "Let Flowers Die" and now this disc, it is official. I now swing from Blitzkid's nut sack like some teenage fan. They are hands down, the best active Horror Punk band on the planet. If you think otherwise, then you're probably a little touched in the head, or just an idiot. If you think you know a better band out there, well then let me know, I would sure as hell want to here 'em. Now, let's drill down a bit. First off, let me tell you that some discs I get for review are just painful to listen to, but I do it anyway, 'cause I gotta review 'em, so I force myself to sit through almost everything a minimum of two times. So, in the short time I've had this Blitzkid disc (just over a week) I must have played it right through at least 25 times! That alone should tell you how good this disc is. Now the songs themselves, holy shit are they infectious. The one that just absolutely blows me away is "Pretty In A Casket". This song is a perfect Horror Punk masterpiece... so simple, but so good. It puts the Misfits and Graves to shame. Even after days of not listening to this disc, and playing many others in between, this is still the tune that's runnin' around my head. Pickin' out other stand out tracks would be a waste of time, as I would just be listing the whole CD. If you haven't figured it out yet, I recommend this release.
RATING = 9.5 Horror-Punk (Released 2000)
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BLITZKID :
LET FLOWERS DIE
I think it is safe to say that the students have surpassed the teacher. Blitzkid play Horror-Punk like they invented the creepy little sub genera, but in reality, that honour goes to the Misfits. Even though the band incorporates influences from other realms of punk, it is obvious that the main inspiration here is Danzig, and the 'fits. This is the bands 3rd release, the others being 2000's "Terrifying Tales", and 1999's "Revisited". "Let flowers Die" has a few tracks that feature blistering speed, and super fast vocals, that come at you like a machine gun. These couple songs are fun, but they are not what makes this CD so damn good, it's the other tunes, which thankfully make up the most part of the disc, these tunes are more melodic, and catchy, and they almost sound as if Danzig was singing later day, "Graves" era, Misfits stuff. The second track, "Candyman" would be a sing-along crowd favourite for the Misfits, if only they had written it. Other jaw-droppingly good tunes include "Pumpkin Patch Murders", The Fog", and "Myers 10/31". With bands like this around, it might be time for Mr. Only and his revolving line up of fill-ins, to put the Misfits to bed. I way rather go see a young band like this, who are so hungry, and "in the zone", than go watch the slow, agonising death of a once great institution. The 'fits are over, long live Blitzkid! For more info on this ass-kicking band, go to their web page.
RATING = 9 Horror-Punk (Released 2001)
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BLITZKID :
TRACE OF A STRANGER
I just love this cover, a striking image of a crazed looking Lon Chaney Jr. from the lost 1927 horror movie classic, "London After Midnight"! Very cool, it sets the tone nicely for the Horror-Punk feast awaiting the listener within this digipack. It's pretty obvious, to anyone that has read my previous reviews for this band, that I absolutely fuckin' love these guys. I've been pimpin' them to anyone that'll listen too me for a couple years now. So I was a little worried when I had heard through the old web-based grapevine that the band had changed their sound on this latest offering. When I finally got my bony old hands on this sucker, all fears were quickly laid to rest. I can see what people were trying to get at, the sound has changed, but just in a very very subtle way. I think the difference, is that the band is now more relaxed, and confident in what they're doing. With three previous releases under their collective belts, and numerous live shows, the band has managed to build up a small, yet loyal fan base. So when it came to recording this new disc, I think that the band's newfound confidence spilt over into both the writing and the recording process. Which gave them the balls to do some minor experimentation, while bringing a new level of maturity to the CD as a whole. Or maybe they just pulled these 13 songs out of their assess during some drunken weekend, what the fuck do I know? Well, what I do know, is that this CD is yet again, a killer piece of work, guaranteed to please old fans of the band, and garner them some new ones. Influences are worn proudly on their sleeves, as one can hear bits and pieces of both Glenn and Graves era Misfits, Danzig, the Damned, and a multitude of other cool Punk and classic Rock bands. All these various parts are stitched together like a sonic version of Frankenstein's monster, and it has now been let loose to wreak havoc in our world. Again, like previous efforts, listing some standout tracks would be pointless, as I would just be typing out the whole track listing, so instead, I'll tell ya what makes some of theses ditties special. The disc opens up with the rousing "Let's Go To The Cemetary", which features an amusing Ska interlude. I can only assume that maybe they've been hanging out with the boys from the Independents at some point in the last year or so. Next we have the magnificent "Deadhouse", which is a top contender for best song, it sounds exactly like the Damned, so much so, that it could have easily been from the "Grave Disorder" recording sessions. Another in the best song running is "She Dominates", a classic sounding Blitzkid number reminiscent of "Pretty In A Casket" from the "Tales" CD. On "A Hopeless Night" and "As The Rope Bridge Sways" we can hear a strong 50's influence. "Dead Again" has a kind of Jazzy Psychobilly thing going on, which is pretty cool. "She Wolf" sounds like classic, later Glenn era Misfits, and "Love Like Blood" starts off by letting us think we're going to get Horror-Punk's answer to Guns N Roses "Don't Cry" before boiling over into the now classic mosh-inducing Blitzkid beats we know and love. As they say, "all killer, no filler". I just can't stop playing this thing, and you won't be able to either. One of the top 10 discs of 2003.
RATING = 9 Horror-Punk (Released 2003)
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BLITZ KID / MR. MONSTER :
EXHUMING GRAVES AND MAKING DATES
Well, this has to be one of the coolest pieces of vinyl to ever slither its way across my desk. This radioactive looking green 10" from Fiendforce Records features two of today's best Horror-Punk bands, namely Blitzkid and Mr. Monster. Now, I like most people, usually hate splits, and why? Well because usually one of the bands blows donkey-balls, or band "A" typically sounds nothing like band "B" leaving the buyer enjoying only half of what they paid for. Well that is definitely not the situation here. With both bands already playing a very similar vein of Horror-Punk, and now seemingly swapping members more often than the cast of a bad porn movie, these bands are sounding very much like the flip-side of the same coin. So, on side "A" we have four little ditties from Blitzkid; "Bodysnatchers", "Little Frankenstein", "Return To The Living", and "Bluebirds Over The Mountain". Side "B" gives us three cuts from Mr. Monster; "Scars 19", "Dying Day", and "Glow". This is the modern sound of the genre at its very best, what the Misfits started in '97 with their comeback album "American Psycho" is being pushed to the next level by these bands. And hell, why not? The Misfits sure aren't doing it anymore. The songs are full of catchy hooks, mosh-inducing rhythms, and just the right balance of horror and cheese. If like me, your music & movie collection is filled with boxed sets that are in the shape of coffins, then this is an essential acquisition.
RATING = 8.5 Horror-Punk (Released 2004)
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"Greatest hits albums are for housewives and little girls."
-Bruce McCulloch K.I.T.H. '91
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