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LIVING DEAD GIRL
"Exorcism" (Independent; 2021)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
After my first listen through of Living Dead Girl's "Exorcism" I was ready to give the debut album two-and-a-half guitarsaws. It's not that that I hated the album, it's just that it didn't really light me up. It just seemed kind of pedestrian and overly familiar. I mean, it was okay but not quite up to the three-guitarsaw average that's baseline here for so many album reviews.
But I gave it another shot and, I've got to say, I liked it more the second and third times through. The music is heavy as hell, reminding me at times of Rob Zombie's bombastic beat sans the industrial edge. The second time through I appreciated the vocals more as well, raging from sweetly sung verses to blood-curdling screams of pain and fury. On top of all that, for some reason the song "Beautiful" just clicked for me, with its juxtaposed chorus and driving rhythm. (Another track that does that well is "Worship Me."
The album ends with the very different "Stronger" which begins like the album's token ballad but goes balls-deep at about the 2:30 mark, steam-hammering the album out with style.
I'm still not certain how subsequent plays of "Exorcism" will pan out but I can tell you, at this point, so far so good for Living Dead Girl.
For more information, check out https://www.livingdeadgirl.ca/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2021 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
