Rough Edge: Various Artists: Tales From the Crypt: Monsters of Metal CD Review

VARIOUS ARTISTS

"Tales From the Crypt - Monsters of Metal" (The Right Stuff; 2000)

The television series "Tales From the Crypt," based on the comic book of the same name, proved not only to be successful during its initial run, but to enjoy popularity in its syndication and its ancillary markets. Simply visit your local Halloween shop and count the items based on the show's host, the Cryptkeeper, and you'll see what we mean.

One of the those ancillary markets is the music world. A few years ago, "Have Yourself A Scary Little Christmas" was released. This CD was a collection of Christmas tunes done the Cryptkeeper's way with such ditties as "Deck the Halls with Parts of Charlie," "We Wish You'd Bury the Missus" and "Should Old Cadavers Be Forgot." Other popular CDs were the soundtracks to the "Tales from the Crypt" films, "Demon Knight" and "Bordello of Blood." All of these CDs enjoyed some level of success, especially the first one, which continues to be a hit every holiday season. With that history, the way was paved for another collection of Cryptkeeper favorites.

This year, the Cryptkeeper celebrates what must be his favorite holiday, Halloween, with "Monsters of Metal," a collection of over 75 minutes of hard rock/heavy metal tunes from some of the world's best-known bands. These aren't Cryptkeeper re-makes - these are actual "original artist" recordings featuring Black Sabbath, Armored Saint, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Dio and more.

Although a great selection of Halloween metal, "Monsters of Metal" lacks enough of the one thing that made "Scary Little Christmas" so popular - the Cryptkeeper. Oh, he pops up with his hideous laughter and even more hideous puns (in the voice John Kassir) but he doesn't pop up often enough. There's scarcely five minutes of Cryptkeeper on this CD, which hardly makes it more than just another metal collection.

Still, the Cryptkeeper does appear six times throughout, and the musical selection is truly magnificent (check out the track-listing below). Even without enough of our favorite ghoul, this CD is pretty cool - and just right to be in your CD player on October 31st.

Included on "Tales From the Crypt: Monsters of Metal" are:
BLACK SABBATH "Heaven and Hell"
ARMORED SAINT "Creepy Feelings"
MEGADETH "Five Magics"
PANTERA ("Cemetery Gates" - Demon Knight Edit)
QUEENSRYCHE "Eyes of a Stranger"
APARTMENT 26 - "Hallucinating"
ARCH ENEMY "Dead Inside"
JUDAS PRIEST "Beyond the Realms of Death"
PRONG "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck"
DIO "Don't Talk To Strangers"
ANTHRAX "Bordello of Blood"
MERCYFUL FATE "The Bell Witch"
ENTOMBED "Wolverine Blues" - instrumental version
THE HAUNTED "Hollow Ground"
METAL CHURCH "Beyond the Black"

For more information, please visit http://www.right-stuff.com.

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.

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