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WEDNESDAY 13
"Necrophaze:
Antidote" (Nuclear Blast; 2021)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
"Necrophaze: Antidote" is a short four song EP that just explodes from the very first track, grabbing your throat with a pale, raggedy-nailed hand, and digging in until the whole thing comes to an end less than fifteen minutes later. And when I say "explodes," I mean explodes. The first track is a raging punk track entitled "Your Mother Sucks Cocks in Hell," (an ode to The Exorcist) and it doesn't disappoint in either the fury of the music or the incredibly raunchy and insulting lyrics. Hey, what did you expect? When a demon like Pazuzu throws down an insult, it's going to be a painful one.
Track two is a sequel, I believe, to Electric Frankenstein's track, "Screwdriver." The new track, "Screwdriver 2 - The Return," races along at just over the two-minute mark, grinding its metallic punk rage into your mind like salt into a wound. It'll leave you dizzy.
The EP closes out with a couple of cover tunes. The first is "Devil Inside," originally by INXS, and Wednesday 13 gives it a rough punk edge with big guitars and a slithering horror rock voice. The final track, "Films," is a cover of the tune by Gary Numan and, again, it's enhanced by staying true to the original but adding driving guitars, Wednesday's eerie rock'n'roll voice and a guest appearance by Calico Cooper.
The bottom line here, of course, is simple. If you're a fan of punk rock (especially horror punk), then it's hard to find better than Wednesday 13. I'm a little ashamed by the fact we haven't reviewed a Wednesday 13 album in, what?, fifteen years? The good news is that "Necrophaze: Antidote" has given me the impetus to go back and explore the music that I missed.
For more information, check out www.wednesday13.com.
"Fang
Bang" (Rykodisc; 2006)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Much of Wednesday 13's "Fang Bang" can be described as horror punk in the same vein as the Misfits or Danzig. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, "Fang Bang" probably has more much-needed humor than those bands (especially the always-so-serious Danzig).
There's nothing with horror punk if you're in the mood for it. And, with song titles like "Morgue Than Words," "My Home Sweet Homicide" and "Buried With Children," you know you're going to get a good laugh here and there along the way. Fans of horror movies will also get a kick out of "Haddonfield" (the hometown of Michael Myers from the "Halloween" films) and "Till Death Do Us Party," an ode to the "Friday the 13th" films.
But "Fang Bang" really shines when its sounds steers more in the direction of the sinister snarl of the legendary Alice Cooper. On those tracks -- "Happily Ever Cadaver," "Faith in the Devil," Burn the Flames" and, the best song on the CD, "Curse of Me," -- "Fang Bang" becomes less of a novelty Halloween CD and more of a rock record along the lines of Cooper's "Lace and Whiskey" or "Goes to Hell." And that's no faint praise.
Fans of Wednesday 13's previous bands (i.e., Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13 and the Murderdolls) will find plenty to enjoy on "Fang Bang," as will fans of horror rock and/or punk in general.
For more information, check out www.wednesday13.com or www.myspace.com/officialWednesday13.
"Fang
Bang" (Rykodisc; 2006)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Horror movies and rock'n'roll go together like rum and Coke. Everybody likes a good ghost story and that is just what you get when you listen to Wednesday 13's "Fang Bang."
The music is clearly dark and explores sick and twisted images that may sound serious but that I found to be tongue-in-cheek. Images of dead people, grisly phenomenon and lots of blood make for a warped and entertaining listening experience. I loved all the strange and very imaginative descriptions and, when you go for entertainment value alone, this CD is well worth a listen.
For more information, check out www.wednesday13.com or www.myspace.com/officialWednesday13.
"Transylvania
90210: Songs of Death, Dying, and the Dead" (Roadrunner; 2005)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Wednesday 13 may may do himself a disservice by staying strictly in the horror rock category. The music on "Transylvania 90210" falls somewhere between Rob Zombie, the Ramones, the Misfits and the Murderdolls (of whom Wednesday is a member). It's all great throbbing guitars, punk rock rhythms and ghoulish lyrics. Fun stuff. Plus, Wednesday's voice sounds a little like Rob Zombie's or Alice Cooper (a couple of other artists that are locked into the horror rock category).
The song titles here are worth the price of admission alone. How can you not love songs like "Post Mortem Boredom," "The Ghost of Vincent Price" and "Look What the Bats Dragged In." And the lyrics are as entertaining as the song titles. "Transylvania 90210" is good, fun, simple music from beginning to end; you can't help but get caught up in it, banging your head with a great big grin on your face.
It's too bad that you only think to play Wednesday 13 at Halloween time. I think I'm going to try and listen the rest of the year, too. Songs like "Bad Things" don't have to be Halloween songs or horror rock songs and it's actually one of the better songs on the album. And, again, how can you resist lyrics like "You're the reason that murder should be legalized; if it was, you'd be dead and in the ground by 5."
Gruesome, ghoulish fun with a great punk rock beat. "Transylvania 90210" is great all year long but it sure sounds better in October.
For more information, check out www.wednesday13.com or www.myspace.com/officialWednesday13.
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.
