ROB ZOMBIE – HELLBILLY DELUXE 2
2nd February 2010
RoadRunner Records

Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls And The Systematic Dehumanization Of Cool is the title given to Hellbilly Deluxe 2, the fourth studio album from Rob Zombie. Interestingly the album was actually completed in late 2008 and recorded for the first time with a ‘band’ rather than a rotation of session musicians as on previous albums. I think this shows through out the album with a sense of direction and a common goal.

The album actually starts off at a steady pace, with the track Burn released on the game ‘Rock Band’. It’s not until track three, Sick Bubblegum that some hard rock reaches out and says something. In this case a repetition of Mother F*ck*r that for me, doesn’t seem so obscene and flows easily with the riff. What?, the first single released from the album, follows with a catchy pop rhythm and melody. Although a video has not yet been made for this, Zombie has made sure the artwork with the album is his best yet, using it as a full stop at the end of the CD era, giving way to digital sales.
Each track gives us different intros, such as acoustic in Mars Needs Women, that famous sampling in Werewolf, Baby! and doom in Virgin witch. The Man Who Laughs is an epic 10 minute symphonic rock track, though that does include a four treated to a minute drum solo! This still only brings this album to 45 minutes but listening through the album I felt satisfied at its conclusion and I thoroughly enjoyed the album. ★★✩✩✩

Album Of The Week 16/02/10
Xander

MUSTASCH – MUSTASCH
8th January 2010
Nuclear Blast

Hard, punchy, wailing and chuggy; this album pleases my ears. I am unaware of the bands previous 4 albums so I just had no idea of what to expect from these Swedish rockers.
The doomy symphonic Tritonus (Prelude) briefly kicks off the self titled album leading the way for Heresy Blasphemy, 4 minutes of dirty heavy rock with a filthy voicebox worthy of replacing Slash in Guitar Hero. A quick favourite from the album is Desolate, a disjointed track repetitive through out, yet hypnotic from the repetition. This track also displays a good working partnership with dual guitaring and a snazzy gypsy kind of ending. I’m Frustrated is a completely different direction altogether, an easy listening slow paced ballad complete with strings and acoustic guitars. Tritonus returns for the finale like a tale told in epic rock form. We are then treated to an extra track instrumental version of the single, Mine.

For lovers of rock, this album will be very cosy in your collection! ★★★✩✩

Album of the week 09/02/10
Xander

THE ARMED – THESE ARE LIGHTS
Unsigned

Well if the fact that this album is free isn’t enough for you to get it, the fact that it is ace should be! Straight away Party At Pablos kicks you in the face swiftly followed by Kingbreaker. I can only think to describe this music as hardcore/tech/metal, they say it “Sounds Like: Yelling”. In the first five minutes you are exposed to brutal fast paced beats and twiddly riffs, but this Detroit band actually have a few tricks up their sleeve in the form of a kind of slow jazz instrumental, I Steal What I Want, some thing that starts off almost indie/pop moving into Nine Inch Nails, Gave Up, and a light atmosphered sampled interlude moving into something like ‘Come To Daddy’. Short but sweet, 30 minutes of twists and delightfully fast tempo beats and guitars. ★★★★✩

You can download the album for free now at www.thearmed.com

Album Of The Week 02/02/10
Xander