I say album tittles deceive. They really do. Band names do too. With only these two pieces of information I’d say this album would a kind of joke. Or even mockery. Oh, dear, I couldn’t be that wrong. But I am indeed. Between you and me, this album with songs about classic horror TV shows characters is prone not to be serious after all those characters don’t scare anyone anymore as they used to back in the day. With all the iconography available today they are to laughed at. Seriously. But the album has so delicious tunes that I can’t help it to praise it. Of course, being from a Pop Punk band there are features that I really don’t like, however, the overall outcome is so good. “Universal Monsters” turns out to be a great homage to classic horror TV shows characters that made our childhood bearable back then.
Ladies and gentlemen, The Deathtones with “Universal Monsters.”
The album commences with that typical speech of classic horror TV shows including the accent. The intro is linked with “Dracula” as it would be expected by the accent. It’s really difficult to tell when one stops and the other starts. Praise to that. Now I get that The Deathtones follow bands as Misfits and their horror driven music. Vocalist Billy Bönes does it with mastery. Pay very close attention to the the very competent guitar solo. I don’t know you, but this kind of circus music do scare me. I may have coulrophobia, which is, a specific phobic disorder that causes anxiety, a racing heart, nausea and profuse sweating. Most people can avoid clowns. Some need exposure therapy, a type of psychotherapy, to help manage their reactions to clowns and clown images. I didn’t know there was a phobia like this. Really, I didn’t. Nevermind, so, let’s get back to the album. Following track “Frankenstein” adds some 1980’s Gothic elements with a martial cadence. From where I’m standing the track loses their power a little, but the guitar solo saves the day again. The beginning of “The Mummy” emulates that kind of oriental music the 1950’s and 1960’s movies loved to make us think they were real. Here the mix between 1980’s Post Punk elements with Metal music reaches its apex with a delicious chorus that makes the fan singalong. That’s the mix that made me attracted to “Universal Monsters.” Again, the guitars are fantastic. “Here comes the Mummy.” “Here comes the Mummy.” Can anyone take that out from my mind! Please! And then comes the addictive guitar riff of “Creature from the Black Lagoon” to stick to my mind with no mercy. Oh, my! Great albums are like this.
“Universal Monsters” is a fun album to listen to if my dear Metal fan doesn’t take it so seriously. Their mix may not please everyone, but it’s what attracted me to the album. If you don’t like it, pay attention to the guitars instead.
The Deathtones “Universal Monsters” will be release on February 02nd via We Are Horror Records.
Track Listing:
- Intro
- Dracula
- Frankenstein
- The Mummy
- The Invisible Man
- The Wolf Man
- Creature from the Black Lagoon
Watch official music video:
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