ROB ZOMBIE The Lunar Injection Kool Aide Eclipse Conspiracy
( Nuclear Blast )
For the past three decades , Rob Zombie has been music ’ s master of macabre . He ’ s built his career on disco metal groove songs about witches , monsters , and sexy mamas . He excels in disco sleaze groove metal horror-inspired songs to shake your ass to . And that ’ s exactly what you get on The Lunar Injection Kool- Aid Eclipse Conspiracy .
Rob Zombie ’ s long-awaited seventh album doesn ’ t deviate much from this tried-and-true formula . It ’ s business as usual , and it ’ s a helluva good time . “ Triumph of the King Freak ” is a bombastic , in-your-face anthem reminding you who the king of disco-funk supernatural metal is . It ’ s a ferocious introduction to the strange , trippy journey we ’ re about to embark on with Zombie . Despite sounding similar to his past songs , it ’ s hard to resist the boot-stomping energy of “ The Ballad of Sleazy Rider ” or the sexy groove of “ Shadow of the Cemetery Man .” The heart-racing “ The Eternal Struggles of the Howling Man ” is one of the album ’ s best songs . Everything from the old school horror movie intro to the raging guitars and the porno-esque breakdown screams classic Zombie . And “ The Satanic Rites of Blacula ” is another fun , high-energy song that gets you riled up , fists pumping in the air . The mood shifts on the closing track “ Crow Killer Blues .” It has a sinister edge . The song is heavy with a sense of doom as Zombie chants , “ As you bleed darkness / judgment shall begin ,” as if he ’ s bringing on the apocalypse . For a record that sounds like a non-stop party , it ends on a strangely bleak note . Then there ’ s “ 18th Century Cannibals Excitable Morlocks on the Ghost Train ,” the most WTF song on the album . It ’ s Rob Zombie gone country . The twanging guitars , Zombie ’ s southern drawl , and the rambling lyrics throw you off guard . On first listen , it ’ s off-putting . It doesn ’ t flow with the rest of the album , and the hoedowninspired music is strange . But it grows on you after a while , especially with its intense hook that hits you like a runaway train . You gotta give it to him for going full country here . It ’ s a ballsy move that shatters our expectations . And it shows Zombie has no problem shifting gears sonically . This experimentation would ’ ve made the album stronger .
Whereas 2016 ’ s The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser ( what ’ s up with him and these titles ?) felt concise and left little room for filler , this album is too long . Not all of the 17 tracks are winners . Songs like “ Get Loose ,” “ Shake Your Ass-Smoke Your Grass ,” and “ Boom-Boom-Boom ” are tolerable but ultimately forgettable . But the numerous instrumentals really kill the album . They ’ re not even bad . They ’ re actually quite good and explore different sounds and styles lacking in other songs . But they ’ re too short , feeling more like unfinished ideas from the recording session . If they were fully fleshed out songs , they would add more variety to the album and push Zombie out of his comfort zone . Otherwise , they add little to the record .
The Lunar Injection Kool-Aid Eclipse Conspiracy is an in-the-books Rob Zombie
album . If you ’ ve heard his previous records , you know what to expect here . Though it ’ s similar to his past albums , it ’ s still a good time . The songs are catchy , heavy , trippy , and funky as good Rob Zombie songs should be . After a year of music that reflected the hardships of 2020 , it ’ s a relief to get an album that ’ s just fun . It ’ s the soundtrack to the wild , trippy party we all deserve right now . Is it the best of his career ? No , but after 34 years of digging through ditches and burning through witches , Rob Zombie proves he can still be our boogie man .
– Ashley Perez Hollingsworth
7
SMITH / KOTZEN Smith / Kotzen
( BMG )
Heavy metal masters Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen have made productive use of the downtime from principal projects including Iron Maiden and Winery Dogs , cementing a potent new partnership with their self-titled debut album . “ Taking My Chances ” surges forward with the meshing of the pair ’ s thundering guitar riffs while trading dazzling solos . Smith and Kotzen share vocals as well . Smith ’ s voice is that of a reliable and expressive roadhouse rocker , while Kotzen ’ s soulful vocals rank favorably in the realm of rock powerhouses like Chris Cornell and Sammy Hagar . Smith ’ s brutal riff for “ Running ” will thrill Iron Maiden fans , while Kotzen sings about keeping a headlong pace in order to feel most alive . The
The bluesy swagger of “ Scars ” colors the tale of a loner with the odds stacked against him , and features flashes of harmonized guitar soloing while the pair unleash their best licks . “ Some People ” is driven by Kotzen ’ s nimble bass guitar pattern , with condemnation for the energy vampires in our lives . Set to a riff reminiscent of the Beatles ’ “ Come Together ,” “ Glory Road ” echoes the emotive blues-rock of Bad Company and Paul Rodgers ’ earthen soulrock . The singers wonder whether the coattail-riders would stick with them during leaner times . Kotzen ’ s hammering percussion at the drum set drives the vinyl album ’ s first side . He ’ s more than up to the task – keeping good company with Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain , who begins side two with a guest spot on the chugging and motivational “ Solar Fire .” Smith and Kotzen share vocals again during “ You Don ’ t Know Me .” Smith ’ s rough-hewn voices carries the melody with conviction , and Kotzen takes flight with soulful harmony during the chorus . The hard-driving song gives way to a slow boogie colored by some of the album ’ s most expressive and dazzling fretwork . Kotzen ’ s longtime collaborator Tal Bergman drums for songs including the melancholy “ I Wanna Stay .” The determined “’ Til Tomorrow ” fuses classical hard-rock energy from Led Zeppelin ’ s Physical Graffiti with modern progressive textures a la Rush ’ s Clockwork Angels .
– Jeff Elbel
7
EVANESCENCE The Bitter Truth
( BMG )
It ’ s been ten long years since Amy Lee ’ s Evanescence gave us an original album and 13 plus months of a global pandemic to finish it off via remote recording and mixing . Longtime fans that are expecting booming , bombastic anthems after a lockdown will get what they want – Lee delivers . There ’ s no direct blueprinting from Nu Metal past glories like Fallen or The Open Door . A decade on – Amy Lee has matured and her vocal approach is more dynamic on “ Broken Pieces Shine ,” splendent with a gothic vocal utilizing quiet verses and soaring choruses . She ’ s in that Roger Daltrey Who By Numbers zone where she ’ s learned to use her voice to its greatest effect . Four years of the former guy on Pennsylvania Ave have given her the green light for political preaching ( also used a HeadCount ad bed ) on “ Use My Voice ” (“ Label me bitch because I dare to draw my own line / Burn every bridge and build a wall in my way / But I will use my voice ”). Female rock comrades Lzzy Hale , Taylor Momsen , and Sharon Den Adel are also there to fight the power with their voices . “ The Game Is Over ” and closer “ Blind Belief ” are power rock ballads that are just the ticket for
COVID weary fans . There are few curveballs to keep things interesting . “ Yea Right ” features an ‘ 80s bass synth line and a poppy vocal that we haven ’ t heard before . “ Take Cover ” uses a similar bass synth bed with stilted , awkward results .
The Bitter Truth is easily one of the most anticipated albums of 2021 and The band is there to meet the moment . A decade is an eternity between albums and The Bitter Truth will only expand the legend around Amy Lee and Evanescence .
– John Vernon
8
CHEAP TRICK In Another World
( BMG )
Cheap Trick ’ s 20th studio album packs what fans need from one of Illinois ’ most reliably satisfying institutions . “ The Summer Looks Good on You ” offers stacked harmonies led by Robin Zander , who once again earns his position in the upper reaches of any list of rock ’ s premiere vocalists . The song also packs a mean lick by guitarist Rick Nielsen , a daffy showman who nonetheless means serious business ( and serious fun ) on the songwriting and recording fronts . Nods to “ Dream Police ” strings will make song this a likely favorite with longtime fans . Zander ’ s ageless voice turns feral during the thundering pop of quintessential Cheap Trick basher “ Light Up the Fire ,” propelled by Tom Petersson ’ s rumbling 12-string bass . As done on We ’ re All Alright ! with the deluxe versions inclusion of “ Blackberry Way ,” the swinging , horn-laced “ Quit Waking Me Up ” will remind listeners of Cheap Trick ’ s status as chief evangelists for Roy Wood of The Move and Wizzard . “ The Party ” is an irresistible riff-rocking stomper with a “ Crosstown Traffic ” -styled hook and urgent drumming by Daxx Nielsen . “ Another World ” is a lighter-waving , heavy ballad with a winsome melody that serves as a healing balm for troubled times – despite being written two years prior to pandemic paranoia and civil unrest . “ Boys & Girls & Rock N Roll ” is a lusty anthem with a title that practices truth in advertising . “ Final Days ” borrows a swaggering Chicago blues boogie while Nielsen ’ s guitar
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24 illinoisentertainer . com april 2021