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—REVIEWS—
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Black Angel Promotion
Dark Holiday is the first long player to feature the band's new guitarist, Evil Jim. There has been singles and compilation appearances with EJ, but never a full length. I gotta tell ya, the band has never sounded stronger! EJ's guitar wizardry is legendary and boy, does he inject some serious mean into the band's sound. Another strong point of the album is the production, it's mixed harsh and heavy as all hell. The back beat is absolutely thunderous, making drummer Stench and bassist Dr. Syn sound larger than life. As far as the vocals go Danny Spectre is at his best here, I don't think he could get any better at this point. He's truly reached his full potential – Danzig, Screamin' Lord Sutch, Elvis and Ian Astbury can all be heard in his approach. Spectacular!
The nine tracks compiled on Dark Holiday are without a doubt the band's heaviest to date. I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite, there's not a sleeper of the bunch. Every track just fucking slays! All the Horrorpunkers out there will eat up the eeriness of the mid-paced "Seventy-Two Inches Down" which equals six feet deep, you do the math – you know what it's all about. "Bone Dry" is another mid-paced track that is just flat out nasty! The vocals and lyrics combined with the guitar riffs just churn and run cold chills up my spine. Other tracks that'll hand you your head on a plaste are "Down To The River", "Ballad Of Bubba Zanetti" and "Bleed For Me".
Review by Black Angel,
Dark Holiday
The murky swamplands of Georgia have once again spawned another release from the greatest Ghoul Rock band in the state! Yes, my fiends, The Spectremen return to us with their fourth full length disc – Dark Holiday. Those who know me, know I never can get enough of this band, they just rock my face completely off.
Dead Boy Productions
Review by Dan Zig,
The Spectremen-
Holy shit, Batman! This fucking rocks. This is the direction Danzig should have taken his band instead of going industrial. The Spectremen from Atlanta know their fucking blues influenced punk/metal very well and the vocalist does sound a hell of a lot like Danzig while still being able to sound a bit original. At first listen I thought their music was incredible and will definitely be added to the normal rotation of my CD player. For review purposes the band sent me their EP “Day of the Dawn of the Living Dead” as well as their EP “Tales of the Spectremen” and the EP “The Ballad of Bubba Zanetti”. There is also a preview to the title track of their new album which is due in the fall “Dark Holiday”. Fantastic music from a fantastic band. Be sure to check out our interview with them. Standout tracks include “Season of the Dead”, “Dead by Dawn”, and “Down to the River”.
ATLMETAL.COM
Review by Mark, Promotions/Marketing at ATLmetal.com
The Spectremen-
Spectremen is a band who "wants to prove to everyone that everyday is Halloween." One listen at their myspace page will inform you on what this band stands for. First off, the recording on all of their songs are flawless. Each track has a perfect blend of riffs, solo's, screams, and more. Not to mention the old school riffs, thrash beats, and evil breakdowns. For fans of Danzig, the Misfits, B.L.S., Rob Zombie, and even Motorhead, this band is for you. The songs just make you want to throw your fists in the air and scream bloody murder at the top of your lungs. Some of the song names include "Kiss of Death", "Dark Holiday", and "Season of the Dead." The songwriting is awesome and the energy from the tracks prove that they would be something to see at a live show. Spectremen has an edge and plans to use it to produce more "killer" music. Check it out you fans of horror, metal, and all around EVIL. (M.M)
BLACK
ANGEL PROMOTIONS
Review by Black Angel
The Howling- The Horror Of It All, vol 2
I am very excited to find a new tune entitled "The Howling"
from The Spectremen, and damned if it ain't heavy as hell too! More often than
not this band comes off on the Psychobilly/Southernfried/Horror end of the spectrum.
Not this time, they wind them guitars up and deliver a knockout blow of heavy
guitar driven Punk Rock.
BLACK
ANGEL PROMOTIONS
Review
by Black Angel
Dawn of the Day Of the Night of the Living Dead
Happy Fucking Halloween!! Tis a great day to be one of the undead.. My favorite
Ghoul Rock/Psychobilly band from Atlanta, The Spectremen, has released a new
EP entitled, The Dawn Of The Day Of The Night Of The Living Dead. The EP comes
in two different covers and features two brand new songs and two re-recorded
songs from the "Rockin' The Dead" cd.
To those who don't know, the band has a new gunslinger in town! Evil Jim, who
has played in the Evils, the Roadhawgs and various other bands in the South
has taken over guitar duties since Mickey left. While I do think Mickey was
a fabulous guitarist, EJ brings a much needed heaviness to the arsenal of the
Spectremen.
This is the heaviest release from the Spectremen. One need only hear the remake
of "Dead By Dawn" to say this. It's loaded with screaming guitars, insane lead-breaks
and a stompin' back-beat! Danny Spectre's vocals are stronger than ever, not
to mention his annunciations are much clearer than the previous version. The
only thing I miss are Dr. Syn's bass lines that stuck out so heavily the first
time around.
"Kiss Of Death" is one of the new songs and it makes my blood curdle!! EJ's
guitar work is reminiscent of one John Christ, except his guitar tone is much
thicker. You can never go wrong with a Les Paul anyway! Danny Spectre's vocal
work is amazing, his Danzig influences are extremely bright here. The highlight
in the track comes in the breakdown, it sounds like it came from something that
would have been on Alice Cooper's Welcome To My Nightmare album.
Next up, we have the other new song "Season Of The Dead", this isn't new to
me, as I've seen the band perform it live several times, but it's finally been
put to cd! I'm not sure what it is about, this song, but this is my favorite
Spectremen song ever! Musically and lyrically, this is the darkest song the
Spectremen have released. Even though it sounds nothing like Samhain, I'd still
put it up there with tunes like "November Coming Fire" and "Macabre".
The final gasp of this EP is a re-recording of "Undead". On this version the
band slows the tempo down a few steps. Remarkably, it makes the tune much heavier
and intense. EJ's guitar work is amazing; I swear he's got lightning running
in his veins. The tune as a whole seems to be covered in some kind of ghostly
haze; the drums sound hollow and the vocals carry a spine-tingling echo.
I am blown away by how far The Spectremen have came since their last recording.
The sound is much bigger and the songs are tighter than ever. If you liked the
boy's previous efforts a little bit, you're gonna LOVE the new EP!! It's Halloween,
the dead are walking around aimlessly, the witches are flying naked on their
broomsticks and The Spectremen have a new EP out. What more could you fucking
ask for? Get this or be DAMNED!!
NY
Waste
Review
by Starr Tucker
Spectremen/Evils split- Monster A-Go-Go
The Spectremen are full tilt go! Anyway you slice
it, this is one kick ass disc.
BLACK
ANGEL
The Spectremen are AWESOME! I've seen them several times
and I have all of their cd's. Anyone who picks up a cd of theirs will not be
disappointed. The Spectremen will please you and if they don't, they'll eat
your fucking brains out.
CHRIS
COLLIER
I've said it before to everyone I met, the Spectremen
are balls out, 4 on the floor, teeth gnashin', bone breakin', kidney punchin',
nitro huffin', dead raisin', single handed the single best band to come from
Atlanta. Fuck yeah The Spectremen.
MUSIC
INCIDER
Review
by Barabra Fara
Live
at the 9 Lives Saloon
Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Atlanta's hottest metal band.
You can see them at the 9 Lives Saloon in Little Five Points on Moreland Avenue.
For a band that's been around since 1997, it is a fucking shame that a major
label has not found these boys yet. What a gem stuck in the underground, because
major corporations do not send out their scouts to little local bars anywhere
in the country.
Dan Kelly will remind you of a young Glen Danzig, but he is not. He is a Danzig
in a different way. Because we know, no one can replace Glen. But Dan Kelly
has a fucking kick ass voice and you can hear the influence of the Misfits .
Dead By Dawn, Black Acid, and Zombie Hop are pure as a punk rock fusion can
get.
The band is tight and powerful. They are a great complement to the purity of
Dan Kelly's voice. Punk Rock Lyrics You Can Actually Understand The First Time
You Hear Them should be the title of their next song. Undead makes Dan sound
like a ghouly Elvis that will kick you in the ass. It is the music Elvis probably
wanted to make. I expected him to say, "Thank you very much."
Netherworld is a definite hit. Dan and company are totally in sync with each
other. The drummer complements both the lead and bass players, along with Dan's
voice, which is pure and raw. The person who is able to listen to this album
will get a great surprise.
BLACK
ANGEL PRODUCTIONS
Review
by Black Angel
Spectremen/Evils split- Monster A-GO-GO
The Spectremen have
laid down some of their best work with this release. I am not familiar with all
of their releases but I have seen them live several times and on this cd they
continue their onslaught of Horror. "Dead by Dawn" of course is an ode to the
movie Evil Dead II. The harmonies in this song are so catchy it's unbelievable.
Every aspect of this song is awesome. "Undead" is definitely my favorite off the
entire cd. The vocals on this song are strong as hell, this guy can really sing!
The lyrics are quite amusing too. The Guitarist, bassist, and drummer solidify
the songs backbone and make it unforgettable. "South of Memphis" is a cover song
of an old Atlanta band "Voodoo Piston" If I am not mistaken, the band is long
gone. Either way, The Spectremen have brought back a great song from the grave.
The word southern is an understatement! This is Psychobilly at its best, I can't
stop slapping my knee to this song. Nice breakdowns as well. I am really eager
to hear more from these fellows. I believe they have long future ahead of them.
WRECKING
BALL, ATHENS/UGA
THE SPECTREMEN- Pyschobilly tinged punk band following
in the footsteps of the Misfits. If you've worn out all our Danzig era Misfits
albums and still craving more, these guys are your best bet. If you're lucky,
you'll catch an ass-kickin cover of that Keep Your Hands To Yourself song by
the underrated Georgia Satelites.
CREATIVE
LOAFING
THE SPECTREMEN -- The Spectremen's punk/psychobilly makes
them pretty unassailable critically. Their adrenalized tempos, shout-along choruses,
and kitschy, horror movie imagery screams "plain old rock and roll fun." Of
course the Hammer Films/rock axis has been made before (Alice Cooper, the Cramps,
the Misfits et al), but that's hardly the point. Don't forget your Doc Marten's
and fake vampire blood.
STAR
VOX ZINE
Review by Blu
Live at Dottie's
The Spectremen, I dare say, put the new equipment through
its maneuvers pretty extensively with their loud, angsty punk-based sound. Coming
across as something like The Misfits, old time punk and a bit goth, The Spectremen
have been lovingly referred to as Ghoul-Rock with songs like "Frankenstein's
Car," "Boyfriend from Space," and "Bury the Living." The evening was more akin
to a comedy show than a concert although the music was indeed good. The boys
and their over-dramatic antics had the crowd in stitches for most of the evening.
Their singer drank straight out of a pitcher of beer all night long; their bass
player could give the guys from Spinal Tap a run for their money on goofy rock
and roll faces, and the drummer (donned "Stench Spectre") spent much of the
night taking and making cracks on his physical appearance. They have a CD coming
out next month - look for the review here. Bottom line on this band: ghoulishly
fun.
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