| CD REVIEW Murderdolls |
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Band : Murderdolls 8 Years ago, I was the lucky bastard whom got to review Murderdolls' debut album Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls. As most of you know, this was a collaboration between Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison and Wednesday 13 (real name Joseph poole), and the album was a collection of songs written mostly by Poole (in fact leftovers from his band Frankentein Dragqueens From Planet 13, which had just then been laid to rest...it's therefore no surprise that the material was very much like what Poole had done in the past, or would do in the future, for that matter). Third element in the recording equasion was Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen, and the album was recorded with Poole also taking care of bass duties, and Jordison played about as much guitar as Eisen. After the recordings, the guys went in search for members to complete the line-up, and with the addition of bassist Eric Griffin and drummer Ben Graves the band took to the live circuit. Well, actually Eisen left after the release of the first single (to concentrate on his own band again), and his position was taken by Acey Slade. In the US success only quietly picked up, but in Japan and the UK the band was an instant cult hit. Apparently everybody got burned out after two years of touring (what do you expect, when 5 musicians and an equal amount of crew are put on a bus?...Yeah, they partied every night all through the ride), and anyway Jordison by that time had to concentrate on Slipknot again (they were prepping their Vol.3 (The Subliminal Verses) album around that time). Somehow, everyone lost sight of each other (although Poole & Jordison díd happen to run into each other at some German festival a couple of years later). About the circumstances that brought about the resurrection of Murderdolls, Jordison says he'd fell asleep in front of the TV one evening somewhere last year, and woke up in the middle of the night with Headbangers Ball playing. There wasn't really any thing to his taste on that show, and suddenly he came to the realisation that he'd gotten disenchanted with the whole metal scene. So many bands, but none that actually touched him. So he just picked up the phone and called Poole, telling him he wanted to make a new Murderdolls album. Music to the latter's ears, because he'd actually been waiting for that same call for the last 5 years. This time around Jordison and Poole intend to take the band as far as it goes, and that's why they were a little more attentive in chosing the members for the band. Lead guitarist Roman Surmen (whom Jordison knew from a 2006 Ministry & Slipknot tour) was originally recruited as studio guitar technician, when the two realised he was just what the band needed. Drummer Racci Shay Hart is a real madman on the drums, and looks like he could jump at your throat over his kit at any time. Bassist Jack Tankerley on the other hand, is seen as the band's "voice of reason". As the sixth element, the guys contacted Chris "Zeuss" Harris, generally known as a Metal Producer of high standard (check Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, and others), with whom Jordison co-worked on the 3 Inches Of Blood album Fire Up The Blades, and whom he knew to be a fan of Classic Rock...wanting to steer away somewhat from his usual niche! The result of the recordings is an album which sounds very much like the stuff we're used to from Wednesday 13, albeit with a slight difference. You see, lyrically Poole adapted his usual banter of teenage angst and graveyard horror, towards more personal and realistic stuff. The result of long talks with Jordison (whom also went through some personal troubles in the past years), and the fact that most lyrics were written while only the band was already in the studio. Compared to the Murderdolls debut album, WACL's opening tracks are perhaps geared a bit more towards the Metal spectrum, but after that what you get is more of the (delicious) same. Although apparently often described by fans and press alike as "Mötley Crüe meets The Misfits", I still stand by my original assessment of "modern-day Alice Cooper on speed". If by some bad luck the first album past by you unnoticed, perhaps you should get acquainted (and then make up your own mind about the validity of the comparisons) with the band by visiting myspace.com/murderdolls, where you'll only find the one song (and first single, "My Dark Place Alone") off the new album, but also 3 (somewhat comparable, except lyrically) off the debut. As for my personal appreciation of this band...I've always been partial to what Poole brings, and Murderdolls sure ain't no exception to that rule! 90/100 Tony. |