Happy Halloween!

As I relax after posting my most posts in a single month, I want to wish everyone a happy, scary, ghoulish and safe Halloween! May tonight be filled with tons of tricks, treats, spirits of both kinds and scary movies! It's been a long month and I am still not completely caught up on reviews. There will be more to come, that I can guarantee.

Stay Scary

Jekyll A Hyde

Blast From Oblivion - Restrained

Not many bands can hit as hard as Blast From Oblivion does but, on this new album they go for the throat as it is a relentless attack from the first note to the last! The album may be called Restrained  but they are let loose to reek havoc on anyone and all who dares to play this album. At times recalling classic 80s thrash in feel it still sounds amazingly fresh and updated instead of a carbon copy of a tried, true and tested formula. Oh! Did I mention that this is essentially a one man band as Splatter Guts does just about everything here including melting your face off. I mean, the debut was good but this album just kicked everything up a notch and set the standard even hire for what is to follow next! More Metal then Horror Punk, this album rocks just as hard the same as it has me headbanging right along on the first listen! Get a copy of this album; you will be rocking along too in no time, trust me!

The Cryptkeeper Five - The Stronghold

It has been 6 years since we have gotten a new album by CK5 (2 since they released their last single) so, to say that the world was anxiously awaiting their new album is a grave understatement. With a mix of Bruce Springsteen and the Dropkick Murphys, the Cryptkeeper Five don't disappoint as they unleash a monster of an album! Yes, this album was well worth the wait as you can tell that they took the time to craft these songs as only they can as each song is just a knock out! Johnny Ott and company have left me speechless yet again (they always do) with the amazing music that they crafted. My only thing is I hope that we don't have to wait another 6 years again to hear new music by this classic and loved band. Grab a copy of this soon to be masterpiece as everything that these guys touch does turn to gold and this album is no exception!

Children of October - You Mean it's not Jazz?!

I may not know much about Buddy Rich or Charlie Parker but I do know that this isn't Jazz. Thankfully, this is Children of October at its absolute best! That is not to say that I don't like Jazz; I'll listen to it if it is on but I am not one of those people who are like a fan who must know everything. This new EP starts off with a song that brings to mind System of a Down followed by a song that is destined to become a classic for the Children. This EP proves once again why their Horror Punk is faster and better then your Horror Punk! This whole EP is just phenomenal in both the music and overall execution! I cannot even pick standouts as it is just that awesome from beginning to end! Oh! That cover art is just hilarious as it pokes fun at their trouble finding a permanent bass player with a vacancy sign over the bass amp. Just classic! So, unlike this review, the EP is short and sweet and will pump you up for anything that comes to your door asking for treats! Grab a copy of it as soon as you can!

   

The Bastards - Razors in your Candy

Remember when you where a child and you were told to always check your candy before eating it in case of razor blades? Well, just like that, these tunes are sweet and sharp at the same time as those Bastards unleash a Halloween treat for their fans with this new release that features 2 covers and them redoing one of their songs from their earlier demos. So grab your dead girls, bring them on down to the morgue. They'll meet you there with a ghoul in tow as this release, much like their tribute to the Jasons is just fun fun fun! If you cannot enjoy this music there is seriously something wrong with you and trust me, there may be a lot wrong with me but, I love these Bastards and the music that they create! So give this Frankenstein monster a spin tonight or any other night; you'll find plenty to love about them too!

Venus De Vilo - Edgar Allen Ho (5th Year Anniversery)

Five years ago Venus De Vilo released this stunning debut and I am not sure how I missed it back then! Thanks to Undead Artists I was able to finally see what I have been missing all these years! Hailing from the land where Halloween began (Ireland if you don't know), in this stunning debut Venus takes us on a journey in this penny dreadful love lane with something that brings to mind classic female singers with a touch of Horror. Included in this remastered edition is some remixes of the songs as well as some live cuts to add to the expanded bag of goodies in this treat bag full of goodness. The press release said that this was the perfect way to start your Halloween and they were not wrong in that conclusion! If I wasn't already in the mood before listening to this masterpiece, I sure as Hell am now! This is perfect for relaxing in the graveyard or for listening to while decorate the house or even handing out tricks and treats to the kids who come to the door. As you are guessing, I cannot pick standouts from this album as it is truly love at first fright! Now, if you excuse me, ol' Jekyll here needs to check out more of her tunes as I got some catching up to do with Miss Frankenstein!

The Shadow/Batman (#1)

Well, we get 2 classic detectives together in this crossover event that has fans of both DROOLING! In this story, Batman breaks up an evil New Years plot but his son can tell that his father isn't right. The one time we see the Shadow, he is disturbed by what he sees. The issue mostly focuses on Batman and, it is intriguing. There is a lot of questions but no answers in that can be seen. Things are teased but not panned out cleanly yet. How will these 2 heroes meet? Maybe in issue 2 they'll both come out of the darkness and into the light.