Devils Whorehouse
Blood & Ashes
Regain Records
2009
A sort of
project band from more well known Swedish musicians who are exploring their love
for Misfits and Samhain/Danzig. The album's tracks swing back N forth from
either a Misfits style horror punk to a more death rock style associated with
Samhain and Danzig. Starting with Oceans Turn to Blood which declares with
no mistake their love of the aforementioned bands. The track is more along
the lines of the death rock style as it lingers in realms of darker, slower
guitar passages and a stomping main beat.
Up next is Wicked One where the tempo
increases and consumes the gothic tinged punk leanings of Misfits though not
near as reckless or sloppy. Which it turns out is one of the drawbacks of
of Devils Whorehouse. They seems just a tad too controlled even when they
are rocking their hardest. The Cult of Death is a spooky ritualistic track
with ambient sounds and clean chanted vocals. It doesn't really prepare
the listener for the pounding energy of Werewolf which quickly follows. A
massively devastating and catchy chorus pounces upon the listener like a
Lycanthrope attacking its prey and is the album's standout track for me.
Shadows Never Change is a bone-chilling gothic rock masterpiece that shivers
with echoes of Danzig's debut album. Maelstrom does a pretty good Glenn
Danzig impression with his voice capturing that over emotional 50s and 60s
horror take on Jim Morrison. Face the Master is sort of a different beast
as it starts off as a blistering punk anthem that settles into a Swedish death
metal groove in its bowels. Devils Whorehouse wear their love for all
things Danzig related on their sleeve. However they don't manage to
capture the magic or energy of his related projects seeming somewhat forced and
as I said before, too controlled. While not a bad album, when I am done
listening to Blood & Ashes I am left with the desire to listen to actual Misfits
and Danzig albums.