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Band:
The Mugshots
A self-proclaimed “undead rock” band outta Italy , The Mugshots are not afraid to show their roots. They open their latest CD with a symphonic piece called “Prelude to a Full Moon Rising” which with its soaring synthesizers and pounding tympani recalls a great Italian progressive rock band of years gone by, Goblin. The Mugshots mostly play melodic hard rock songs quite different from Goblin's instrumental soundtrack work. But one of the band's strong points is that they make effective use of keyboards, not just guitars, including a very Bach-like organ that recalls early horror film music. The album's second song, “Children of the Night,” (a reference to Lugosi's Drac of course) is the perfect example of this amalgamation of rock and soundtrack: rolling arpeggios of organ, icy big power chords on Henry Lee's guitar, and a powerful drum beat that keeps the song chugging along at a quick pace. “Last Words” is another fine horror charged song employing a carnivalesque keyboard riff and vocal effects reminiscent of Ministry that evolve into squeals and howls. Mickey Evil's vocals take command of every song, moving through complex arrangements of verses, choruses, bridges, and counter melodies. While he is technically a baritone, Mickey acts out his songs as much as he sings them, alternating among howls, growls, and inflections that sometimes evoke Alice Cooper and other times Jello Biafra. Mickey also provides all the lyrics which resonate with themes of angst, existential dread, and the need for escape from humanity. His lyric for “The Foul Stench of Humans” reflects this tone well as does “Morningside Graveyard” based upon imagery from the Phantasm movies. Which is not to say there isn't humor mixed with all this. There is clearly a glee in all the horror movie evil. And then there's “Frozen Nuns (From Outer Space).” Alien invader movie? Political diatribe against the Vatican ? Too much beer for breakfast? Hard to say. But the album relies on enough solid riffs and singable choruses to make it all seem to make sense. by Nemo Swift |
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