"Mars Needs Women" starts out with promise, a menacing acoustic intro reminiscent of Down's "Landing at the Mountains of Megiddo", then descends into a disappointing grind that sounds like something Marilyn Manson would have cut from his Golden Age of Grotesque album. That intro represents something common to Zombie's recent film and music work, a flash of brilliant potential that reminds you he's an artist of promise that can't seem to get past his preoccupations. The horror-movie, honky-tonk stomp of "Werewolf Baby" is tight and catchy and proves that Zombie collaborated with long-time bandmates this time out rather than session musicians; if these guys wanted to, they could easily pull off history's most frightening country album. "Virgin Witch" is a slow, chugging mess that can't even be saved by John 5's guitar pyrotechnics. "Death and Destiny Inside the Dream Factory," inspired by Zombie's forays into Hollywood, is about as appealing as a dentist brandishing his drill right next to your ear. The energy is there, a change from the album's first couple songs, but it's driving a tune so abysmal you wish Zombie had phoned this one in too.
"Burn" is another good track, more down to the combined ability of John 5, Tom Clufetos & Piggy D. rather than Zombie himself - it's actually better when there's no vocal and the music is left to its own devices. The song marks a turning point for Zombie, he's gone from raiding old horror movies to old commercials, with his "Poppa ooo-mow-mow" hook straight out of a Pringles advertisement. I look forward to seeing this progress on his next album, where he'll write a song about a lesbian, vampire, motorcycle gang incorporating the phrase "plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is".
The gothic swagger of "Cease to Exist" is another standout track with a spooky "transmissions from the end of the world" sound. Like some of Zombie's recent darker experimentation, "House of 1000 Corpses" and "Death of it All," it benefits from a slow-tempo and dark, minimalist sound. This is a Rob Zombie production of course, so we do get audio clips and voice effects but they enhance rather than distract. After "What?" it's the album's second best track and it's followed by what is arguably the worst. "Werewolf Women of the S.S.," inspired by the faux trailer he directed for Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's film Grindhouse, with its funhouse dance beat, is about as throwaway a track as Zombie has ever produced. It's the kind of track that might benefit from a remix, if anyone cared enough to bother, but for the time being it's another example of Zombie's schtick wearing thin. The final track, "The Man Who Laughed" is 9-minute free-for-all, not really a song as such, just a collection of riffs, strings and the most egregious of all rock 'n' roll excesses: the drum solo.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
"In interviews Zombie has said that this album won't be his last musical effort but will be his last CDas he feels discs have been made obsolete by digital downloads"
Honestly, he cemented that ideology when he departed from White Zombie. IMO, his form of Aerobic Rock was never Metal and never worthy of the "album" format. Hell, even "La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1" got freaking boring after the first three tracks and the only memorable song was "Thunder Kiss '65". I think you accurately pinpointed the adolescent mindset in his music and I wouldn't expect anything more but I will be happy in not having to hear anymore of his crap.
2 - Largely the Truth
Hellbilly Deluxe & Sinister Urge hold up as albums but the next two are better off being picked over in iTunes, absolutely. I have to agree about La Sexorcisto too, other than "Thunderkiss '65" and "I Am Legend" I never understood the appeal. If Zombie ever decided to mature as an artist I'd throw all my dollars at the album, download, or whatever it was, but if at 45 he's still working through his adolescence I'm left wondering how far off that day is.
3 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Yea.. I hear what you're saying, I guess I never was a fan of that techno fused style to begin with. So, it' not just Rob Zombie that I dislike but Powerman 5000, Static X and all the other bounce bands (as I like to call'em)that you can bounce right into the dump.
4 - Largely the Truth
There should be some kind of support group for people who've been subjected to Static X. The first time I heard Machine I thought my CD player was broken. Then I wished it was.
5 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
LMAO... I believe Jenny Craig uses this music to torture people if they fall off the bandwagon,though, the food is just as bad so it's a loose / loose situation