84 Tapes 84 Piece Puzzle CD Review

This is a really interesting release. ‘84 Piece Puzzle’ is a psychedelic horror punk album with a touch of thrash and hardcore that paints a bloody tapestry of death and dismemberment told through the eyes of a killer. The killer’s psychopathic tendencies are revealed through 84 VHS tapes that are left as clues and used to…piece together this menacing and macabre puzzle.

I’m picking up a lot of Order of the Fly influences, particularly in the bass and even some industrial sounding bits and pieces strewn around like the spray of blood dripping down the wall after a savage killing. The opening track “Buried” and closer “Forgotten” are both spoken word tracks that explain to and warn the listener about these tapes and how they should not watch nor duplicate them due to their extreme and disturbing content. “Sirens” and “Clippings In the Paper” are the standouts here, especially the latter with its raw and gritty energy.

As this was my first experience with 84 Tapes, I was incredibly impressed and am excited to see what the future holds. This is a unique experience that is different from a lot of horror punk out today, so if you’re looking for something a bit different, stop here.

~TJ