HorrorShock Records Shockwaves Vol. 2 CD Review
It’s been some years since I’ve been able to review a Horror Compilation. The labels and the compilations have been drying up unless you know where to look. I’m a bit slow when it comes to the looking… Today we’re going to talk about the latest comp. from Horrorshock Records – Shockwaves Vol. 2.
To my knowledge and from what I can gather, Horrorshock is conglomerate of all things Horror related, they’ve been rounding up all the fiends they can to celebrate the spooky, the dark and the macabre. This is a lost art form; it was all the rage back in the early millennia but somewhere along the way, the movement stalled and got lost in translation. I think a lot of the kids who were into it grew up or quite honestly, the scene just changed. Nothing good lasts forever, however, there’s reason to pick up the flag and continue to wave it maniacally and that’s exactly what Horrorshock has been doing for a few years now. They have a large presence online and participate in podcasts and a ton of other stuff – it makes an old ghoul feel good knowing that I can still find a place where I fit in and a welcoming community of like-minded people.
Getting to this Shockwaves 2 compilation – it’s packed with 16 tracks of some of today’s up and coming Horror Punk/Rock bands. There’s a bit of everything here and the sounds vary, it just depends on what you prefer. I’m from the 80’s so there’s a few moments where I’m fetching some 80’s Metal vibes – Hideous Monster’s “October Mourning” has an oldschool 80’s feel. I’m softly reminded of Hallows Eve; that’s not a bad thing at all. I want to feel some more of what these guys are cooking up! Spellgrinder’s “Get Out (Shock City)” all but stands up and says we’re Glam Punkers, what are you gonna do about it! Great guitar playing and melody lines! I reckon for the younger generation, the name Wednesday 13 might fit well here as a comparison, but I’d like to say this is a far better effort than anything he’s done for a while now. Slaughter Party’s “Red on You” has a low down and dirty Punkabilly swagger to it with a bit of the old croon slap and tickle in the vocals for good measure. Rise From Your Grave’s “Hell House Redux 2024” has a Misfits vibe and I fucking love it, It’s catchy and punchy as hell! I want to hear more from these guys and FAST! The Creepy Crawlers are another band that stands out with their tune “Bring the Blood”. It’s a mean Punk tune with great female background vocals that really stand out. It’s a raging tune made for some PIT ACTION! TCC is the Reverend Chad Wells newest band – his daughter Presley is also the bassist. Who’s the Rev? He’s the guy responsible for the legendary Jackalopes band and of course this label – Horrorshock Records! He’s a legend and diehard in the scene, you can’t mess with anything he’s been a part of, because he doesn’t half-ass anything. “Trash Panda” by Zipperguts is a tune that I had to back into liking – it’s a bit noisy to start with, but after a few listens it really started to sink in, it’s creepy and has its place here. Another ear worm is the tune “Mr. Hyde” from the band Bat Thorn. This track has a fantastic Pop Punk vibe with a great riff that runs the length of the song. “Crawl Past the Grave” from the band 84 Tapes is a lo-fi analog tip toe through the cemetery. Sonically, it’s not the most pleasing but the vibe is certainly there, and I can dig it. The Lollipop Kids show up with a track called “Glitter Stomp” it’s a good time too, kind of reminds me of 45 Grave with a bit of the Runaways/Jane County tossed in, which I appreciate. I’m not sure how long they’ve been doing their thing, but I’d certainly be interested in hearing more from the band, they’re onto something.
There are several more tunes on this album that are well worth a listen! Pretty With the Lights Out, Graveyard Boys and Wake the Dead, notably. If this is where the Horror scene is currently at, count me in. This has a been a great listen and a wonderful introduction into the world of Horrorshock Records. I’m going to need to dial it back and check out Shockwaves Volume 1. I strongly urge you to take a moment and check out a few of these artists or hell just grab the CD, hop in the Hearse and go for a ride!