Spawn Atomic – PowerPlant EP

(c) 2010 Spawn Atomic
Rating: ★★★½☆

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Please stay tuned for this important message, “Whoa whoaa whoa oo oo, whoa whoa whoa. That is all.” San Franciso Horror Punk trio Spawn Atomic knows how it goes. If you want any sort of cred as a horror punk band at all, you gotta have the whoa whoa whoas, and let me tell ya boy they gots ’em.

I know that The Misfits were/are like some sort of ultra-revered be all end all when it comes to the genre, maybe they are, I don’t really care. Mighty Morphin Power Glen can eat it. But you can’t really review the genre without some thinly veiled reference to how much whatever band you are reviewing is or isn’t like The Misfits. So here it comes. Spawn Atomic is reminiscent of a band, who shall remain nameless, known for its early work in the genre. But enough ancient history.

Spawn Atomic PowerPlant EP thrusts upward from the atomic wasteland with six tracks of vampire hunters, zombies and sick sick sex with the aforementioned. The short track length, the uptempo and the raw sound, rarely found outside of a trio, really works. There’s a post-apocalyptic garage band vibe that while certainly is super-scary, is also fun and dare I say endearing.

Beyond the makeup and the intent to shock, the songs have solid structure and musicianship. The vox aren’t caught between a scream and a growl. I for one appreciate the hell out of that. The guitar is distorted. The bass is punchy, the drums percussive. What more do you need? Word on the street is that the band will have a full length out by summer and they have a few West Coast and AZ shows (Phoenix Comicon) set up to back up their releases.

Here’s what it really boils down to. Spawn Atomic, all gimmicks aside (and I’m a sucker for a good gimmick) really screw it on. If you are a fan of punk rock, horror punk, 50s punk etc. then for the evil overlord’s sake, check these sonofatomic mutants out.

–Jerry Actually

Nekromantix On Tour With Rob Zombie

October 14, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA. – Revered psychobilly trio Nekromantix will be taking their hellacious stage show on the road, joining horror-rock legend Rob Zombie for a cross country spree of mayhem and menace on the Hellbilly Deluxe 2 Tour starting October 29. The tour will also feature Captain Clegg & the Night Creatures last seen rocking a murderous Michael Myers in the recent drive-in classic “Halloween II.”

Fronted by flattopped bandleader Kim Nekroman and his beloved coffin bass, the Nekromantix and their furious sinister sound will help ignite this depraved rock and roll freak show as it detonates in the heat scorched metropolis of Phoenix on October 29th, before rocking the fleshpots of Las Vegas and descending on the decadent streets of Hollyweird and beyond.
Continue reading Nekromantix On Tour With Rob Zombie