Recommended Aussie Tunes:Psycroptic | The new single "A Fragile Existence" | Listen

Album Reviews : Rob Zombie – Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor

By on May 28, 2013

4393787Up until this point it seemed that the further Rob Zombie delved into his film world, the more his music suffered. 2006’s Educated Horses certainly had its moments (see “The Scorpion Sleeps” and “Death Of It All”) but as a whole it just dragged on a bit. Four years later we got Hellbilly Deluxe 2, which unsurprisingly ended up being further proof that it’s rarely a good idea to write a sequel ten years after the first. But now, for the first time in twelve years, we have a consistent and utterly entertaining Zombie album. Where Hellbilly Deluxe 2 came off as a forced attempt and trying to return to the super cheesy ol’ days, Venomous Rat Regeneration simply sounds like, once again, the band are having fun.

There are plenty of yeah’s, hey’s and baby’s from Zombie himself as expected, but what wasn’t expected was some of his most infectious choruses to date. With the exception of short interlude “Theme For The Rat Vendor”, every single song screams for a sing-along, whether on your own at your laptop or in a crowd of thousands. “White Trash Freaks” in particular is hard to resist, and when “Rock And Roll (In A Black Hole)” explodes from the little electronic beat that it’s built around into that monstrous chorus it’s an instant energy booster.

Lead single “Dead City Radio And The Gods Of Supertown” stands out with its combination of spoken rants and old samples, “Behold, The Pretty Filthy Creatures!” is a sub-three minute guitar attack, “The Girl Who Loved The Monsters”  is all about that stomping groove that they do so well, and despite the lyrics to Grand Funk Railroad cover “We’re An American Band” perhaps not having the intended impact in other places around the world, it’s a huge, uplifting version with “ooooo” backing singers and the rest. It’s just asking to be the final scene of a film.

Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor came out of nowhere and is going to be up there as one of the most entertaining albums of the year. Now let’s hope this is a true return to form and not a lucky one-off burst of inspiration.

Band: Rob Zombie
Album: Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor
Year: 2013
Genre: Alternative/Industrial rock
Label: Zodiac Swan Records/Universal
Origin: USA
http://robzombie.com/

Track List:
1. Teenage Nosferatu Pussy
2. Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown
3. Revelation Revolution
4. Theme For The Rat Vendor
5. Ging Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga
6. Rock And Roll (In A Black Hole)
7. Behold, The Pretty Filthy Creatures!
8. White Trash Freaks
9. We’re An American Band
10. Lucifer Rising
11. The Girl Who Loved The Monsters
12. Trade In Your Guns For A Coffin

About

Mitch Booth is the owner, designer and grand overlord of Metal Obsession. In the few seconds of spare time he has outside of this site, he also hosts a metal radio show over on PBS 106.7fm in Melbourne (Australia) and organises shows under the name Untitled Touring. You should follow him on Twitter.