Cracks Along At Pace:
Wednesday 13 are a band that have been going quite a number of years, their first album (under this name) was back in 2005. Mid Death Crisis is the 10th album from them. The band at the moment are made up of Wednesday 13 (vocals), Roman Surman (lead guitar), Jack Tankersley (guitar), Troy Doebbler (bass) and Mike Dupke (drums). I must admit they are a band I kind of bump into now and again, and when I do, I always find I enjoy their output (they are also bloody marvellous fun as a live band).
One of the supposed criticisms could be that their albums are quite samey, they have a certain formula and sound. That might be true, but like 1970s Status Quo and much of AC/DC‘s career what they do is terrific fun. It rocks, it entertains and they have a great ability to write catchy choruses which stick with you for days. This album has the spooky opening, then 11 mostly goofy horror-based songs which can be a bit punk, have a touch of goth, and on here even a pinch of speed metal and it cracks along at great pace. Just over 40 minutes in length, it certainly doesn’t overstay its welcome; in fact, I tended to listen to it twice at any time I put it on.
Welcome To The Spooky Party:
As I said, the opener has a sort of disembodied voice along with some electronic music/sounds repeating the title “There’s No Such Thing As Monsters” as a mantra. Or are there? On this album, I think YES! The first actual song flies by quickly. “Decease And Desist” a play on words, of course (as in a cease and desist letter), which is a normal trick for his lyric writing. With a big groovy hook, a tight bridge and a huge, easy-to-belt-out chorus, this really gets the (spooky) party going.
Some of the songs are what I call grinders. Slower (still heavy) but chugging and powerful. A couple of instances include the song “When The Devil Commands” where he says the horned one made him do what was bad, but yet of course he would be more than happy to “do it again“. I appreciate the backing vocals on the word “hail” as well as the “666” which adds a little extra texture to proceedings. “Decapitation” is another that grinds nicely whilst being a spiteful little number dedicated to someone who has pissed him off. “You’re head it’s so big and round, I want to see that motherfucker on the ground“. That isn’t even enough as he wants to pour “kerosene” on it! Well, better safe than sorry, I suppose. When he sings “watch it burn” he really has a hint of Alice Cooper in there.
If There Is Misery:
There are more songs about being an evil bastard. For instance, “Sick And Violent” (also the album closer) is about a killer and he gets right into the mind and attitude of him. This is a very fast-paced song but has some nice touches like hand clapping underneath the actual chorus (sort of like a 1950s doo-wop track). It is little attentions to detail that kind of make him and the band stand out. At the end, it sounds like a train in a tunnel (quite faint), perhaps his hiding place in the underground or metro???.
“I Hurt You” could be the opposite to “Poison” by Alice in that instead of her being dangerous to him, he is dangerous and not good for her. I did think there was a hint of Billy Idol on this as well. It is a tad slower and almost hypnotic. There is a song that could be described as a “ballad” called “In Misery” which has a 1980s rock feel. Still kind of heavy but more melodic. The riff near the beginning, especially, is very sweet. More accurately, I think it is a love-hate song. They are destroying each other, they are not good for each other, yet something holds them together, knowing Wednesday 13 that will be forever!
Spitting And Sneering:
Other tracks I do want to mention are “Rotting Away“, a faster, nastier and very angry song. Opening line simply says “To say that I hate you, that would be too fucking nice“. I especially love the couplet “you in a casket, that sounds fantastic to me“. I laugh every time. Does that make me a bad man? I hope not. “Blood Storm” is a mix of punk and speed metal (almost). The opening has some great drum fills and when it fully kicks in goes full throttle. The chorus of “wo-ohs” reminds me of early Offspring, but of course, this is more evil-sounding.
“No Apologies” features Taime Downe from the band Faster Pussycat and no surprise, this is a sleazy little number which spits and sneers as it belts along. It certainly rips into the person at the receiving end of it all with the lyrics going “you’re a victim, always right, but you never had a clue, now we’re all laughing because the jokes on you“.
Plenty Of Earworms:
As I said at the start Wednesday 13 tend to deliver what one would expect, but at the same time they do have a thing for attention to detail, adding little touches (50s style hand claps, extra backing vocals on key words etc) so it stays fresh. I am not sure if some of those are direct from the band or their producer, Alex Kane, who does a fine job here.
This is as good as any of the other albums I own by them, as they are pretty consistent in their output. If you didn’t like them before, you probably won’t now. If you did enjoy them before and fancy more music by them for your collection, then this is as good an album as any to buy and blast in the house. Most of the songs are earworms and live they should all pretty much work the crowd. If you want an album that is simply FUN and enjoyable, one to sing along with then this should certainly float your boat. It did me. It is great to have them back.
Album Released On Napalm Records – 25 April
