Review Summary: White Zombie is a must for any die hard fans of Rob Zombie, but is most of the time, is overlooked by these "so-called" die hards. Its catchy, but still brutal as hell. And makes me wonder where the genuis Rob, comes up with some of this stuff.
White Zombie, if your not old enough to think back that far. White Zombie's actual name can be considered as the one and only Rob Zombie. Rob Zombie came up with the White Zombie band idea in 1985, while only being in Junior High. Based in NYC, White Zombie was originally a noise rock band. But after this album; "Astro-Creep: 2000" was released in 1995, White Zombie was better known for mixing heavy-metal music, with driving lead guitar riffs. With that in mind instead of just the annoying label of being considered "noise rock." They are now better know as alternative metal and/or groove metal.
White Zombie has lyrics heavily influenced by horror films, with Satanic and not-so-Christian imagery. The thing that seperated White Zombie in the 1990's, White Zombie was actually a "fantasy" band, one that wrote songs not about real life, but simply fictional horror fantasies. But sadly, as time passed by, and despite the success with the band, the group officially split up in 1998 shortly after the release of Rob Zombie's (not White Zombie's) solo album Hellbilly Deluxe.
White Zombie is:
Rob Zombie: Vocals
J.: Guitar
Sean Yseult: Bass
John Tempesta: Drums
In 2000, White Zombie was included on VH1's 100 Greatest Artist of hard rock as rank #56
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Perhaps you had better start from the beginning
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Is how this album starts off on the song "Electric Head, Pt.1 (The Agony)," being repeated multiple times, by an uknown. This is an excellent way to start and introduce the haunting vibe of this album. If you have never heard "Astro Creep : 2000" before, your in for a treat. As the voice of the uknown person fades away, follows the sounds of a creepy church piano, and after that then follow's some sounds that can resemble the horror of Rob Zombie's own movies; The Devil's Rejects, and A Thousand Corpses. After the variety of sounds, comes the much anticipated music of the White Zombie band. The music giving off a whole lot of energy, and variety of beats, is pretty much a slap in the face to anybody that compares White Zombie with Rob Zombie. Although both the bands, of Rob and White uses technology sounds. White's computer riffs just don't seem as cliche, and over-used. Only being used in small doses, instead of longer periods of time. Electric Head Charge has a small example of this. But there will be more further on in the album.
Following comes the song "Super-Charger Heaven." This track starts out with another unknown man, giving some words, and then the song starts. This song has the same technicality in the guitar, bass, and drum work, as in the earlier track Electric Head Charge, Pt. 1, which isnt really saying much, and is a bit repetitive, but the catchiness makes up for it. And they also work together well in a tight knit form. What is really special to me in "Super-Charger Heaven" would have to be the vocals. As they are sung by Rob, in an almost thrashy but sloppy style about half way through the song, and switched back-and-forth to his normal patented deep zombie style. Although I mentioned they that are "sloppy", doesn't mean the vocals are bad, as they are purposely put out that way. And I actually wish Rob would sing like that more often. Although J doesn't solo very often in any of the songs, he does every once in a while, and an example of his soloing is displayed in "Super-Charger Heaven." The solo isn't super fancy and quick like many metal fans like to hear, but it proves that J is in fact worthy of being complimented.
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Yeah I remember her saying, I'm already dead. Well today I went to church today to hold your hands up in some stupid single, your gonna get up and scream, your gonna...get up and....burn an X in your head
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That quote, being said by now an unknown woman, is how the beginning of the next track "Real Solution #9" starts out. The first time I listened to the beginning of this track, it sent shivers up my spine. As it sounds like an actual tape recording, and is pretty believable. Anyways, about the song, this track is one of the more explosive. Especially straight after the haunting quote, the guitar and bass, explodes in a metallic breakdown and does a great job of setting the vibe for the song. Here once again, Rob Zombie changed up his vocals, to something you might have never heard from him before. The vocals are hard to interpret, as if they are being sung out of a voice box. It sounds catchy, but creepy as hell. And if your not into vocals, that you can't hear what there are saying, this song isn't for you. This song, just like many is a highlight.
Skipping onto track #5, will have to be "Electric Head, Pt. 2 (The Ecstacy)." Although this track is nothing like its brother song "Electric Head, Pt. 1 (The Agony)," its still just a well played and worthy of the name title. This song, of course starts off with a strangers voice, saying "And I just said up your baby." Definitely cheesier than all the rest of the intro's, but the song will not dissapoint. The guitar work in this track, is some of the catchiest, and isn't displayed as overused breakdowns and hooks. But is just simply played straight forward and "to the point." This song is another example of why White Zombie got all the success that he deserved. As its very catchy. energetic, and will keep you on your feet through most of the song. Without forgetting to mention Rob's vocals, they are what I mentioned earlier, as purposely sloppy at some points of the song, and at other points, they are just normal vocals, "normal" as in the same vocals that you are used to hearing in Rob's latest band, known none other than just "Rob Zombie." So all of you Rob Zombie fans, there are still some of the same vocals that you are all used to hearing.
Now for the next track "Grease Paint and Monkey Brains." This song doesn't start out with someone's voice, that's not in the band. But actually just circus sounds, like the average circus theme song, but this circus song actually dies out after a short period of time, and the actual circus starts. This track actually switches up the mood a little bit, and is the slowest track on the album so far. It elevates up to a louder sound and vibe every once in a while, but most of the time, but doesn't stick through the majority of the track. This isn't a bad thing at all, because after the last few tracks, you will need this small 3:50 break. This song displays yet another solo from J, but still nothing really impressive. And I think that if J would do a highly technical solo in the middle of any of these tracks, it will probably seem out of place. Rob switches up his vocals again in "Grease Paint and Monkey Brains," to a slow and relaxed use of his deep voice. Definitely a nice touch.
Skipping onto the track know as the famous "More Human Than Human," this track is fully loaded of energy, and built ready to get the crowd pumped up. With its catchy riffs, stylish drum work, and catchy computer/techno beats in the background. This track is sure to please. Especially with the sound of a lady, having what it seems to be an... "orgasm," at the very start of the track, pardon my language. "More Human Than Human" was the track that got me addicted to this album, and can do the same for an virgin White Zombiem listeners. If they haven't heard the song already, because chances are, if any track is a "single" off of this album, it will have to be this one. Rob's vocals on "More Human Than Human" are just no other than White's patented sludgey vocals. Like I was talking about earlier with the electronic beats, this track, is one of the only track from the album, that has the beats going on throughout the whole track. This track is medium speed, and is like walking through a desert with a bad acid trip. It's that good.
Now onto track #10, that goes by the name of "Blur the Technicolor." To start this track off right, is the psychadelic sounds of John Tempesta on the drums beating away as if he's a tribal leader, and the mesmerizing sound of J's guitar in yet another psychedlic sound, with the help of a whammy bar. The instruments compliment each other best in this track, not that they didn't in earlier tracks, but it just seems that they give out all that they've got in "Blur the Technicolor." Showing their true talents, to prove to their fans, that they don't always use powerchords, and they can actually mix it up a bit. Very good musicianship in this track. Once again Rob sings with his signature vocals, and don't show any flaw in doing so. Once again, if your a music fan that prefers vocals that you can understand most of the time, steer away from White Zombie. And stick with the Rob.
Last but not least is the ending track "Blood, Milk and Sky." Some of the hardest riffs come from this track, and the bass is best heard off of this track, better than the rest, standing out in front of the guitars sound. I just wish the drum work would stand out more also, but it still makes out to be a great song. Rob's vocals are once again mellow and resting in this track, like the same off of "Grease Paint and Monkey Brains." This track isn't based on it catchiness, just a bid-farewell song, and is actually the most enlightening track on this album, as if there not trying to scare the *** out of you for once.
Although this album goes un-noticed a majority of the time, doesn't mean that its not well thought out, and a bad album. In all reality, this is the music that influenced the one and only "Rob Zombie" band. But even that fact is overlooked. If your a true Rob Zombie fan, you need to go out and pick this up. And if your just a music lover, that needs a new fix, then go out and pick this album up too. You will either love it or you'll hate it. Like I stated before, you can still hear resemblence in the vocals, when compared to "Rob Zombie." But only a small amount of the time. Most of the time the vocals are sludgey, and purposely sloppy, but in a good way. I wouldn't ask for his vocals to be any other way on this album. There are many things on this album that might shoot goosebumps up your back, just like they would in Rob Zombie's motion picture movie's that he's put out. In the same scary, cruel and horror way. I would give you recommended songs, but I don't feel like typing out the whole tracklist.
