Japan's answer to the Misfits is back with another
full length release. Loud guitars, screaming vocals
and backing vox the size of Godzilla all come together
on "Deep Blue: Chaose from Darkism." The
resulting music sounds like David Bowie and the Misfits
strangling each other in a dungeon fight to the death.
What am I saying? Pretty much this: If you liked Balzac's
earlier work you're going to love "Deep Blue..."
One thing is certain, you get your money's worth
with a Balzac CD. "Deep Blue..." is comprised
of 22 tracks, some of which appear on previous Balzac
releases. The band even pays homage to Bowie with
a spot on cover of "Ziggy Stardust." Balzac
tears it up on a no holds barred, high energy cover
of the rock classic. The opening track "Death
and Confrontation" sounds more than a little
like something I would expect to hear on a Tiger Army
album. The following track, "Godless," could
have been on a Samhain album, had Samhain ever attained
Balzac's degree of maturity.
Balzac sets the horror punk bar high for their peers.
The Misfits style "In Those Days" fits well
with the Social Distortion-esque anthem "Horrorock."
Balzac has struck me in the past as a band that is
hit and miss. "Deep Blue: Chaos from Darkism"
finds the band hitting their stride and creating a
solid album that grows on me more with every listen.
Balzac has created the best album of their career
so far, and if this is any indication, the best is
yet to come.
Key tracks: "Horrorock" and "The Gaze"
Reviewed by Jim McDonald |
