Chicago's Juicehead provide the latest horror punk
release from Misfits Records. This trio packs a humorous
hatred on their debut full length. Originally recorded
and released by the band in true punk DIY fashion
(the vocals were recorded in a bathroom and the whole
thing was mixed on a home computer) "Devil Made
Me Do It" oozes punk agression in the vein of
The Adolescents.
The horror punk genre seems to be growing in the
past few years, but few do it as well as Juicehead.
The band's roots are obviously in the first and second
wave of punk, and Juicehead churns out early 80's
style punk with teeth. "Open Sore" and "Covered
In Blood" take a sarcastic poke at horrific topics.
Try not to sing along with the chorus of "Covered
In Blood." Not only can you not keep yourself
from singing, I bet you'll feel guilty when you realized
what you just joyously sang along to.
The only drawback to "Devil Made Me Do It"
is the sound quality. The DIY ethic, while admirable,
doesn't always lead to stellar results. The drums
in particular sound more than a little like cardboard
boxes. Still, it's apparent that Juicehead has talent,
and the songwriting shines despite lackluster production.
With professional production the next Juicehead release
should be a monster.
Key Tracks: "Covered In Blood" and "Open
Sore"
Reviewed by Jim McDonald |
