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MISFITS
Dead Alive!

Misfits (2013)
Rating: 7/10

Jerry Only is a man who just doesn’t quit. When he revived the Misfits in 1995 with a new vocalist in Michale Graves and drummer Dr Chud it was assumed by many that this was a cash grab, and the new band was little more than a novelty act.

Despite this, the band has released two albums of original music (1999’s Famous Monsters and 2011’s The Devil’s Rain), one compilation of unreleased and live tracks (2001’s Cuts From The Crypt), a 1950s tribute album (2003’s Project 1950), and two live albums (1998’s Evillive II and 2013’s Dead Alive!).

Only has not rested on his laurels, and even the departure of all other members of the 90s-resurrected Misfits has not sidelined one of punk’s driving forces. It’s this attitude that Only brings into Dead Alive!, a live album entirely dedicated to the Misfits history since being exhumed and put back on the road in the mid 90s.

In many ways, Dead Alive! is an advertisement for the Misfits’ 2011 release The Devil’s Rain; recorded while touring in support of that album, the first half of this release is comprised of songs from that effort. The band on Dead Alive! is the same that appeared on The Devil’s Rain; Only on bass and lead vocals, former Black Flag member Dez Cadena on guitar and vocals and ex-Murphy’s Law drummer Eric “Chupacabra” Arce. It’s a line-up that has years of experience and punk rock credibility. The result is strong performances by all, and a live album that sounds much like the studio versions of most songs.

Dead Alive! opens with the title track from The Devil’s Rain, a mid-tempo rocker with a menacing edge. It’s a good introduction to the current band’s live sound, and the overall Misfits approach of making pop punk just slightly more dangerous. ‘Vivid Red’ follows up with the driving drumbeat that gives the ’Fits pop songs a hardcore edge.

Many of the songs build on the obvious horror movie motifs the band is known for, such as ‘Land Of The Dead’, ‘Dark Shadows’, ‘Shining’ and ‘American Psycho’. Some of these are the band’s best moments, with ‘Land Of The Dead’ being a horror pop masterpiece, showing that the Misfits are still capable of writing engaging songs.

There are a lot of highlights on Dead Alive!. ‘Curse Of The Mummy’s Hand’ brings out one of Only’s best vocal performances, and a surprisingly sophisticated guitar solo from Cadena. Jerry’s clear, booming voice is a change from the throaty bass of Glenn Danzig or the tenor of Michale Graves. ‘Curse Of The Mummy’s Hand’ shows Only stretching beyond a simple melody adding some well-placed yells and even a bit of grit to his performance. His take on Graves-era songs such as the full speed racket of ‘American Psycho’ and the creepy and powerful ‘The Shining’ is better than expected. Only has created a Misfits that is more fun than the original 1970s-1980s version, and it shows in this performance.

The few shortcomings of this release come mostly in the final mix. Only’s signature distorted bass is mixed loud, often drowning out the guitar and drums. Part of this is simply the fact that this is a live recording. While this is the case, these songs are listenable and enjoyable. The only song that falls flat is the cover of ‘Science Fiction Double Feature’ from The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). The band doesn’t add enough of their own special charm to this song to make it really fit well with the other tracks offered.

Dead Alive! is a great reminder that the Misfits are still an active force, and a tribute to the legacy Only has built since 1995. The Misfits should keep up the momentum they’ve built since The Devil’s Rain. Dead Alive! shows a band on top of their game, and given the band’s limited touring schedule the last few years, is a treat for fans.

Jim McDonald

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