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ROB ZOMBIE
Mondo Sex Head

Spinefarm (2012)
Rating: 7.5/10

As Zombie often does during downtimes, a compilation (remix) album is in order! Mondo Sex Head features dance and dubstep dominated versions of the whole catalogue, from White Zombie’s first hits through material from Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010). For the most part, these are pretty laid back versions but it’s easy to imagine them being blasted from the sound system of a dark dance club at 3 A.M. (eternal?).

Surprisingly, the songs that work the least here are the White Zombie material. There’s a certain sludginess to the originals that feels at odds with their electronically riddled counterparts. ‘More Human Than Human’ fares a little better than ‘Thunder Kiss ‘65’ but, for the most part, neither work. ‘Mars Needs Women’ lacks power as well, but since the original goes nowhere then it’s only natural that the remix would follow suit I suppose.

The Ki:Theory remix of ‘Foxy, Foxy’ is a standout, accentuating the vocal and making the chorus glide a little more importantly over the beat than even the original was able to pull off. An interesting take on ‘Dragula’ is also noteworthy here, making it feel like a lost Duran Duran song musically while Zombie’s aggressive vocal takes it just far enough into the underworld to keep you spooked.

The Jane Antonia Cornish String Quartet is featured on the Tobias Enhus remix of ‘Devil’s Hole Girls’ and it gives it this weird industrial sound that would surely pique the interest of Rammstein and Di Krupps fans. The Drumcorps Acid remix of ‘Never Gonna Stop’ is the liveliest moment and the remix really pounds the song, crackling and popping it to the point where you start to believe that they couldn’t possible add one more drum part. While it’s not my personal favourite approach, it’s probably the most easily relatable track to Zombie’s diehard fanbase.

Surely, I’m gonna catch some shit for the rating I gave this. In truth though, this is what Zombie has always done. He has taken what he already has and milked it into another genre, one with glow sticks, cages, brightly coloured hair, pulsating lights, and fuelled by ecstasy and strippers. While this isn’t gonna be up the alley of most of Zombie’s fanbase, it’s gonna bring plenty of new fans in for a ride.

From a metal fans perspective, it’s a nice bump in the road that is easy to chill out to, for dance and dubstep fans it could be the party rocker of 2012 aside from Korn’s The Path Of Totality.

Mark Fisher

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