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THE LURKING CORPSES
Workin’ For The Devil

Hells Headbangers (2014)
Rating: 6/10

There’s an air of the predictable in regards to The Lurking Corpses, and it’s important I get that out of the way first. Whether it’s go-go garage punk, horror-laced traditional metal, psycho-billy thrash or whatever you wish to call it, the latest offering from this hooded clan of masked marauders from Fort Wayne, Indiana is still a fun experience akin to watchin’ one of those trashy 50s or early 60s B-movies where you know what’s coming next but you just can’t be bothered to put anything else on!

It’s ghoulishly catchy, in the same way the Misfits were and occasionally still are; it’s the evil Elvis spookiness of Danzig too mixed with surf-a-rama groove thrash – all rather lightweight, terrifyingly tepid but riveting in peek-a-boo patches.

The opening title track begins with a thrash-by-numbers riff before taking on Mercyful Fate / King Diamond initially, before transforming into a rather tuneless chug featuring a wailed chorus and the more interesting film sample injection.

The Lurking Corpses are probably far better musicians than I give them credit for, but they seem more intent on creating a fun-filled fright night of frolicking rather than being rollicking. ‘The Gate’ is a faster, punked-up affair of constantly thudding drums and bubblegum riff that you feel like you’ve heard on so many similar albums, but in its harmless exhibition of geekiness I have enjoyed segments of this record. For instance, ‘The Leech And The Worm’ is a speedy dose of joy, while the pop-tinged melodies of ‘Tonight’ are up there with Green Day for sheer horrifying teen slop. It’s a simple marrying of styles, but I expected something a tad more… er, riveting considering it’s been six years since their last opus.

Other notable numbers are the hasty ‘Dead Fuck’ with its snarling, black metal-styled gasps which are fused with Gothic warbles to great effect, and then we have the bubbling frenzy of ‘Lady Frankenstein’ which no doubt would go down well at all good Halloween parties for under 16s!

I do wish that the band weren’t so tongue-in-cheek to the point of complete comedy; after all, tracks such as ‘Love Fades Away’ and ‘In Hell (I Wait For You)’ – the latter being incredibly infectious with its rainy Goth opening – suggest a band who, if they put their mind to it, could probably write tunes of greater depth. As it stands though, Workin’ For The Devil is a rather mediocre get-together featuring the classic movie monsters who arm in arm have enjoyed a rapturous reunion but nothing more. And as the clock strikes midnight, the sprightly cover of Slayer’s ‘Tormentor’ signals the end of the show and the cloaked scream queens and painted teens amble out the door a tad unfulfilled.

Neil Arnold

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