Wednesday 13Necrophaze

Horror rocker Wednesday 13 has always delivered a solid level of consistency across the course of his solo career, with Calling All Corpses perhaps the one glaring example of mediocrity to stand out in his body of work. 

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This time, however, Wednesday 13 has stepped up a level. Retaining the heavier, Ministry-style riffing of previous album Condolences, Necrophaze adds a further atmospheric layer with spooky synths from Roy Mayorga, enhancing the horror soundtrack vibe without taking away from the overall sense of ghoulish fun Wednesday 13 always brings to his music.

Creepy, cool and wild, this is the perfect soundtrack for any Halloween party.

Some well chosen guests also bring fresh flavour to proceedings. Mentor and icon Alice Cooper opens the album with a distorted narrative torn asunder by an immense riff, and while his contribution is brief, it’s pretty cool to have the old master making an appearance on his apprentice’s album at last. A few tracks along and Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom) and Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) drop in to make Monster a highlight, his lead work darting across the Frankenstein story as she juxtaposes her soaring backing vocals against Wednesday’s growling snarl.

Elsewhere, there is the riotous Bring Your Own Blood with its shout-it-out chorus and danceable beat, the sinister The Hearse and its very effective intro piece, and rollicking metal like Bury the Hatchet and Tie Me A Noose. There is nothing to diminish the momentum or the atmosphere of cheesy horror fun. Even the cover of W.A.S.P’s Animal (Fuck Like a Beast) is well-considered and handled with the sort of schlocky violence Wednesday 13 attends to all his best work, and Necrophaze really is one of his best. Creepy, cool and wild, this is the perfect soundtrack for any Halloween party.

STANDOUT TRACKS: Monster, Bring Your Own Blood, The Hearse
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Alice Cooper, White Zombie, Darkcell