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Various

Masters of Horror [soundtrack] (2005)
Immortal Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Brian
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on October 21st 2005

The Showtime network will soon present "Masters of Horror," a 13-episode mini-series of sorts that will showcase creations by some of the biggest horror film directors in history, including John Carpenter, John Landis and other. With a plethora of musical acts to try and convey this sense of scare and thrill, Immortal Records presents us with an ambitious -- if not questionable -- soundtrack, a 2-disc compilation of tracks, many previously unreleased, from some of the most popular, more creative, or purportedly heavy (sometimes a combination of those aspects) bands in both the mainstream and the (barely) underground.

While the nü-metal bands and trendy acts here surely convey the "horror" theme in a whole different context, it's nice to see a fair portion of more challenging, actually aggressive bands take up the disc's track listing. Disc 1's all happen to fall in that respective disc's second half. My personal 'trifecta of awesome' (comparatively speaking against the track listing here) comes in the form of the Bled-Murder by Death-Thursday. The Bled offer up a respectable if not flawed cover of Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown;" vocalist James Munoz tries to match Morris' delivery but more just ends up in gargled territory akin to his H.R. impression in the band's Bad Brains cover from the recent Tony Hawk American Wasteland soundtrack. Murder by Death offer up a new song in "End of the Road," a song exploring their maudlin country roots even further, with front-man Adam Turla doing his best Johnny Cash. And while I admittedly have a pretty vehement bias -- I consider War All the Time, from which the original version derives, a personal favorite -- Thursday's "Division St." translates to the acoustic setting very, very well. Geoff Rickly isn't known for having exactly the best voice in modern music, but somehow he sounds near-perfect here; sure, he doesn't attempt to reach the same pitches as on the standard version, but the peaks and valleys are all rather obvious.

Disc 1 disappointments go to -- surprise! -- Scary Kids Scaring Kids among others. Their re-recorded version of "What's Up Now" (the lead track on their originally self-released EP) brings Brian McTernan's overproduction to the forefront and ironically ruins the eerie mood the original had once retained. It's of my own opinion that with the release of their last album, Death by Stereo has started the disappointing descent into complete OC metalcore territory, whereas their past efforts were roughly half that and half SoCal punk, and "Bottled Up" continues said descent with several moments that bear little difference to the radio metal acts clogging up the soundtrack.

Disc 2 offers even more polar results. Buckethead, featuring System of a Down's Serj Tankian, leads it off...and unsurprisingly, it sounds like System of a Down, which isn't a terrible thing, especially in the context of the album. Rise Against treat us with a solid older rarity in "Obstructed View" (listed as "Obstructed" on the case, however), and the Bronx's "Bats!!!" is a great song recorded just after the rock'n'roll garage punk outfit had finished their self-titled debut (and in that vein, no less), but the consistency is disrupted a bit with From Autumn to Ashes' "Betwixt Her Getaway Sticks." The answer to screamer Ben Perri's growl is the practically cringeworthy nursery rhyme flow of Francis Mark's melodic singing. Every Time I Die's "Keith the Music," which is really just the audio for the video the band cut for "Kill the Music" with Keith Buckley's vocals replacing Gerard Way's in the chorus, is a definite standout since it's removed from the otherwise mediocre confines of that band's newest full-length. Matchbook Romance's "In Transit (For You)" is actually a pretty pleasant, sufficiently moody acoustic number taken from last year's split EP with Motion City Soundtrack. Alkaline Trio's not-so-recent turn towards a more pop/rock-oriented but no less punk-influenced sound sprout up in places on "We Can Never Break Up," a Crimson B-side; until we're greeted with Dan Andriano's slightly lisped, friendly inflection, the opening riffs sound like something off one of the last few Ataris albums, but luckily it's not too schizophrenic of a track. Equal Vision tour and label mates Bear vs. Shark and Fear Before the March of Flames offer up newly recorded songs; the former's "Victoria Iceberg" is mildly disappointing because of its lack of an underlying hook, but it's interesting since it finds singer Marc Paffi's normally gravelly delivery cleaned up during his singing parts and no less apprehensive when screaming, and some rather different production values altogether than those on Terrorhawk, while FBTMOF's "Shining"-inspired "237" is sludgier, heavier, and darker than any of the band's past material aside from the displaced wanky riffs.

It's also in this disc we find the album's worst tracks. Senses Fail may be pretty ill-stated in their bland attempt at Misfits imagery, but at least they're making an attempt, where their even worse followers in A Change of Pace (more like, the Same Old Shit We've Been Hearing the Last 2 Years) sound completely ridiculous, failing miserably in their own contribution in "The Thin Red Line." Andrew WK's brand of Christmas metal is probably fun and all if you're a fan, but I hardly feel "scared" more or less by it. BEDlight for BLUE Eyes disgrace the entire theme with the band's terribly out of place, theatrical singing over an acoustic guitar. Gratitude's acoustic version of "If Ever" is actually about as "pleasant pop" as anything off that band's recent debut, but a band whose chief musical influences consistent of U2 and Jimmy Eat World aren't quite the first band I have in mind when I think "horror." Yesterdays Rising ends things on a mediocre note with their later Incubus-gone-screamo-lite of "Contrast of Light and Dark."

While the creators of Masters of Horror have done a pretty stellar job collecting an ample number of unreleased tracks here, their inclusion of several acts that are entirely too "pretty" to be conveying an idea of "horror," or even some grey area of suspense for that matter, hurt it noticeably.

STREAM
Sixteen songs off the soundtrack

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localh (October 23, 2005)

where did all of those weird reviews go?

colin (October 23, 2005)

yeah i thought the joke reviews were pretty entertaining

i hope its not cause of the news item is ubmitted

Anonymous (October 23, 2005)

Good? No, bad. Way to bow down to the man.

RondoMondo (October 23, 2005)

Good they took off the shit reviews!!!

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

Where'd the Hawthorne Heights show review go?

That was kind of funny.

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

"The bled song is great".....yeah, because we all know that's an original Bled song lol. The only good thing about this album are the directors associated with it. John Landis rocks, An American Werewolf In London is the ultimate horror comedy...not to mention Romero's recent Unrated DVD cut of LAnd... is pretty fuckin sweet.

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

straigh outta hot topic

Anonymous (October 22, 2005)

Yeah wtf dudes, did you pull a tate or something? Where's the terrible hawthorne heights review?!

GreenVandal (October 22, 2005)

Ive got a lovely bunch of cocunuts.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

why was that fozzy review removed?

got to replace it or somethin

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

Perfection. Simply put, it's the most perfect album in the history of the world. 10 stars isn't enough. I'd give it 16

etwiels88 (October 21, 2005)

"Posted by somegirl on 2005-10-21 01:20:42

the murder by death song isn't new- it was the last song on their last cd."

Nah, that's what I thought too. But when I listened to it, it wasn't the same one.

etwiels88 (October 21, 2005)

No it's not.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

It dies today cover of "enjoy the silence" is pretty decent.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

In regard to the reviewer's repeated comments that the bands aren't really scary, I don't think they're supposed to be. If you look on the masters of horror website, they explain that rock music made a revolution and surprised and astounded audiences much like horror movies did.

I like many of the songs on the album, but almost all the slow songs blow. The bled song is great. Keith the Music pissed me off because it shouldn't count as new material.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

you will remember tonight!!

colton (October 21, 2005)

Superdude is down with He-Man...that rules.

I bet half you kids on here have no idea who He-Man is...

He-man wasn't that long ago at all.

Plus they tried to remake Masters of the Universe.

Bosco (October 21, 2005)

Holy shit, Adam Turla really is channeling Johnny Cash for this song. Awesome.

sickboi (October 21, 2005)

Do any of you remember the He-Man figures?

Graysull castle was dope. That megaphone built into it? Hellzyeah.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

"I want to get a Masters in Astrology so I can be a Master of the Universe."

"Superdude is down with He-Man...that rules.

I bet half you kids on here have no idea who He-Man is..."

By the power of Greyskull!!!! I......Have.....The.....Power!!!!!

Sirens (October 21, 2005)

Iggy Pops skull ring... Superdude youre a BAMF.

sickboi (October 21, 2005)

Superdude is down with He-Man...that rules.

I bet half you kids on here have no idea who He-Man is...

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

half good half shit. nothing spectacular. i'll probably delete 3/4 of the songs from my ipod within the week.

wheres a review of the new tony hawk game soundtrack.?it's actually really fucking good. can't wait to get my xbox 360 copy!

superdude (October 21, 2005)

This review was pretty good, but here's how I'd make it better:

1. I want to get a Masters in Astrology so I can be a Master of the Universe.

2. Is that Iggy Pop's skull ring on the cover?

3. I was going to take a date to the movies tonight, but do you think I can just take her to my stereo with this instead?

4. We all know I can't get a date.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase Naked

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

Reviewer sounds like a douche, nothing constructive to say.

localh (October 21, 2005)

party hard na na na what ever happened to that guy?

moneenerd (October 21, 2005)

I love New York City!
Oh yeah!
New York City!

PIANO!

TheOneTrueBill (October 21, 2005)

Scott will have your head for making negative comments on Andrew WK!

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

I was all hyped up about that new Norma Jean song, but it wasn't all that great.

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

"I almost bought this today just for the BVS track. Then I came to my senses. As much as I love BVS, it's really not worth paying for this shit."

no, just download the track from a pay site if you want to buy it while supporting the band but without wasting money on the rest of it

david_arquette (October 21, 2005)

I almost bought this today just for the BVS track. Then I came to my senses. As much as I love BVS, it's really not worth paying for this shit.

the_other_scott (October 21, 2005)

"Actually, I applaud the Bear Vs. Shark song, the Murder By Death song, the Death By Stereo song, and the Bronx song (even though it's not really new)"

add ak3 to that list, and those are about the only bands on there that i give a shit about

RondoMondo (October 21, 2005)

That Fear Before song is spot-on. Kind of sounds like the "God Awful Truth" off of the old cd.

greenerton (October 21, 2005)

stop reviewing shitty allbums and post my devo review! :p

somegirl (October 21, 2005)

the murder by death song isn't new- it was the last song on their last cd.

BrandonSideleau (October 21, 2005)

What is it with everyone raping Black Flag's early songs lately? You can't and never will ever be able to match or even come close.....so stop trying! Atleast they can't touch the last five years.....I'd like to see "the Bled" pull off Ginn's guitar work on a song like "In My Head".....haha- not gonna happen.

stevejonestherealbones (October 21, 2005)

i have a question for anyone in the know.

if i buy the dbs track and bvss track on itunes or something, does that support the band at all? or would that just support immortal?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

colton (October 21, 2005)

I don't know you guys, Mudvayne puts up a tough fight for number one song on this album!

Anonymous (October 21, 2005)

What about the In Flames song?

etwiels88 (October 21, 2005)

Actually, I applaud the Bear Vs. Shark song, the Murder By Death song, the Death By Stereo song, and the Bronx song (even though it's not really new)

etwiels88 (October 21, 2005)

Boo this album. The Fear Before song is ok though.

colton (October 21, 2005)

What the fuck is this shit? Review all the cds we hate day?

stevejonestherealbones (October 21, 2005)

here stream the whole thing and you can skip songs

http://music.aol.com/songs/new_releases_full_cds?default Tab=30

dbs could be better, and bvs s isnt very great...i guess thats why they werent on the full lengths

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com