OCTOBER 31 - Bury The Hatchet
October 3, 2014, 9 years ago
(Hells Headbangers)
Guardian of Underground credibility, King Fowley (also mastermind behind Deceased) returns with the long promised fourth October 31 platter. “Tear Ya Down” jumps out of the speakers, a chainsaw guitar attack bordering on speed metal. Contrast that with “House Where Evil Dwells”, which utilizes a backing of synthesized orchestral strings. The frenetic “Growing Old” is more like it. Like me, Fowley's no spring chicken, and his lyrics decry aged rockers, living off minimal (past) successes and always claiming, everything was better, back in the day. It's been nine years since the last Oct 32 disc, so I'm not sure whether this was pieced together over time, or all in one sitting, although “Arsenic On The Rocks” has a different sound and production (newer recording?) to the nine surrounding tunes. Pummeling double bass drums thunder on “Voodoo Island”, while the closing “Angel Dusted” (son of Venom?) is a riff-ride that borders on punk intensity. It would appear to be somewhat autobiographical, given King's stroke a while back: “As we all go running wild, while tempting fate. A stare from the gallows won't change our ways. We all take many chances in the way we run our lives. To cheat the end, to live our dreams...” Enjoyably old school: simple, raw and energetic. What decade is it?
