Post by jptheprofessor on Mar 19, 2006 23:18:43 GMT -5
(VARIOUS ARTISTS) – TRIBUTE TO MISFITS (Heartless Mockery Records) What do such area bands as 4 Days Dirty, Chapter 5, At Hopes End, The Marauders, Suicide Switch and Second Offense all have in common? They were all inspired – and to various degrees, influenced – by seminal punk band The Misfits. That fact is celebrated on the compilation disc, Tribute to Misfits, issued by Altoona-based indie label Heartless Mockery Records and FaceOff Muzik. The CD features seven Misfits classics interpreted through the voices of the bands just mentioned. The risk with compilations like this often is a disparity in quality of the remakes, as some invariably always come off as stronger and more viable than others. Fortunately. Tribute To Misfits avoids that problem; all seven interpretations sound heartfelt and sincere, and in each band’s own voice, distinct and original. Many of the renditions here are true to the punk adrenalin and ghoulish spirit of the original versions, demonstrated on 4 Days Dirty’s album-opening “We Are 138,” Chapter 5’s rampaging “Die Die My Darling,” At Hope’s End’s raw venting of “London Dungeon,” Suicide Switch’s careening “Ghoul’s Night Out” and Second Offense’s piledriving read of “She.” The most compelling of the disc’s offerings, though, are The Marauders’ rapidfire roots rock treatment of “Astrozombies,” and FaceOff Muzik’s urban-flavored hip-hop read of “All Hell Breaks Loose.” The production and mix are appropriately jagged and forceful, capturing both the punkish rawness and spirit of the original songs, and each band’s respective savagery and slant. The only down side of the disc is its short duration at just over 15 minutes; but for the $3 price tag, Tribute to Misfits is a worthwhile purchase that celebrates the original Misfits, and their inspiration to some of the hardest hitters on today’s area music scene. (The CD can be purchased at Custom Skin Art tattoo shop in Altoona, or through FaceOff Muzik’s Myspace website, www.myspace.com/faceoffmuzik.)