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NECROSEXUAL – ROAD TO RUBBLE
AVAILABLE NOW via Black Metal Archives - Road to Rubble is the second full-album release from Necrosexual, a powerhouse of energy hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their sound is classic thrash metal injected with horror punk, the adrenaline-filled adventure one of lust, rebellion and ultraviolence. Leading the rampage is our star of the show, The Necrosexual. He oozes charisma as a frontman, kicking off the starting track “High Times In Hell” with a roar of ignition.
As a unit, Necrosexual’s sound is a unique blend of genres, with a lick of thrash metal, a dash of punk, some drops of speed metal and a splash of black all added to the engine, creating a chaotic toxin. The chaos is a compliment, mixed and balanced in such a way that makes it easy to become addicted. “Kiss the Knife” has some whimsy with the usage of keyboard and sinister riffs encapsulating the individuality of horror metal’s ambience. It is loud, theatrical and often doesn’t take itself seriously in the most freeing of ways for expression. This feels very suited to Road to Rubble’s rebellious image as a whole.
In terms of theatre, the frontman certainly puts on a show. The Necrosexual has a voice that rings out through the night, a heavy scream that adds flesh to the bony form. Each word spat adds to the viscera that is the lyrics, with tracks like “Damned Romance” and “Lubricator” leaving little to the imagination. They’re at times cheeky, other times morbid with a humorous twist. The vocal range almost tip-toes into power metal territory with the higher pitches, boosting that 80s energy to a higher plateau. From bestial growls to screeching highs, the ride never stops with The Necrosexual on board.
Additionally, The Necrosexual’s punk, heavy lead bass is the underlay for the concrete of the primal punk-horror sound of the trio of guitars. Gabriele and Roskow add so much muscle to the flesh with frantic shreds and wicked riffs, tearing through the last remnant of silence with aggression and technical horsepower. This comes together in tracks like “Lubricator” and “The Brimstone Brothel”, the latter of which has some weighty running basslines that only emphasise the blackened sound. “All Roads Lead to Rubble” has some smooth chord shifts and a skilled guitar solo, envisioning a hellbound Mustang firing down the highway.
Miles Ziskind’s drumming has a very structured punk sound that carries the riffs with it. His skill produces a smooth, clean percussion with a combo of techniques that keep the engine’s heart driving throughout, blood running through the black. There is some balance so the adrenaline rush doesn’t overstay its welcome. Slower songs such as “Twilight Drifter Intermezzo” works well as an intermission with creeping notes and grungy guitars. “Hard Leather Woman” has a balance of heavy and laid-back, picking up with an electrifying solo that builds to an explosive conclusion.
Road to Rubble is a bloody fun album, pumped full of acid nightmares and pure gasoline, eager to tear up the night. Equal parts dramatic and sinister, it’s a very expressive title that paints a vivid picture with its sound and bold, loud artwork, making it a wild ride. It has all the grunge and grit of extreme 80s metal, with the black humour to add spark to the firetrail. It’s a ride worth the risk.
SCORE 9/10
REVIEWED By GhostinthearmouR