By John Morrow
Being a lifelong obsessive of horror film and a fanboy nut for ‘90’s industrial and metal, I was more than intrigued when this crossed my desk. JoeyDiabolic is a kindred spirit of the horror/White Zombie Fandom who has been releasing singles that meld the two worlds together for a while now (including homages to Friday The 13th and Halloween), and he finally got to my happy place – the wonderful carnival that is A Nightmare On Elm Street.
The EP opens with the instantly recognizable ‘Son Of A Hundred Maniacs’, the pre-credits theme music from the first film. Diabolic plays this one fairly straight and atmospheric, with sound bites from the movie that give it additional oomph. Creepy and eerie, it raises the goosies always.
This is followed by a cover of one of Anthrax’s lesser-known (and best) songs, the punchy ‘Potters Field’. The original is a barnstormer in its own right, but here it gets an industrial backbone that builds the rigidity, and Depeche Mode-y verses with a dash of distortion. It’s a fresh take on a classic that simply works.
If, like me, you’re a fanatic of the Empire Records universe (and who isn’t really?), the cover of Sponge’s ‘Plowed’ will take you straight back to that amazing place. The song was one of the main tunes in the movie but was sadly not included on the soundtrack (still a quibble amongst the faithful), so it’s nice to have this tribute. Diabolic again takes an almost-upbeat 90s song and dresses it up with a little darkness and metal to create a Frankenstein that will stick in your pip for ages.
The sole original track is ‘I Am The Shadow In The Darkness’, an eerie mood piece that unsettles effectively with more ‘Mode-worship dressed up in Type O/Manson 90s creepiness. It’s a monumental song of the record that evokes all the good stuff that horror cinema is made of.
The EP is bookended by another two covers, both integral and intriguing. Stabbing Westward never got their true dues back in the day, so it’s great to hear their defining song ‘Save Yourself’ get a Nine Inch Nails makeover that works seamlessly. The final track, of course, is a White Zombie song that wasn’t one of their biggies, but certainly a cracker. ‘Creature Of The Wheel’ was an abrasive fan highlight of their monolithic ‘Astro-Creep: 2000’ opus, one that Diabolic has given an aggro update for the modern era with more of… well, everything really. It’s heavy, groovy, and a perfect end to the party.
You don’t have to enjoy horror and 90’s metal to get into ‘Through Soundwaves Vol 3’, but it certainly helps. The nostalgia factor is obvious and comfortable, but the vibe is strong, the songs well thought out, and it plays like a dream (nightmare?). The mood and choruses are infectious, and the tunes will stay deep in your head for days, the sign of a successful release. Wes Craven would be proud.
- ‘Through Soundwaves Vol 3’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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