YELLS FROM THE CRYPT
Various Artists

Cool-ghoul label Gravewax hacks up a scareball of creep n’ roll here, gamely defying the Misfits-rip off standard of horror rock comps and forging ahead in it’s own twisty direction. Pick of the litter has gotta be “Blood on the Grill”, a great, snarly razor rocker from Alex Machine. If a really cool werewolf had his own band, this is what it would sound like. Also of note is pukeabilly opener “Shadow over Elkhart” from the Creepniks, who sound like a bunch of BBQ people eaters locked up in a shack somewhere, trying to make each other go crazy. I respect that. There’s lots of other tasty Halloween treats on here too, ranging from old-timey rags to crunching, bleeding garage-slop, with plenty of spooky surf tunes along the way, and even the lonesome-bones balladeering of Those Poor Bastards. The only duff note in the pack is the screechy girl-punk of Bliztkreigbliss, which had me running for the mute button every time. Otherwise a fine sampler of monster-y rock from an always inventive label.

Bonus: The artwork folds out into a real swank looking boardgame. You can’t really play it, but then again, when’s the last time you actually played a fuckin’ boardgame? _______________________________________________________

-Sleazegrinder