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This
is a vast improvement for Misfits Records, the label that a few
months ago released a horrible melodic punk rock record by a
pretty sophomoric band called Juicehead. The Balzac in question
is a punk rock four piece from Japan who have been at it since
1992. Unsurprisingly, it is pretty obvious that they were signed
to the label not only because they played ghoulish punk rock
with a penchant for blood, darkness and The Misfits’ trademark
hairdo ‘devilock’, but also because in many respects the songs
of Balzac almost sound like Misfits covers. Albeit, we are not
talking about vintage The Misfits, but the latter day formation
that was led by a Republican named Michale Graves. To me, Balzac
seems to have taken the best energetic and melodic attributes of
The Misfits’ 90’s albums; American Psycho and Famous
Monsters; both of which had several good moments. True, the
releases in question don’t even compare to the rudimentary
horror punk classic sounds of Static Age and Walk
Among Us, but let’s face it, what does?
So basically
Deep Blue: Chaos From Darkism, the band’s tenth album
counting live releases, is jam packed with chunky riffs, catchy
melodies, beefy power, all maximized with neo gothic vocals and
plenty of choruses that come full circle via plenty of ‘oooohhhhh’,
etc. It’s the kind of stuff the Japanese seems to digest like
Americans pop pills and swallow grease. Japan is sure a land of
great art, but for every unique foreign band, Japan also seems
to breed its own race of clones. If you’ve heard American
Psycho, you probably know what I am talking about. Balzac’s
latest to a degree seems to contain outtakes from it. A bit of
industrial music is added to the speedy “D.A.R.K.”, which at
some point sounds way convoluted; like the song is being pulled
from all angles and it doesn’t know what it truly is. Frankly, I
still can’t decide whether I like this song or not. On
“Horrorock” Balzac get back to their roots,; plenty of ‘oooohhhsss’,
simplistic chunky riffs and anthemic melodies. A cover of David
Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” is highly unnecessary and some of the
ten songs that complete this first disc are too.
Deep Blue:
Chaos From Darkism
is rounded by a DVD that contains over two hours of material.
There is a 2005 live show at Japan’s The Liquid Room that is
recorded very professionally with plenty of camera angles and
that reveals a rabid following and that Balzac’s latter day
Misfits sound is not a new thing. Judging by some of the songs
included in this show, they clearly have been honing the sound
for years. Also included are a few promotional videos and rare
footage of the band’s two US tour documentaries; one of which is
a video and photo collage with Misfits Records Manager John
Cafiero speaking about the label’s long standing relationship
with the band while the other one is titled The Night the
Fiendish Ghoul Came Out of the Grave and is actually a
well-edited and very well-directed tour diary.
Official Site
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