There are those who love to say that rock and roll is dead, that heavier rock and metal are losing their touch. Rob Zombie has decided to spit in those people’s faces and blast out his newest album, full with a lengthy and wacky title "The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser." What a mouthful! The album features 12 tracks with a runtime somewhere around the 31-minute mark. The album runtime is short in comparison to other recent metal releases like All Hail The Yeti’s "Screams From A Black Wilderness." Fans will be glad to know that John 5, Piggy D., and Ginger Fish all return and give awesome performances for the album.
From left to right; Piggy D., Rob Zombie, Ginger Fish, John 5
Zombie, the 51-year-old, multi-talented artist rocks his way through what he deems is the culture of the time, approaching this album with a more of a personal bravado than any sort of fan service. Zombie isn’t catering to the masses or the general public; he’s not even really catering to his own fans. Zombie is making his music, the way he wants it, and with those he wants to make it with. His newest album benefits immensely from this. In what can be likened to our culture’s lack of focus or ability to pay attention. In fact, eleven out of twelve tracks on the album have a runtime that comes in under three minutes in length. Not only is the length of the tracks perfect for a work commute or errand run, it’s also great music for a nice jog.
Rob Zombie and wife Sheri Moon Zombie
The first single released from the album, “Well, Everybody’s F****** in a U.F.O”, was originally heralded by Zombie as one of the most fun tracks on the new album, one that would capture the energy of fans and get them going. In a way, Zombie thought that this would be the fan favorite of the album. It is fun, engaging, and the energized riffs and fun lyrics help it to make the case, but I think that people will gravitate towards another track on the album. “Get Your Boots On! That’s The End of Rock and Roll” has a same inspiring energy as “U.F.O” but more fleshed out lyrics.
True to its name "The Electric Warlock" shocks those who listen to it, it gets the blood flowing and energizes the listeners. Zombie may be poking fun at the changing of the music culture, our generation’s ability to waste time doing nothing or even just to point out that you can pay attention to something for longer than ten minutes, The Electric Warlock succeeds greatly as an album. There are tracks with an energizing beat that are sure to rouse the crowd, and there are slower yet none less heavier tracks that are sure to enthrall fans. With a tour set to kick off, Zombie and co. are going to have a blast performing it. Also upcoming is a second tour with Korn, which is dubbed Return of the Dreads.
With the premiere of “The Electric Warlock” out of the way, fans of Zombie now eagerly await the arrival of his newest film, 31, centered on five carnival workers that must participate in a deadly game of survival titled 31 after being kidnapped. 31 premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, after three attempts to pass through the MPAA ratings with an R-rating. Reception of the film has been mixed, with fans of Zombie’s previous films wholeheartedly enjoying his newest romp.
