MURDERDOLLS - WOMEN & CHILDREN LAST (CD Review)

01.The World According To Revenge
02.Chapel Of Blood
03.Bored Til Death
04.Drug Me To Hell
05.Nowhere
06.Summertime Suicide
07.Death Valley Superstars
08.My Dark Place Alone
09.Blood Stained Valentine
10.Pieces Of You
11.Homicide Drive
12.Rock N Roll Is All I Got
13.Nothings Gonna Be Alright
14.Whatever You Got, I'm Against It
15.Hello, Goodbye, Die


Wednesday 13 (Vocals)
Joey Jordison (Guitar)
Roman Surman (Guitar)
Jack Tankersley (Bass)
Racci Shay Hart (Drums)

Guest
Mick Mars (Guitar) On Tracks 4 & 9


So the Murderdolls for anyone who doesnt know were formed in 2001 when Wednesday joined Joey from Slipknot in his side project band the Rejects who then changed their name.
After releasing as EP they then released to critical acclaim the album 'Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls', though it has to be said that all but 2 of the songs were new, the rest being remakes from Wednesdays previous bands Frankenstein Drag Queens and Maniac Spider Trash.
They rode high until January 2004 when Joey returned to Slipknot for the awesome Vol 3 album and Wednesday going solo eventually releasing the superb Transylvania 90210 album in 2005.

Then in february of this year it was revealed that the duo had reunited and were writing a new album together and putting together a new line up.
The attitude seems to be "piss people off and fuck the norm" and a need to get away from the horror rock formula which wednesday had made so popular and excelled at.


Album kicks off with a Marilyn Manson styled intro which then goes straight into 'Chapel Of Blood' and its a pretty average rock track, nothing that has that wow factor.

'Bored Till Death' is more in the style we came to love with Wednesday's solo stuff and has the obligatory use of the word "Muthafucker" !

'Drug Me To Hell' features Motley Crue's Mick Mars and as you would perhaps expect it has a good old Crue feel with that broody, dark edge that Wednesday brings.

'Nowhere' is the first song that has that Murderdolls feel, its catchy, anthemic and has a cool little riff running through it.

It may be punchy and have the generic lyric requirements for horror rock but 'Summertime Suicide' just comes over as a Wednesday 13 album track, it ticks the boxes but does'nt set them on fire.The same is true of 'Death Valley Superstars' amd the dissapointing 'My Dark Place Alone' which was also released as the single last month.

Mick Mars returns for 'Blood Stained Valentine' another classic Wednesday 13 styled song, but this one rocks, moody with great lyrics, good backing vocals and a great solo.

'Pieces Of You' im guessing Joey had a lot of involvement with this one as it echoes Slipknot's 'Before I Forget' with added horror punk hand claps.

Some great guitarwork greets 'Homicide Drive' throw in some dark vocals then screw it up by saying "supercallfragalistiexpcalidocious", what is this 5th grade lyric writing???

"I got nothing to lose, i got nothing to prove", okay fair enough Wednesday but if this sums you up on the song 'Rock N Roll Is All I Got' then im guessing you just dont care that much about what you are putting out and expecting people to buy.

'Nothings Gonna Be Alright' returns to formula with trademark riffs and drum beats.

Now the possibility of the band covering a Groucho Marx classic from the 1932 classic 'Horse Feathers' would have been inspired, but alas 'Whatever You Got, Im Against It' is an original song, its a light pop rocker with a 70's glam feel, could imagine the Sweet doing this.

Finally we come to 'Hello, Goodbye, Die' its an in your face rocker, that ends the album on a high!

Well what can i say im a fan have been since the FDQFP13 days, but this is so average and dissapointing, the talent is there the ability is there but the whole thing seems like a bad Wednesday solo album, the original album still stands as a classic and my advice is go put that on the player and leave this alone.


STU

Rating 5/10

For Fans Of: Wednesday 13, WASP, Motley Crue, Marilyn Manson