Rob Zombie - "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" (CD)
"Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" track listing:
1. Teenage Nosferatu Pussy
2. Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown
3. Revelation Revolution
4. Theme For The Rat Vendor
5. Ging Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga
6. Rock And Roll (In A Black Hole)
7. Behold, The Pretty Filthy Creatures!
8. White Trash Freaks
9. We're An American Band
10. Lucifer Rising
11. The Girl Who Loved The Monsters
12. Trade In Your Guns For A Coffin
Reviewed by EdgeoftheWorld on May 6, 2013
It's a shame that Rob Zombie wasted the "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" moniker on his previous — and far inferior — studio album. "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" lives up to the spirit and sound of Zombie's incredible solo debut more than anything he's released in the years since the release of the first "Hellbilly Deluxe."
The secret to the success of the first "Hellbilly," as I wrote in my review of the second one, is that it was as much of a techno dance album as it was a metal one. "Venomous Rat Regeneration Factor" brings back the dance factor in spades on tracks like the single "Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown" and "Revelation Revolution." The absolute greatest hip-shaker on the album is "White Trash Freaks," which alternates between techno dance in the verses and hardcore industrial metal in the chorus.
John Five's guitar work is a little more subdued here, with fewer "gee-whiz" moments than were found on "Hellbilly Deluxe 2." That said, his quick-burst solos on "White Trash Freaks," "Revelation Revolution" and "Trade In Your Guns For A Coffin" definitely add a lot — and he flat out shreds on "Lucifer Rising." He also plays '70s rock guitar god well on the surprisingly entertaining cover of Grand Funk Railroad's "We're An American Band."
There are a couple minor flaws in this diamond, the first of which being the lead-off track "Teenage Nosferatu Pussy," which seems to have been chosen purely for its shock-value title. It's not a terrible song, but it definitely is the odd man out, sonically, feeling like an outtake from either "Educated Horses" or "Hellbilly Deluxe 2." The other weird song, the instrumental "Theme For The Rat Vendor" has Zombie and John Five seemingly channeling George Harrison circa 1966, with a minute's worth of jangling sitars and tabla drums.
Rob Zombie's "Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor" is a shock-rock album full of shockingly good tunes. The blend of metal fury and dance rhythm is mixed to perfection on most tracks. Put it in, bang your head, shake your ass. Repeat as necessary.
Highs: "White Trash Freaks," "Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown" and "Revelation Revolution."
Lows: A couple slightly lesser tracks
Bottom line: A potent blend of metal fury and dance rhythm, this is the best thing Zombie's released since the first "Hellbilly Deluxe," and measures up to that classic in nearly every way.
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