Metal Underground.com

Ever since four guys in Birmingham named themselves Black Sabbath after a Boris Karloff movie, the connection between horror and heavy metal has been a strong one. So, naturally, the second volume of the soundtrack to Showtime's "Masters Of Horror" would be heavy on the metal. As with all soundtracks and compilation albums, your mileage will likely vary based on how much you like the individual musicians or the styles of music they play.

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of variation "Masters Of Horror II" had, which ranged from the classic rock style of The Eagles Of Death Metal's "I Like To Move In The Night" to the full-on thrash of Hatebreed's "New Hate Rising."

In terms of sequencing, the album definitely puts its best foot forward, launching with the energy-filled "New Hate Rising." Though I'm not a huge Cradle Of Filth Fan, I have to admit that following it up with "Foetus Of A New Day Kicking" maintains the energy level.

Just when the growls and shrieks threaten to become tiresome, along comes Cristina Scabbia's beautiful vocals on Lacuna Coil's "Virtual Environment."

Things even get completely unplugged on a pair of tracks, the live acoustic versions of Seether's "Needles" and Shinedown's "Dirthouse." Though both really feel like an attempt to emulate Alice In Chains more than anything original, "Dirthouse" is the better of the two tracks.

Granted, it's not particularly heavy — feeling a little more like an amped up version of the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" than anything else — the Eagles Of Death Metal contribute the album's best track, "I Like To Move In The Night."

The album kind of starts to fade in and out, quality-wise after Chimaira's excellent "Threnody," with All That Remains' "This Calling" and Wax On Radio's "The Devil" proving effective, but most everything else — especially Wounded Cougar's "Drop Your Panties" — coming off pretty second-rate. Then, there's Asunder's "The Machine," with its early '80s Cars feel that feels completely out of place.

From punk to classic rock and thrash, "Masters Of Horror II" has it all — and much of it is a pleasure to listen to. If you like the bands featured or the Showtime show, this is one to pick up.