JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES
It's Alive!
60 Cycle Hum Records
“I’m so proud of It’s Alive that I wanted to put it out and also tour it like bands used to tour live albums back in the 70’s. I thought that was so cool! I’ve put out a lot of records, so I thought -- goddammit, I’m going to do it! --John 5”
JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES are set to release It’s Alive! on January 25th. The album was recorded live in Sellersville, PA. You get one shot to get it right when recording live and one shot is all it took. This album has 17 tracks, some of which his fans have heard on Songs Of Sanity such as Track 13, “Behind The Nut Love”. If there wasn't audience applause and speaking before some of the songs, you’d think it was recorded in the studio, it’s executed that well. John 5, guitar of course with Logan Miles Nix on drums and Ian Ross on bass have one badass album with It’s Alive!.
The album kicks off with the track "Guitars Tits And Monsters". That can pretty well sum up Rock-N-Roll I’d say. It’s a melodic-operatic intro mixed with a dark clergy sound. It's six minutes of mixed genres including hymnal, jive funk and rock and is the perfect intro for this album. Then there are tracks like 14, "Beat It", a Michael Jackson cover. I don’t mean to piss MJ fans off but it's probably the best version I’ve heard of it. You really forget there were even lyrics to this song to begin with. Maybe I’m just partial to rock versions of anything!
I have to give props to Logan on track 11. "Black Grass Plague" has some of the fastest drumming I’ve heard and the collaboration with John and Ian showcase how talented they are by keeping up with each other. Lets go back to track 10, "Triple D". NO, it’s not what you’re thinking!
The intro is reminiscent of a vintage B horror movie. I love the 60s & 70s sounds. Track 9, "Portrait Of Sydney Sloan" is probably one of the heaviest songs on the album. It's heavy rock mixed with electric techno sounds.
The track "Hell Haw" is a modern day version of dark chicken pickin'. I can picture a dark, eerie stage but off in the spotlight standing is Gene Autry or Minnie Pearl tapping their feet. John’s bluegrass roots show for sure in this song along with "Jiffy Jam". There are so many songs and none of which you want to skip. Rarely when listening to Rock does a person stay interested in an all instrumental album. I must admit this was my first and my first to not skip ahead or fast forward.
"Medley", the last song, is ten minutes plus of covers, artists that JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES pay reverence to, which include VAN HALEN, KISS, SLAYER, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, TED NUGENT, METALLICA and more. You must listen to this ten minute track.
To sum up this album, it’s like going to a county fair and getting on a roller coaster ride that takes you through a fun house of terror and thrills. It’s fun and exciting with a little dark added. As ROB ZOMBI says, “John is a fucking shredder”, and this album is full of fast drums and unbelievably fast shredding. Watch for tour dates in your city. This tour kicks off Feb. 1st in Orlando. I’m personally looking forward to the Houston Date on March 31st.
5.0 Out Of 5.0
