Beware! Men with axes heading your way!
The Other serve up an album of smash, bash, metallic horror punk with great style, from the hard axe work and bomber drumming to the melancholic vocals that at time send a shiver through your body. They produce an adrenalin fuelled set of numbers that begins with 'Ripley 8', a song that sets the style and speed of this album. Once you have heard this you will realise that this is a band that takes no prisoners. There's no let up in pace as 'Army Of Machines' hits your ears, thrashing axes and an almost classically rock n' roll set of backing vocals are mixed with a terrible beauty, as they also are in 'Beware Of Ghouls'. This is horrorpunk at its seductive best.
When you head bang your way through 'The Imp Of The Perverse' and 'Return Of The Repressed' you can't help but hurl yourself around as both of these numbers are a joy. This band are of the good old 'beat you up, chuck you around and make you beg for more' variety. 'Down' is taken over by the dominant drum work, which sounds like artillery barrage and has you looking for the shells. This is maximum volume, ear bleeding material. Although 'Wolf' slows down the pace it by no means softens the sound and the axe work in this number is s**t hot. The punk element becomes more pronounced in 'Dead Boys' with a shout, scream and kick chorus, as does 'Invasion'.
'Tarantula' is the only one that disappoints on this album. Not in its delivery, as both musically and vocally it is on target but in the lyrics which make it all a bit too predictable given the title. 'Hyde Inside' is like a heavy number from some form of Rocky Horror Show. but perhaps the feel of this one is dominated by its subject matter. This time predictable, but with the class that 'Tarantula' lacks. 'Arise Undead' is a very heavy number, both musically and in content. It has a disturbing edge to it in parts and is definitely dark. Not one to play just before the lights go out, unless you like that kind of thing. '666 Ways To Die' hits a thrash n' roll beat with shotgun axe fire and an infectious bass line. It screams death at you and is a great closing number for this album, making it a statement for this music.