Tales from the Otherside

"Tales from the Other Side" is the second release of Zombie Strippers from Hell and at the same time their first (and last...) full-length - earlier these guys released a short EP "Black Tides Rising". The artists have approached their debut album very professionally, because in its physical version it looks great: the front is adorned with a great, disturbing, "tentacle-like" artwork (associations with the works of H.P. Lovecraft are very relevant), and on the back you will find a large band logo. Where is the tracklisting, you ask? Well, inside. After lifting the cover we can see the information about the album on one side and the tracklist on the other, while after unfolding the right part we can see the CD and access to the booklet with lyrics (after taking it out our eyes can see the acknowledgements). It all looks very nice and the dark-red layout builds an atmosphere of horror and mystery.

This atmosphere is not accidental. The author of the lyrics, Radek Szewski, must be a big fan of horror movies, because almost all of them, to a greater or lesser extent, relate to this subject matter. We can find here both references to classics of literature ("Dracula" that mentions poor Mina or "Trapped Under Ice", associated with the prose of H.P. Lovecraft) and cult horror movies ("Hellraiser" by Clive Barker). There are also motifs found in gore cinema (e.g. "Kill You"), although here it is difficult to indicate a specific source of inspiration. The music of Zombie Strippers from Hell mixes sounds from many different genres, just like in horror we will find many sub-genres. The Internet claims that the work of the duo from Pszczyna can be characterized as melodic death metal, but the truth is that although there are a few heavier elements, it could not be further from this type of music.

Zombie Strippers from Hell like to combine different elements within a given composition. Already in the opening track about the world's most famous vampire we have numerous changes of pace, and further on the album there is no shortage of surprises. Some songs can start with a hard rock riff ("Hellraiser"), then quickly move to faster, heavy/thrash metal-like tempos, while others flirt with more groove-like atmospheres only to suddenly attack the listener with an almost "black" fragment ("Lovesong") or a power metal chorus ("Trapped Under Ice"). There is room here for heavy notes ("Train from the Otherside"), fast and hit songs ("Hatchet"), as well as for those calmer, ballad-like songs, reminiscent of Nick Cave ("Kill You"). Did I mention that the whole thing ends with a punk rock anthem, which could easily be included on "Ignition" by The Offspring? No? Well, it's there too.

Marek Rynkiewicz provided the bass and guitar lines and while in the case of the first instrument he is "alright" (very nice playing in "Hachet"), on the latter he's doing just great: an interesting, choppy riff in "Lovesong", very nice playing in "Texas", a quick solo in "Trapped Under Ice" - awsome. The second part of the duo, that is Radosław Szewski, hiding under the pseudonym of Dr. Satan, took up vocals and think that not everyone may like his voice. Yes, there is a surprising diversity in this field as well, as there are slow and melancholic fragments, as well as fast, metal ones (and even melorecitations can be heard, although they are rather poor), but 90% of the material is sung in a clear, high voice, the timbre of which reminds me of American vocalists from more alternative bands (Billy Talent, Sum 41, Green Day). I got used to it quite quickly, but some people may find it painful to hear.

Although on "Tales from the Otherside" we are dealing musically with a soup with many ingredients, it is surprisingly tasty. The compositions are long and thoughtful and individual musicians can only be praised: Rynkiewicz does a great job, Szewski delivers interesting, catchy vocal lines and guest musician Michał Łysejko (ex-Decapitated) shows that he is able to find himself in any kind of music, even so distant from death metal. Zombie Strippers from Hell is worth checking. You can find their music on Bandcamp, iTunes or Amazon Music, but I recommend getting hold of the physical version of their debut album - it simply looks great!

Originally written for www.metalside.pl