Calabrese Waking The Dead
Si
nce the jump-start of horror-rock, critics debated whether the genre was capable of progressing beyond a meager soundtrack for trick-or-treaters on speed. The Misfits added some much needed catharsis with Glen Danzig’s soul-eating fantasies and visions of JFK’s assassination, but even his more vile content did not truly conjure images of paganism, murder, and the alienation of the undead.
Horror-punk limped along for the next 20 years, til AFI’s earlier releases attempted to hearken back to the era, minus the macabre (plus more emo). AFI soon made a cash-grab, and punk music saw pretenders like Blink 182 and Yellowcard again dominate the scene. In response to the fake trend, the underground crypts began to rumble.
Helping awaken the dead for nearly 7 years, a trio of brothers known as Calabrese, understand the core of horror-punk’s menacing tone and executioner-like prowess. With Bobby (guitar/vocals), Jimmy (bass/vocals), and Davey (drums), Calabrese link directly to the genre’s golden age, even having once played with the Misfits themselves. With praise from the likes of Blasko (bassist for Ozzy Osbourne’s band and formerly for Rob Zombie), Calabrese are turning heads amongst music stalwarts.
Hailing from the fallout of Phoenix’s desert, Calabrese opened their caskets with 2005’s 13 Halloweens. After establishing a solid Arizona fan-base with their intensely chilling live performances, their 2006 follow-up, The Traveling Vampire Show featured stand-out tracks “Vampires Don’t Exist” and “Voices Of The Dead.” These and other tracks are available for your ghoulish-listening tastes on their MySpace page. Released in 2010, their third CD, They Call Us Death, continues their ascension, and should be exhumed by horror-punk enthusiasts who appreciate high-octane rock and haunting vocals.
While they’ve proven more than proficient at raising the dead with their dirges, Calabrese’s scope of talents also extend to the realm of comic books. The band recently collaborated with Eric M. Esquivel, Dave Baker, and other industry aficionados to present their own 24-page comic that shares their namesake. The band is accepting pre-orders on their website, www.Calabreserock.com for the first edition. You’ll also find their CD’s for sale, which would make great, late X-mas gifts in case you forgot to stuff someone’s stocking with a severed foot.
In support of their latest album, Calabrese plans a video shoot for “Violet Hellfire” in Phoenix on January 22nd and 23rd. For a close encounter, you can catch the boys at Prescott’s Sundance’s Place for a +21 live show on January 28th.
Add Comment
< Prev Next >
Comments
Post a Comment