Album Review :: The Brains :: The Monster Within

Written by: Andrea Janov, CC2K Music Editor

The Brains :: The Monster Within out now on Sailor’s Grave 

Okay, I was hooked on this album before I heard it. I am a sucker for old monster movies and the cover of The Monster Within is better than most of those old posters. So, the packaging drew me in and the music was even better than I imagined. Think Misfits meets the Brian Setzer Orchestra meets Social Distortion. Fucking awesome, right?

The Brains’ The Monster Within is pure pyschobilly/horror-pop awesomeness. The songs are infectious and menacing. It is the kind of album that you try to sing along with on the second listen, even though you are aware that you don’t know the words yet.

Picking the best track on this album is a hard task, they are all pretty damned great. Twist my arm, I really like the title track, The Monster Within, it is fun and catchy with this super gritty thrashy music underneath. Or Bleed, which captures the big band revival elements yet is still thick and dirty.

The Monster Within also has a timeless element to their sound. It has the classic crooning elements that made Old Blue Eyes irresistible but the attitude and style of the Misfits and the Cramps. A pit will no doubtedly be thrashing along, but these tracks also have a beat that you can dance you, like legit dance. It kinda makes me want to buy a Bettie Page style dress in a skull print and dance with a boy wearing creepers and has a greasy pompadour.