Misfits
Walk Among Us

THE REVIEW

These were the years when America was rediscovering aliens, invasions from Mars, and a certain penchant for B-movies like "The Creature from the Black Lagoon." After the initial wave of the '50s, everywhere, in cinemas, drive-ins, and parties, there was a trendy desire for the paranormal and monster hunting.
These were the years when the Misfits were born, under the command of a great leader, a certain Glenn Danzig. He embraced the legacy of these thoughts, perhaps banal, perhaps not as "high" as in the years of the Beat Generation or the great youth revolutions, but nevertheless characteristic of an era and a society, and he blended them with those tied to punk and rockabilly cultures.

The myth was born, a music essential and simple, aggressive yet melodic at the same time, with an intense horror-melancholic background accentuated by that sad yet wonderful voice, that of Captain Glenn. The look, the lyrics, and even the melodies were completely new for the era; shiny hair styled over the face and black eyes, nothing like the various London Calling or Nevermind the Bollocks, nothing even like the closer Ramones. "Walk Among Us" is a new and different story, it is a fantastic story, let's go through it together by revisiting that collection of legendary songs that have been part of the history of a genre.
"20 Eyes": splendid, exaggerated, the Misfits sound! Frenzied beats, raspy sounds, and a rush of "uo o o ooooh ah!" not to mention the lyrics. This song alone has inspired dozens of bands. "I Turned Into A Martian" is a monolith that encapsulates the full Misfits-attitude, Glenn Danzig is masterly here, perhaps not at the level of the more well-known and often covered (by bands like Metallica and Guns n Roses for example) "Last Caress" or "Attitude" but he engages in a phantasmagorical vocal performance. Similarly, "Astro Zombies", memorable lyrics: "...with a touch of my burning hand i send my astro zombies on Earth, prime directive: exterminate this whole fuckin race...", the start of the track is explosive, blazing, but then the melancholic melody that only Misfits possess makes its way in (as in "Skulls" as well). "Night Of The Living Dead" is an exhibition of exceptional choirs that can be defined as "frighteningly sweet" and would deserve to be, considering the era, the soundtrack of the homonymous Romero film. Special mention for "Mommy... Can I Go Out And Kill Tonight?" brutal and aggressive, ironic, sharp, irreverent, in short, in one word... Misfits! Another track to mention is "Braineaters" a sarcastic chorus thrown out with a splatter video where friends with quiffs proudly feast on brains...

In short, there's everything and more in this piece of musical civilization's history, the only regret is (apart from the 25-minute duration and the poor quality of the vinyl engraving and its current remasters): seeing the old white and skeletal skull (Fiend Club) on the shirts of today's youngsters, knowing that that symbol, that music, those men, and that splendid attitude no longer really exist.
Something capable of moving even today.