Murderdolls
Women And Children Last

<As the daylight died on the summertime suicide> this is how the sixth track of the album Women And Children Last begins, abruptly waking us from the summer warmth with a compelling and decisive anthem, consecrating the return of the Horror duo of the Murderdolls, with a completely changed lineup, but the same drive to play and produce an album outside the box remains and is palpable.

This is a worthy successor to an excellent album in every respect, such as Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls, which saw the light in 2002 among the many projects of Wednesday 13 [former voice of the Frankestein Drag Queen and co-founder of the Country project Bourbon Crow]. But Joseph Poole - this is the artist's real name - always knows how to surprise without ever disappointing, and together with fellow guitarist Joey Jordison [drummer of Slipknot], he knows how to create an album imbued with dark atmospheres - or dark, as it's often overused - all while maintaining that bitter satirical and humorous vein that leaves a mark on almost every track. Jordison's excellent backing vocals accompany Wednesday's gritty voice in pressing melodies and great guitar riffs that engage the listener in this continuous blend of different genres, offering about 47 minutes of pleasant alienation from the usual clichéd tracks heard over and over again lately.

"My Dark Place Alone" opens the scene as the first single - for which a video clip was also made - (followed by "Drug Me To Hell" chosen as the second single) but which, in my opinion, does not do justice to the quality of the entire album as a whole, leaving in the shadows (for now) brilliant tracks like "Whatever You Got, I'm Against It" or "Nothing's Gonna Be Alright", a nice rather melodic piece, with less violent drumming compared to the debut album but which leaves more room for the voice, and in this case, also for Jordison's well-crafted solos inserted at just the right moments. "Drug Me To Hell" - indeed the second single - is a typical piece styled à la Marilyn Manson, which the Murderdolls still manage to make unique, consolidating their particular style, marking it with Poole's remarkable voice that knows how to adapt to any genre while always maintaining its originality.

For those who were waiting to hear new material, they can consider themselves more than satisfied; the American duo returns to the scene more charged than ever, bringing back their undefinable genre that stands out among all others, blending various influences from rock icons like Alice Cooper and Misfits, and that (hair)Metal touch in Montley Crue style, and bringing punk roots back to the surface, all executed with mastery, accompanied by dark-humor-themed lyrics as well as more serious ones, sharp truths that blend well with the music. The Murderdolls are one of those few bands that, even without leaving their scene - known as Horror-Punk - know how to create something essential yet interesting, which - for those who have never seen them - makes you want to discover if they are just as skilful live; surely many of you will take the opportunity on September 4th and 6th in Rome and Milan respectively, where they will be part of the 2010 Tour as a support band for Guns N Roses.