Nekromantix – Life Is A Grave & I Dig It!

Only a band like Nekromantix could get away with a title like Life Is A Grave & I Dig It!. Multifaceted, the title is dark and ominous but with a sarcastic tinge of happiness within it; which is exactly what the Danish psychobilly act sounds like too; dark and ominous but with an energetic and upbeat edge throughout.

Leading the attack force is Kim Nekroman’s signature vocals. The hollow, eerie, and almost lifeless vocals have become a trademark part of Nekromantix and the psychobilly genre as a whole and continually helps to cement the horror vibe that Life Is A Grave is based around. Behind the creepy vocals,Nekromantix are able to pack a punch too. The thump of the stand-up bass flows through the speakers combining with the technical, twangy, rockabilly guitar styles of Tröy Deströy and Andy DeMize’s skipping drums. With sticks that skip overtop of the skins, DeMize creates a frantic backbone to the songs.

While most of their songs are faster, LIfe Is A Grave does mix it up a few times before it runs its course. Anaheim After Dark is a mellow, laid back love song which is, in turn, followed by Fantazma; a track that is leaning towards a country feel like Jackass thanks to it’s blue-grass tempo androunding the entire album off is a three and a half minute instrumental, Out Comes The Batz. But what makes the album, like all psychobilly albums, stand out is it’s contrast in style and content. Musically, they are dark and gloomy with an upbeat stroke and the lyrics follow the same pattern too. Using dark imagery of hell, graves and voodoo, they also sing about love and flowers amongst the gloomy matter; all with a sarcastic tinge to them (“T is for terrible when I’m watching football or downloading porn – B.E.A.S.T.)

Songs like B.E.A.S.T., Rot In Hell!, My Girl and the title track push this album forward. It’s ripe with rockabilly inspired psychobilly. It’s eerie but exciting and the album is worthy of multiple replays. Fans of The Matadors or Tiger Army and, of course, Nekromantix, will find a CD to put on repeat with Life Is A Grave & I Dig It.