New Years Day scream queen Ash Costello and Rob Zombie bassist Piggy D (aka Matt Montgomery) teamed up to create The Haxans, something completely different to their day-jobs but the project has been stirring up a lot of buzz as they prepare to release debut album Party Monsters this Friday 13th!
Opening with an eerie voice saying the title Lights Out begins in just the way you would expect a track with Ash Costello and Piggy D to be. It’s odd to listen to both doing what is basically pop rock with a dark tinge but Ash’s voice really suits it and it’s catchy. Black Cat Bone literally applies the pop-chorus writing to a rock song and at times Ash seems to be channeling her inner Maria Brink as some of the vocals are alike to the style Maria is known for.
We get creepy with Party Time‘s introduction and there’s a class riff in the track too! Chains is a definite need for a Halloween playlist. Again the Maria Brink similarities appear on Witch Wave. Professional Weirdo is my favourite track, the lyrics are relatable and it continues with a catchy vibe. Slick Black Coffin gives off a creepier Lady Gaga feel. Closing off the album is a cover of Misfits‘ Vampira, it’s spooky and a haunting end to the record.
The album is definitely one for a party! It’s catchy, has cool instrumentation and you wouldn’t find many complaints if you played this at your Halloween party! Ash and Matt teaming up made sense if you think of their day-jobs and it has definitely worked out well for them in this tight debut.
Some rock fans may find it’s too light for them and it’s too dark to be considered pop but the horror themes littered throughout the record and also the fans of both artists’ previous work are sure to attract a good fanbase for The Haxans to keep providing us with some spooky pop.