Album review: Rob Zombie's 'Hellbilly Deluxe 2'

 Transforming himself into a movie director hasn't relieved Rob Zombie of his need to rock 'n' rage. It was his first medium for indulging in the wild extremes of pop Americana, and he returns to it here with ghoulish joy. 

A dozen years after his genre-defining solo debut, "Hellbilly Deluxe," Zombie has unleashed a sequel of sorts with the grim self-explanatory subtitle: "Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls and the Systematic Dehumanization of Cool." His obsessions remain fast cars, famous monsters, bikinis and sci-fi, which Zombie and guitarist John 5 translate into brutal hooks and a new musical clarity amid the sludge-storm. 

The singer again steamrolls sacred family traditions with a wicked sense of fun while riffs and beats erupt like muscle cars. The album opens with "Jesus Frankenstein," layering waves of Black Sabbath gloom with madman electric guitar and a steady, oppressive beat, as Zombie groans: "Hallowed be thy name, redeemer of the witches, is what he became . . ." 

The B movie fetishes unfold from one blood-spattered track to the next, helpfully illustrated across 24 lurid booklet pages that Zombie art-directed himself. He's always been a master of brash multimedia visions, first in his elaborate stage shows and now as an established film director, and each medium informs the others.

The leering track "Werewolf Women of the S.S." was also the title of a mock film trailer Zombie directed for Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's exploitation movie tribute "Grindhouse" in 2007. Here it's a frantic creep-show rocker Herman Munster might crank up en route to the drag strip. He also shares some hard-won wisdom on "Death and Destiny Inside the Dream Factory," describing Hollywood as a place and idea to "crush your idols, they can afford it baby / Permanently vile and fascinating." There is no instant hit of the "Living Dead Girl" variety, but across 11 songs, "Hellbilly Deluxe 2" is Zombie's most consistently tuneful record to date, without sacrificing the noise and industrial beats of the past. 

-- Steve Appleford

Rob Zombie
"Hellbilly Deluxe 2"
Roadrunner
Three and a half stars (Out of four)

Comments

[lancejr]

in other words...Zombie has still got it. Never doubted his talent , (H2) script aside with WAY too much Mrs. Zombie.

[p45k]

a great follow up to 'hellbilly deluxe'. bold, loud, fun, full of all the things that made its predecessor it shares its name with a killer album that defined him upon his departure from white zombie, while bringing a new vision and sense of fun to the listener, when too much recent rock is all show and no purpose.

the current band lineup is in top form, and it clearly shines through on the album, everything just sounds right, while staying interesting from start to end, the album is easily as bombastic as 'hellbilly deluxe'.

my only complaint is that it's over too quickly, but it's repeat playability soon conquers this. my favourite solo album is 'educated horses', however this is an awesome next chapter for - hopefully - a 'hellbilly trilogy' ;)

i'd also give 3.5 out of 4

[Mark]

I rushed out and bought it today after hearing What? in concert a couple months ago. CD is a big meh. Although I love the original, I think Educated Horses is his best album.

[Sleez Boy]

Dude, the album cover is filled with vengeance and rebirth from Zombie's Hellbilly Deluxe. I have listened to it and loved it. It's grimly and schlocky!

[AZombiefan]

What a smokin pile of fresh hippopotamus crap not only is it over the top and over done its flacid as well....it sounds like its something Rob did cause he was expected too not something he did cause he loved it....my rating a -999 stars out of 5