SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BRAINS – CRAZY MONSTER

THE BRAINS
CRAZY MONSTER
CLEOPATRA RECORDS

It may be hard to believe, but it has been 20 years since The Brains’ debut album, No Brain, No Pain. This psychobilly (as they describe themselves) have released eight studio albums, and Crazy Monster is their ninth. This is their first album since 2020’s Satana Tarantula (although there was a remix album released in 2024, Friends & Zombified Antics). No one need worry, The Brains have not mellowed over the five years, and they still produce loud, fast, hard-driving goth-punk, with their own living dead rockabilly.

The album opens with “Evil”. It sets the stage for an explosion the album is going to deliver. The song does not pull any punches. The power drumming, grinding guitars, and strong vocals come at the listener as soon as the needle hits the record. Whereas a song like “Hollywood” is more rockabilly, and a great instrumental, leaning towards surf and twang. The shouts add a great deal. There is a great western feel to the song, and again, the guitar work is melodic and strong. Then songs like “Skeleton Key” invoke those wonderful ‘B’ horror films of the 40s and 50s. Zombies, spaceships, and all kinds of creatures come out to “Meet you in hell”.

There are no ballads, or slow numbers here. Energy is really the name of the game, and this band has energy to spare. But that doesn’t mean everything is cut from the same cloth because the opposite is true. There is variety throughout the album but the overarching theme of straight ahead hard rockin rockabilly mixed with horror is throughout. And do not underestimate the band’s ability to play, the title track features some great guitar work, proving these guys are great musicians.

Crazy Monster is a great album and is exactly what one would expect from The Brains. The Montreal-based band has carved out their place in the rockabilly/goth/speed rock genre. And they do what they do extremely well. The combination of rock and horror is really nothing new, but The Brains do it very well. They combine a bit of nostalgia with their own creation and the end result is another great album.

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