An album review of the Misfits' American Psycho
The Misfits are perhaps the original and sole purveyors of shock punk with an equally elaborate and theatrical narrative style of music. The Misfits are equally renowned for their music as well as their baroque aesthetics. Formed in 1977, the Misfits have released numerous singles and albums, including 1997's American Psycho.
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American Psycho: Lyrical narrative, vocal and generic style
Michale Graves
Recorded without the Misfits' original vocalist Glenn Danzig, replacing vocalist, Michale Graves, rises to the challenge and delivers the kind of album that long- term fans and critics can easily recognise.
Grave's vocal delivery on American Psycho mirrors Danzig's in some retrospect. It is not that the vocals are indeed similar but, the style is specifically adaptable and could most likely be mistaken by the untrained ear, as the vocals of the Misfits' original singer.
Generically, American Psycho is yet another well-constructed punk and slightly rock inspired album from the Misfits. This album has all the hallmarks of what audiences enjoy the most about the band. Tracks such as "From Hell They Came" and "The Haunting" ignite the speeding punk tempo's that the Misfits have previously embraced on previous album releases.
Conceptual and lyrical aspects of American Psycho
By the time the Misfits had released American Psycho, the band was already well-known for taking their conceptual inspirations from horror movies and personal experiences. This is a musical concept that the band has continued to work with on American Psycho.
Their trademark lyrical content is centered around horror themes. This is perhaps the most obvious on the track "Dig Up Her Bones" where the song is introduced by the haunting howling of a wolf and Grave's menacing bellowing of the words, "Walk me to the graveyard, dig up her bones!"
Positive points
As an album, American Psycho serves as a reminder that the Misfits strictly operate within their own unique musical conventions. Their anti‒mainstream appeal has earned the band a cult fan following and secured longevity within the alternative musical community. The Misfits, like many other rock bands, have been cited to incite violence through their music. American Psycho's lyrics as previously stated, follows on from the band's previously released material and, is nothing more than the Misfits freely exploring ideas and music that have elevated the band within their own sub-genre of punk inspired music.
Negative points
Individuals that have infested in the Misfits' previously released materials may feel that American Psycho does not live up to the bands' original musical stances, line- up changes and debatable inconsistencies of the generic directions of the album most notably being the reasons for any kind of diversion from the Misfits's music and the band's overall persona.