Review of Various Artists - Prom Queen Massacre

Fledgling label Horror High celebrates the “other prom queen fantasy” with its first compilation release, Prom Queen Massacre. The twenty four-track collection of mostly horror punk sing alongs begs not the question of how much you like the Misfits, but how much you like other people who like the Misfits. Because most of these guys like them, you know, a whole bunch. And who can blame them. Still, emulation, devoted as it is, nearly always results in generational deterioration, and Prom Queen Massacre is no different. Label anchor and ex-Misfits frontman Michale Graves is the big name here, contributing “Beware”, from his Horror High debut, last year’s solid Punk Rock is Dead. Contrasting Graves’ latter day Misfits approach is Blitzkid’s “Pretty in a Coffin”, which does a respectable job capturing the hack and slash style of the Danzig days, while Horror High’s other band, The Death Riders, take a slightly different approach with the seething “Karen Black”. The front half of the compilation holds the best moments, including tracks from The Jackalopes and Zombeast. The ass end of the album is much more touch and go, and highlights like The Killcreeps’ “Chop Shop”, Psychocharger’s sleazy road trip throw down “Roadkill” can’t quite hold things together on their own. Ironically, as easy as it is to criticize many of the bands for their Misfits worship, the material on the second half of the album is more divergent, and although it has its moments, is less appealing on the whole.

I’m not normally a big fan of compilations, but Prom Queen Massacre is a good way to enjoy this genre. Few of these songs will blow you away, but several are fun listens and catchy as hell. The album isn’t completely singular in focus, but in general, much of Prom Queen Massacre plays like a combination tribute/compilation album, and it’s interesting to hear how each band has executed the massive influence of the style’s progenitor. Whereas an entire album by many of these bands might wear thin, Prom Queen Massacre sticks and moves, at its best delivering short blasts of ghoulish attitude and memorable melody lines. Even so, an hour of this stuff goes a long way, especially during the uneven second half, and by the end of the album, I was eying my watch and gazing toward the copy of Static Age on my cd rack. Some decent stuff, and fun for a while, anyway…

1. WEDNESDAY 13
2. THE BROWNS - "THE SCREAM ON HALLOWEEN"
3. BLITZKID - "PRETTY IN A CASKET"
4. THE JACKALOPES - "THE NIGHT YOU DIED"
5. MICHALE GRAVES - "BEWARE"
6. WEDNESDAY 13
7. ZOMBEAST - "WOLFSKIN KILLER"
8. THE DEATH RIDERS - "KAREN BLACK"
9. THE ROSEDALES - "NIGHTGOWN"
10. TRASHLIGHT VISION - "NOLA"
11. CALABRESE - "CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT"
12. WEDNESDAY 13
13. THE 69 EYES - "DEVILS"
14. THE KILLCREEPS - "CHOP SHOP"
15. THEE MERRYWIDOWS - "ALL OF THEM WITCHES"
16. PSYCHOCHARGER - "ROADKILL"
17. WEDNESDAY 13
18. ALBINO SPIDERS - "FALLEN SOULS"
19. DIRTY DEAD - "BEYOND HATRED"
20. THE SPOOK - "REANIMATED"
21. NIM VIND - "KILLER CREATURE DOUBLE FEATURE"
22. THE VINCENT BLACK SHADOW - "SURGERY"
23. WEDNESDAY 13
24. FRANKENSTEIN DRAG QUEENS - "SCARY SONG"

Release Details

Various Artists

Prom Queen Massacre

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