Year: 2025
Label: Cleopatra Records
The Brains are one of those mid-noughties bands who rode in on the rather surprising wave of popularity psychobilly enjoyed back then, thanks to bands like Nekromantix and Mad Sin and, in no small part, the label Hellcat Records. Despite hailing from Canada, The Brains also helped shape the horror punk influenced, harder but still melodic US sound of what I suppose could be called 3rd wave psychobilly.
And that’s where they’ve stuck. In the past 20 years, The Brains have seen fit to evolve their sound with baby steps at the most. Sometimes it feels like it’s not even that. Essentially, you can put any two of their albums side by side, and notice the passing of years only in production values.
So if you’re familiar with The Brains, you know exactly what to expect from Crazy Monster, their tenth album. That being: mainly songs with speedy tempos, fast riffs, melodic choruses and a prominent slapping bass. There’s essentially more punk here than rockabilly, with the latter often existing only in aforementioned slapping bass.
To me, The Brains have always been one of those second tier bands, who’ve always been entirely competent and painless to listen, but don’t offer much in terms of memorable songs or lasting appeal. And that’s exactly how I’d describe Crazy Monster as well. I absolutely don’t mind listening to it; I actually quite enjoy it. But once it’s over, I can’t recall a single song from it.
Despite standing by everything I said above, even the slightly dismissive tone, I feel I’m painting a bit too negative a picture of the album. Sure, it’s run-of-the-mill and dime-a-dozen and it doesn’t contain much in terms of standout tracks (I’m only making things worse, aren’t I?). But it’s still a very listenable, entertaining and well made album. It’s got all the trademarks of mid-noughties US style psychobilly, and The Brains vehemently refuse to modernize or compromise their sound. On the one hand, it results in albums that sound alike… but on the other, one has to admire such steadfastness and commitment.
And, to be honest, there are a few tracks that stand out, if only ever so slightly. Opener Evil with it’s catchy chorus and particularly fervent tempo, and Darkness with a nice lead guitar melody and vocal melody in the chorus might not be future classics, but they make one perk up a bit when the album plays.
So, Crazy Monster. By and large, it’s another brick in the wall. Another addition of alike sounding albums to The Brains’ discography. Adoring fans greet this with joy, others will probably have more mixed reactions. To me, it’s a decent album, but due to reasons described above, a bit throwaway. Solid, but not particularly exciting.
Only Death Is Real 