Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls
EvenMarilyn Mansonkeeps a layer of latex between himself and the kind of glammy grit collected by the Murderdolls, a side project of guitarists Joey Jordison ofSlipknotand Tripp Eisen ofStatic X. From beneath their blackened fingernails come purpled scraps clawed from the hallowed tombs of theDamnedand other groovy ghoulies; "Dead in Hollywood" even name-checks the late horror-movie star Vincent Price. Primarily the brainchild of Jordison, who plays nearly every note on this recording, the raucous punk bombast here mostly conceals any canned atmosphere. While the monotonous "Die My Bride" is pale, the good-time, guitar-driven "Dawn of the Dead" draws blood with a playful sneer. Overall vibe: Every night is Halloween, so let's party!--Ian Christe