Wednesday 13, whether with Frankenstein Drag Queens, the Murderdolls or with his solo efforts, has always provided the listener catchy shock goth rock with tongue in cheek horror and film influenced lyrics. With solo album number three, Skeletons, he has managed to stay true enough to his previous releases, but has also done enough to potentially entice some new fans too. The fun sing along elements are still there however he has also added some more serious moments to proceedings as he shows more of his, dare I say it, human side. 

It all starts off in familiar territory with ‘Scream Baby Scream’ and ‘Not Another Teenage Anthem’, both sounding as if they could gave been culled from the Murderdolls album, the latter being reminiscent especially of ‘Die My Bride’. ‘Gimmie Gimmie Bloodshed’ and ‘From Here To The Hearse’ continue along similar lines and, utilizing lyrics such as ‘She ain’t gonna stop, until I’m in the ground and started to rot’, you know what to expect. These are followed by the excellent ‘Put Your Death Mask On’, a song that hints massively of Brutal Planet era Alice Cooper, with it’s heavy guitar riff and drums making it sound like it would not be out of place along side songs like ‘Wicked Young Man’. 

It is from here on in however that Skeletons throws up some surprises.  The title track itself sounds personal, slower in speed like the title track from Transylvania 90210, it not only brings to mind Alice Cooper again, but also WASP, vocally as well as musically. The horror movie induced lyrics are gone and the song is that bit darker and depressing; as is the following track ‘My Demise’.   

Throughout Skeletons there is simply  some great rock music, as well as the Alice Cooper and WASP references Wednesday 13 also serves up, thanks to ‘With Friends Like These…’ and ‘No Rabbit In The Hat’, two songs that evoke Thickskin era Skid Row. The album is so strong that even the weakest track on offer, ‘All American Massacre’, is good enough to get in your head for some time after the CD has stopped spinning. The album comes to a close well with ‘Dead Carolina', surely a future live favourite, and a song that sees the main man returning to the old formula with those potential crowd pleasing moments in the making with chants of D.E.A.D. 

Overall Skeletons sees Wednesday 13 building on his previous work and producing his best album to date,  and sees him heavy things up and even include those moments of seriousness. However will it attract more fans?  Those that are already fans should love the album, while those that are willing to give him a chance are also likely to enjoy it.

Darren Brushneen