Christ! DOYLE with DANZIG conquered when they performed MISFITS songs in the middle of the show, the other night, celebrating the 25^th Anniversary of DANZIG as a solo artist. He would give the crowd their choice of what songs to perform from "Walk Among Us", but he never gave us the offering of "Hatebreeders". Thankfully he played "Twist Of Cain" and "How The Gods Kill".

DOYLE has a new solo album out with a sound and style similar to what he has done with his other band GORGEOUS FRANKENSTEIN.  The towering beast with his Devi lock drape is rejoined by his fellow MISFITS drummer Dr. Chud. As expected the music is your basic Horror / Goth / Punk pandering and fodder with some emphasis on a more metallic inclination ("Learn To Bleed" or "Headhunter") similar to what Doyle did so well with his brother Jerry Only on the exceptional (EP) with KRYST THE CONQUEROR.

Fans of IMPALER, HALLOWEEN, 69 EYES, (newer) DEATH SS, MURDERDOLLS, WEDNESDAY 13, ALICE COOPER, ROB ZOMBIE, will know what to expect. The title track is heavy and crushing. "Dreamingdeadgirls" has its twisted, yet infectious grooves. The vulgar, sneaky, and crass "Cemeterysexx" as sick and necrophiliac as it suggests, is more like the straightforward early DANZIG material. The eerie down-tuned guitar tone throughout the album is rather quite annoying. Besides this debilitating factor, "Valley Of The Shadows" has a chorus which is utterly tedious.

The surreal killer cadence of Alex Story (not to be confused with the convicted Connecticut rapist, I hope!) allows for the music to become more sanguine and macabre. Both the opening title-track and closing cut "Hope Hell Is Warm" serve as a good example of this.

Clearly, I prefer the newer work of the MISFITS and Jerry Only's dark, candid vocal presence. As dead kings rise, albums such as "Devil's Rain" or "American Psycho" prove to have more accessible songs and music that is far more engaging. I am amazed that both acts have a song called "Land Of The Dead", even if the songs from those famous monsters are far superior.

The lack of solos, and characterized, quality rhythms or systematic spontaneity make this album a little too drab for my taste. The humdrum lyrical content, and lack of anything novel, only further sully what little potential this album once held. I was so hoping to hear songs which left their indelible mark, but overall this is more or less an abomination.