Album Review: Rob Zombie - 'The Zombie Horror Picture Show'

8 June 2014 | 12:48 pm | Staff Writer
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An extremely lively and powerful performance.

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It has been a long anticipated wait but 'The Zombie Horror Picture Show' is finally here. Rob Zombie is renowned for his astute directing and grand stage shows and the production of this new concert DVD is no disappointment.

We get to see a small snippet of backstage action to ‘Theme for Rat Vendor’ before the band walks on stage. Kicking off with ‘Teenage Nosferatu Pussy’ the DVD immediately captures the symbiotic relationship between Zombie and his fans.

A screen backdrop with horror clips and trademark and typical stage lighting ensures the viewer/listener is in visual overload. It's colourful and lively befitting of Zombie's enduring approach.

Dispersed crowd shots (including a small cameo from the guys in Motionless In White) coupled with every angle of the stage covered allows you to experience the show to the fullest capacity. We see some pyro going on in ‘Superbeast’ along with some more engaging lighting.

The energy from the band is simply intense as you can really see them push themselves hard to create an intricate and powerful performance. ‘Super-Charger Heaven’ shows the return of the giant devil man prop while ‘Living Dead Girl’ presents an abundance of bare chests. ‘Meet the Creeper' shows Zombie prancing around on an odd robot dinosaur contraption, it’s safe to say there is never a dull moment at a Zombie show!

While Zombie’s show is largely focused on props and production, the quality of the live sound is also commendable. Additionally, on a technical note, the editing of the DVD is also very smooth and all the transitions feel very natural. There is nothing more annoying that abrupt cutting in a concert DVD.

At over an hour long there is so much that can be said about what's presented, but no Zombie show is complete without the contributions of right-hand man, John 5. The pause in the middle of ‘Thunder Kiss ’65’ gives the guitarist a chance to show off with an epic and lengthy solo. There is only one more element to this Zombie show missing, ‘Dragula,’ which proves to be the band's fitting encore. 'The Zombie Horror Picture Show' is a great demonstration of what a rock ’n’ roll show should be!

'The Zombie Horror Picture Show' puts some of Zombie's greatest hits into one place and shows them performed with such energy and enthusiasm. There is no shortage of props and a large stage production here, it is truly captivating. 

1. Teenage Nosferatu Pussy
2. Superbeast
3. Super-Charger Heaven
4. Living Dead Girl
5. We're An American Band (GRAND FUNK RAILROAD cover)
6. More Human Than Human
7. Sick Bubblegum
8. Never Gonna Stop
9. Ging Gang Gong De Do Gong De Laga Raga
10. Meet The Creeper
11. Mars Needs Women
12. House Of 1000 Corpses
13. The Lords Of Salem
14. Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown
15. Thunder Kiss '65
16. Dragula