Review: Crossbone Skully – Evil Word Machine

Better Noise Music (November 22^nd, 2024)

Reviewer: Grant Foster

Right.

Are you ready for this?

‘Crossbone Skully is an avenging superhero from outer space, returning to earth to save the world and reconnect with his lost deity love Piper and Kyd, the son he never knew he had.’

This project is the work of a collaborative team headed by Tommy Henriksson and Tommy Denander alongside Mutt Lange. Yes, Mutt sodding Lange!

But is it nonsense? After all, that introduction piece is a piece of hokum isn’t it?!

But is the music any good?

Usually, my reviews are long winded, usually track by track, in depth affairs.

Not this time.

I’m going to put you out of your misery.

It’s good. I mean really good. A little strange, but very good.

There’s a heavy AC/DC influence throughout, but, it’s done within the CS sound. Henriksen’s vocals are part Bon, part Joe Elliot with a touch of Tom Keifer.

It has everything that a classic and hard rock fan needs. The songs are beautifully constructed with more hooks than in a hook manufacturers warehouse.

I’ll throw some song titles at you.

‘The Boom Went The Boom‘ , ‘Flip The Bird‘, ‘Let’s Bust The Trust‘.

It’s bonkers.

But it rocks in a straight ahead hard way that recalls all the best part of Mutt Lange when he worked with AC/DC, Def Leppard, Bryan Adams and Nickelback and of course sonically it’s a thing of sheer beauty.

After all, genius is one step from madness.

Tracklist:
1. Evil World Machine
2. The Boom Went the Boom (feat. Phil Collen of Def Leppard)
3. Money Sex or God
4. Flip The Bird
5. Everyone’s on Dope
6. The Sin Eater
7. Ima Bone Machine
8. Let’s Bust the Trust
9. High on You (feat. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe)
10. I Am the Wolf
11. I’m Unbreakable
12. The Last Night on Earth
13. Misfits of the Universe

Line-up:

Tommy Henriksen: Singer

Anna “Blackthorn” Cara: Guitar

Sam “Bam” Koltun: Guitar

Chris Wyse: Bass

Alex “Thumper” Boch: Drums

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