It’s always great to hear new music from Albany’s The Erotics and whilst an EP always leaves you wanting more, to gather so much great music in just five tracks shows that an incredible 24 years after their first release they are still delivering in spades!
‘When The Wolves Are Howlin” is the perfect opener – horror sleaze with a great groove and an enticing build up before Mike Trash’s growl kicks in and you’re transported to those wonderful carefree days of the late eighties when this kind of music was rocking my world. In 2021 there’s no one doing it better, and as the years roll by the fact that Mike Trash is sounding more and more like Tyla from The Dogs D’Amour just adds a little more to the wonderfully sleazy mix.
Second up ‘Scream Like a Demon’ is even dirtier and growls in like an uninvited guest to make the party interesting, before scratching all your records and drinking all your best whisky. Title track ‘Ride it to Death’ isn’t far behind and it’s another that connects immediately as it chugs and grooves and rides right out the door getting right to the point as The Erotics somehow always mange to do.
We close with maybe even two of the best here – first the gloriously ‘after hours’ barroom rocker ‘Bless Your Heart’ which sounds like it could have made the Dynamite Jet Saloon record it’s that damn good. It’s a song I reckon could even make the live set it’s that strong. And as a nice little surprise we close with a little ‘ancient‘ antipodean flavour as the band tackles the very early AC/DC track ‘Can I Sit Next to You Girl’ a song that is legendary amongst us Aussies. It’s quite possibly the best cover of the song I’ve heard and that really is saying something.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it gain these guys are so damned good you need to check them out if you haven’t already. If you’re a convert already ‘Ride It To Death’ is another frighteningly good addition to the catalogue! Another instant classic!
8.5/10
