Over the last 25 years The Erotics has never once let me down and their latest release ‘Rot in the Shade’ preceded by the single ‘Helltown Boogie’ is another instant Sleazy classic. It’s another slab of Mike Trash gems given a wonderfully huge sound by Don Fury who mixed and mastered, and produced this time around. Opener ‘Knockin’ On Deaths Door’ is just what I love, a nice Sleazy rocker with wit and a fist pumping chorus: this is music to get you moving a keep you rocking all night. The single ‘Helltown Boogie’ that follows beats an almost traditional Bluesy template and has plenty of crunch even before the completely unexpected sax!
It’s not all new stuff though on ‘Rot in the Shade’ there are three tracks from last year’s wonderful ‘Ride It To Death EP’. Firstly ‘When The Wolves Are Howlin’ the perfect horror sleaze rocker with a great groove and trademark Mike Trash growl that transports you immediately to those wonderful carefree days of the late eighties when this kind of music was rocking the world. Then there’s ‘Scream Like a Demon’ which we dubbed as being “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.” The pick though has to be the gloriously ‘after hours’ barroom rocker ‘Bless Your Heart’ which sounds like it could have made the Dogs D’Amour Dynamite Jet Saloon record it’s that damn good. It’s a song that has been constantly on the playlist since last year!
That leaves us with another EP full of brand new material and it’s all gold! After the openers have ripped it up; ‘You Got Me Shakin” adds a touch of harmonica to the mix and a killer groove before ‘Diamonds’ hits a homer with a mid-tempo classic that show Trash still has that ability to pull off a complete change of pace and it ends up being one of the real highlights here. That’s followed by the Spanish language ‘Dia De Los Meurtos’ which despite my poor command of the language (it runs to ordering food and beer) sound great and has a wonderful ‘flamenco electric opening’! It proves that Trash can write a catchy rocker in any language!
There’s also the wonderful cover of New Yorkers ‘The Rods’ ‘Too Hot To Stop’ from the classic ‘Wild Dogs’ album which contains all of the grit of the original (which aways had a bit of AC/DC in there for me) but done in The Erotics inimitable style. And as it’s that time of year there’s also time to revisit the 2021 Christmas single the sleazy ode to overindulgence ‘Hungover On Christmas’ the ultimate anti-Christmas shot in the arm!
The Erotics have changed their style over the years – starting out with a real Glam vibe and sliding into the Sleazier side of town, but there has always been that darker edge, that ‘Alice Cooper meets The Cramps’ edge that has elements of both humour and horror. As I always say – if you’re not already acquainted then you need The Erotics in your life and if you’re already in the know then this is another essential stocking filler!
8.5 /10
TRACKLIST: 1:) Knockin’ On Deaths Door | 2:) Helltown Boogie | 3:) You Got Me Shakin’ | 4:) Diamonds | 5:) Dia De Los Meurtos + | 6:) Too Hot To Stop | 7:) Scream Like A Demon* | 8:) When The Wolves Are Howlin’* | 9:) Bless Your Heart* | 10:) Hungover On Chritsmas **
* originally on 2021 EP ‘Ride It To Death’ | ** Originally released as Christmas single December 2021 | + Mike Trash sings entire song in Spanish
The Erotics band: Mike Trash-Lead Vox, Lead Guitars, Harmonica | Doug Reynolds-Lead Guitar, Backing Vox | Tony Culligan-, Bass, Backing Vox | Johnny Riott-Drums, Percussion, Backing Vox | Just Birk-Saxophone on Helltown Boogie.