Bella Morte- Songs for the Dead

Like 2001’s “Death Rock EP,” the latest release from Bella Morte is an entertaining diversion that seems to be as much fun for the band as it is for the listener. Just in time for Halloween, this is mostly a collection of three-chord punk horror stories in the vein of the Misfits; “The Forgotten” tells of a haunting from the ghost’s perspective, for example, while the more hardcore-oriented “Legend” is an apocalyptic zombie-fest. This is the first Bella Morte album recorded with live drums, and they went for a raw, DIY feel here. The drums are a bit flat, and the cymbals a bit tinny, but it’s just enough to give the music a garage rock feel without being so much that you want to send them money to hire a producer. Despite his tattoos and towering Mohawk, lead singer Andy Deane has a certain sweet, youthful quality to his voice – not boy band sweet, but enough to make the young goth girls sigh – so it’s a little strange at first hearing him singing straight-up punk songs, but it works well enough that you can’t help but shout along with the “Whoa-oh-oh” chorus of “Dead Will Walk.” Of the eight tracks presented here, “Final Words” is the most like a “normal” Bella Morte song, starting off with dirge-like guitars and distant church bells before building into a majestic chorus. “The Devil’s Eyes” is unique, with a light-hearted ghoulish blues vibe that sits somewhere between Danzig’s “I’m The One” and Concrete Blonde’s “Bloodletting.” Finishing out the album is an untitled instrumental piece that starts out like a spooky music box and finishes up with melancholy pianos. At just under half an hour, this is a fun little collection of songs, and fans of Bella Morte and the Misfits alike will get a kick out of it. Visit Bella Morte at www.bellamorte.com.