PLAN 9
Manmade
Monster
Nickel And Dime
Records, 2008
CD Review by Joe Milliken
Originally
formed in San
Francisco in 1997 and what started out as a "one show only" tribute to
the Glenn Danzig-era of the legendary Mistfits, has since transformed
into
a legit and powerful deathrock quartet, writing and
recording
their own material and performing live for a growing following of fans.
Led by Scary Only of the infamous Hellbillys, Plan 9 quickly created
some
noise throughout California for their aggressive "Misfit" look and
sound.
With
the release
of Manmade
Monster, their second full-length CD on the punk label Nickel
And
Dime Records, Plan 9 plows through 13 originals plus three
Danzig-Misfits
covers ("Archangel", "Teenagers From Mars/We Bite" and "Samhain")
scattered
throughout. The disc was recorded at New and Improved Studio and
produced
by Plan 9, Noah Landis and Brian Hood.
The approach is no doubt,
straight up with the Misfits; fastbut melodic chunks of punk
rock full of catchy hooks, shouting choruses and of course, that
gloomy,
scifi / horror film motif. In fact, Plan 9 seems to be a closer
facsimile
to the Danzig-era than the current Mistfits lineup does... they seem to
wallow in a slower, more metallic version.
Mostly
drawing
their
inspiration from the "Walk Among Us" and "Legacy of Brutality"
Mistfit-period,
along with thier own surges of scat psychobilly and metal riffing,
bassist
Only, vocalist Aaron Fuller, drummer Mad Mike and guitarist Dr. Von
Wulfenstein
manage to create an original sound with tracks like "Blood", "She Never
Sleeps" and "13 Shades of Black", while still maintaining the Misfit
blueprint.
A tough balance to strike, however Plan 9 pulls it off, creating a
genuine
balance between their original material and the motherlode.
