Generally accepted as the father’s of Horrorcore, an offshoot of the then burgeoning national hardcore scene, The Misfits blazed a trail of death and destruction through the East Coast punkrock scene, then went on to conqueror internationally. But by the time they were godheads, they had already passed out of being thanks to the volatile combination of personalities, namely Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only, the two consistent members of the Misfits varied roster. While Walk Among Us (1982) is the Misfits 8th release, it is their first full-length record, though not in the order of which is was recorded; preceding it is their debut, Static Age (1978), which would not see it’s proper release until 1997. Already well into their musical evolution, Walk Among Us offers a glimpse of the Misfits in their prime, combing bombastic and macabre supercharged punk, with melodic underpinnings and deviously insipid lyrics courtesy of Danzig, but as the album progresses, there is a definite crux to the music that expresses their changing tastes (as well as the non-static lineup of the group). Hardcore blastbeats, brightly metallic guitar, slithering basslines, rockabilly histrionics; unlike their contemporaries, the Misfits (in an homage to their own name), never stayed with one style save for the notion that they were loud, scary, and fast. Classics such as “Skulls”, “Astro Zombies” and “I Turned Into A Martian” are all here, but it is the album as a whole that paints a very brutal yet pleasingly awe-inspiring picture of the band at the height of their dark powers.
Listen to “Skulls” (Footage from their last show with Danzig) and “Devils Whorehouse”
Download “Walk Among Us“
