Electric Frankenstein - Burn Bright, Burn Fast [Enhanced CD]

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Electric Frankenstein - Burn Bright, Burn Fast [Enhanced CD]

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Pulling from influences like the Dead Boys and AC/DC, Electric Frankenstein have survived 13 years creating mayhem in the underground. Emerging with Burn Bright, Burn Fast, the band scorches through 11 originals and a trio of covers with devastating precision. The title track – a blistering garage punk anthem – sets the disc alight with frontman Steve Miller's scratchy Bon Scott-like pipes dominating musical cannonballs like "Everything You've Got" and the sneering, jeering centerpiece, "Hey! (Kiss Your Life Goodbye)." The band's frantic cover of the Cars' staple "Candy-O" is top-notch, possibly usurping the original if that's possible, while the rhythmic stomp of "Gone to the Other Room" fuses the Sex Pistols with Urge Overkill. The title says it all: Burn Bright, Burn Fast. And that's just what these scene vets do. [John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide]

Electric Frankenstein possess something that most punk bands today don't.

Raw conviction.

There's no arguing the point. Burn Bright, Burn Fast! is forty-five minutes of unrelenting punk fury. It's all here. Everything a good punk record needs, and everything so many mediocre punk records are missing. There's no simple answer for what those albums are missing, but I can undoubtedly say, this will not be an album to disappoint on any plane. The title track starts the album off, and it starts off at a relatively slow pace, but quickly picks up steam with some great rhythms and vocals to match. And by the third song, the band has already been kicked into full gear.

"Fired Up for Action" starts with a tight bass part, but quickly the scathing, hoarse vocals of Steve Miller kick it up a notch. The real action starts when Miller and rhythm guitarist Sal Canzonieri start lighting things up with terrific dueling guitar action, until Miller lets out a scream from hell, and the rest of the band comes back in to finish the track. The following songs slow down the action a bit, but the band stays true to form, and none of the momentum previously gained goes out the window. The mayhem may have slowed down a bit, but nobody let Miller know, as both his rhythms and solos continue to be a fantastic example of what the band is capable of. Miller's sneer is just as present as his guitar, and again, no matter the pace, he rips through the lyrics with reckless abandon, to destructive results.

About halfway through the record, Electric Frankenstein catch a strong second wind. "Life in Rewind" is one of the strongest efforts on the album, encompassing perfectly all that they've been building on and working with thus far. The vocals are absolutely menacing, and the guitar, bass, and drum work won't offer any sort of reprieve. They just keep on coming and keep on coming harder than they were going before. "Talk, Talk" sounds like somewhat of a punk rock sea-shanty in parts, with a real sing-song feel throughout that's only accented by the guitar work. That, more than anything, is overwhelmingly impressive throughout the entire time listening to the album: Both guitarists are just spot on. There were no instances whatsoever where things sounded out of place, were too fast or slow, or did anything but sound perfect to the vocals they were flying under.

If you're looking for a complaint about this album, you won't find it here. It's loud, brash, and extremely technically sound. Oozing a raw punk ethic from every pore, this is the embodiment of every band your parents have ever hated. [Punknews-org]

It's alive. It being the capitalist punk rock machine known as Electric Frankenstein. The salivating, pitchfork wielding fans of Electric Frankenstein, having been satiated by an appetizer of an EP earlier in the year, can now ready themselves for the main course. EF's newest full length release comes via TKO Records and makes the aforementioned EP feel like a half-eaten plate of cheese fries compared to the steak dinner the bands feeds you with Burn Bright, Burn Fast. There is no shortage of opportunism here by Sal Conzonieri and friends. The albums notes contain a merchandise giveaway, adds for two books of monster art, and a list of web sites supported by the band which also include details on how to have your own website added to the list. Everyone that thinks they know how hard it is to make a buck in the music business need look no further than this band and their boundless creativity in eliminating that problem. For all of the extra stuff you get when dealing with Electric Frankenstein, they back it all up with some killer rock and roll.

To be sure, EF's bag of tricks is very small indeed, maybe a sandwich size Ziploc at the most. If you want a lengthy menu to choose from, this is not your band, but if you can deal with a one-sided index card with one beverage and the choice between, "Hamburger-Well Done" and "Hamburger-Rare" then come on in and grab a booth. Think early eighties LA and late sixties Detroit and you'll be in just about the right neighborhood. While decidedly punk throughout, traces of glam metal and the barely containable death punk of the Stooges leak from every seam. In any event it's all pedal to the metal on Burn Bright, Burn Fast. The title track, along with "Gone to the Other Room" and "New World Whore" are good examples of the hooky punk rock and roll favored by the band and recall bands like the Hellacopters with big choruses and ample soloing. "Everybody's Dead Again" is another standout song and is proof positive that three chords and a catchy little refrain are more than enough for a great song. "Well everybody's dead again, now I'm my only friend." Pretty much says it all, right? "Just For You" was the only song to seriously slow down the party, but even it has its charms, particularly the solo at the end. Balance is the key in the EF's generally outstanding production. All of the instruments are clear, including the vocals, but nothing really jumps out and dominates the sound.

At a healthy length, around forty-five minutes or so, Burn Bright, Burn Fast is a much better buy than "Super Kool" and holds together really well for a band that releases so much material. Complete with their usual, stellar, cover art, the whole package works and may be the best release by Electric Frankenstein in quite a while. While "Rock City Rocks" closes the show with an almost Kiss-like fan anthem, the band has tacked three cover tunes at the end of the record, a nice touch that reminds you that this a band having fun with whatever they do. The Music Machine song and the Flo & Eddie cover are throwaways, but their take on Candy-O by the Cars is a nice way to end the proceedings. While they're not exactly reinventing the wheel on the slop cart, Electric Frankenstein continues, particularly on this album, to be worthy of the long chase to the windmill. So grab a torch and some sort of gardening instrument and storm your local record shop for this one. [Antimusic-com]

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Electric Frankenstein - Burn Bright, Burn Fast [Enhanced CD]

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