Coliseum/Doomriders

Not of this World [7-inch] (2016)

TomTrauma

Apparently the guys in Coliseum and Doomriders hold the first Danzig record in very high regard. (As does this reviewer. As should you.) Back in 2005, Coliseum vocalist/guitarist Ryan Patterson put out a 12” Coliseum/Doomriders split on his own Auxiliary label. It consisted of a Danzig cover by each band and a couple of originals. Now as part of their 20th anniversary commemoration, Magic Bullet Records has repressed the Danzig songs as the Not of this World 7”. (“Not of this World” is actually another song from that same Danzig album.) Both bands treat the source material with a great deal of reverence, even as their versions venture into heavier territory than the dark, bluesy metal of the originals.

Coliseum takes on “Am I Demon”. Musically it’s mostly true to the original, but the beefed up bass line definitely gives it some extra power. (No offense intended toward Eerie Von, who I love.) Doomriders cover “Possession” in a similar manner. The biggest difference on both songs is the harsher vocals. (I still found myself singing along in Glenn Danzig’s evil Elvis croon.) Both bands also add a sample to contribute to the overall creepiness factor. Both songs are rock solid interpretations of the influential 1988 originals. The very nice art is also a reinterpretation of the classic Danzig album cover. This will be a real treat for fans of Coliseum or Doomriders. The Danzig faithful, myself included, are also definitely going to need a copy of Not of this World.