Tiger Army

II: Power Of Moonlight (2001)

Adam White

I'm going to assume my perspective in reviewing a psychobilly album is similar
to many of our readers. I've heard the term before but I'm not going to boast I
that I own the entire Mad Sin or Nekromantix back catalogues. I think like most
North Americans the genre hasn't been on my radar for a while; with a few
notable exceptions it's been far more of a European phenomena. It's this lack of
popular saturation that makes Tiger Army sound so fresh and exciting. They sound
like their doing something new but are instead are really introducing an
American spin on a well established subculture.

Psycho is rooted in
rockabilly. It's punk rock played as if it's major musical influences were the
Sun Records bands of the 1950s as opposed to the late 1970s punk bands. Tiger
Army revels in these influences, producing a sound deeply rooted in blues,
country and a bit of gospel. As with most European psychobilly bands there are
elements of Lovecaftian horror in their lyrics and overall image, but to their
credit the band doesn't go overboard with the imagery. Its easy to imitate the
Misfits and take on a b-horror movie angle, but there's a very fresh sounding
sophistication to what the trio writes and sings about. While many horror
influenced bands fall into the trap of self-mockery, Tiger Army finds a
respectful medium I've rarely seen.

The Californian band is largely a vehicle for Nick 13's songwriting. Tim Armstrong signed the band even before it had a rhythm section. The first incarnation featured Rob Peltier of the Quakes on stand-up bass and Adam Carson of AFI on drums. This
album was recorded with the lineup of  Geoff Kresge (ex-AFI) on stand-up bass and London May (Samhain, Son of Sam) on drums.
May has since left the band. The band really gels on tracks like "Under Saturn's
Shadow" and "Incorporeal." The song "Cupid's Victim" is more traditional, with a chorus that could have come from a
50's Sun Records album. The angry "F.T.W." is a rerecording of an early song
that predated the bands entire catalogue. To their credit the crooning country ballad "In The Orchard" fits well with the feel of the album.
The album's most complete moment is on the phenomenal title track "Power Of
Moonlight," featuring slide guitar curtsey of Rancid's Lars Frederiksen.

Fans
of European psychobilly band will appreciate Tiger Army's take on the style,
progressive yet still very respectful of tradition. The band gives off a similar
vibe to later day Social Distortion and should appeal to those who enjoyed Mike
Ness' country-punk fusions. Tiger Army won't make psychobilly mainstream, but they will make it more accessible for the punk community… All the power to them.