Blending the horror punk of Forbidden Dimension and the blues/ folk of the Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir seems like an odd choice on first look, but it definitely works on the Agnostic Phibes Rhythm and Blood Conspiracy’s debut CD “Campfire Tales.”
They drag you into their hellish miasma with a tremolo picked Mexican tinged instrumental “ A Match To The Kindling,” which sets the listener in the mood for something they definitely haven’t , to paraphrase the menacing title track, “ heard a thousand times before.”
As anybody who has heard Forbidden Dimension will attest, Phibes takes great glee in singing about wolf men, drifters with hooks, mad trappers, spiders in your hair and severed heads bouncing down the stairs sometimes all in the same song. This CD is no exception.
His spooky voice and tortured hollow body guitar tone both provide a fascinating counterpoint to the more laid back folk of most the Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir (James Keelaghan’s younger brother, guitarist Bob Keelaghan, bassist Vladimir Sobolewski and drummer Jay Woooley) who build the musical foundation for these creepy campfire tales.
I especially enjoy listening to Phibes harmonizing with Bob Keelaghan’s acoustic guitar.
While the CD starts off on a slow, menacing note, they pick up the tempo and show they sizzle as a blues band on the outstanding “Windigo Song” which features Phibes and Keelaghan playing dual slide guitars with each other. It will bend your brain in two.
They get right back to the creepy and menacing on “Voices,” about a good man who snaps and takes an axe to his family.
They blend a variety of influences, blues, country, folk, punk a touch of rockabilly and a huge helping of assorted weirdness which reminds me of Vancouver’s Swank mixed with a little Hank and Lily.
“Neckin’ Party” is another highlight with a spooky arpeggiated riff, rockabilly rhythm and some more cool harmonized guitars.
Another highlight is a wicked Celtic tinged instrumental “Wild Night Company.”
“Magpie and Skunk is another highlight with another big, mean, rock edged riff, plus more cool harmonized, this time rockabilly tinged, guitars. They keep the sinister rock feel going with “Respected.”
They wind down the CD with a fleet fingered acoustic based number “Butcher, Maker, Undertaker,” which I think is based on Norse mythology.
That tortured slide guitar brings the CD to a close with “Blind Ghost Moan” which is as good as the title as it features a lot of haunted moaning over the slide guitar.
CD: Campfire Tales
Band: The Agnostic Phibes Rhythm and Blood Conspiracy
Genre: folk/ blues/ rock
Record label: Shoutin’ Abner Pim Recordings
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