Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Crossbone Skully, Better Noise Machine 2022.
Evil World Machine is the first single from a multi-dimensional project called Crossbone Skully.
The project involves video, directed and animated by Riley Donahue (Saturday Night Live), a graphic novel titled Thing #1, as well as the carefully crafted character of Crossbone Skully, which has been created by Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper/Hollywood Vampires) who serves as lead vocalist and bassist on the accompanying album of songs.
In addition to Henriksen a few Hollywood A-listers are involved in the project lending their voices to spoken word roles including Johnny Depp who plays The Evil Sorcerer, Alice Cooper (The Bringer of Light), Joe Perry (The Big Bad Bone Crusher), Nikki Sixx (The Crooked Crow), Kane Roberts (The Alpha Watchman), to name just a few.
Rounding out the band’s line-up is guitarist Tommy Denander (Alice Cooper), keyboardist Jamie Muhoberac (My Chemical Romance, John Mayer, Seal), bassist Chris Wyse (Hollywood Vampires, Ace Frehley, The Cult, Ozzy Osbourne) drummer Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper, Hollywood Vampires), the late UFO bassist Pete Way and producer/mixer Mike Plotnikoff (AC/DC, Cher, Aerosmith).
As you can tell from the personnel involved the Hollywood Vampires, which is a side project for Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Nikki Sixx, play such dominant roles that the enterprise can almost be considered one of their albums.
Evil World Machine is everything you’d expect from this line-up.
It’s hard, peddle-to-the-floor, rock and roll with Henriksen’s vocals being reminiscent of Alice Cooper’s, which is understandable since he’s been a member of Cooper’s band for some time.
If you’re into heavy rock then I think the album would be worth a listen.
