Unreal Band by Son Of Shockabilly: A Wild Ride Through Psychobilly Chaos
Let’s get one thing straight—this ain’t your grandma’s rock album. Unreal Band by Son Of Shockabilly is a chaotic, genre-bending beast that smashes together psychobilly and avant-garde like a car crash you can’t look away from. Released in 2019 on House Of Chadula, this record feels like it crawled out of some alternate dimension where Eddie Cochran jammed with Frank Zappa while sipping moonshine. And yeah, it’s as unhinged as it sounds.
First off, let’s talk credits real quick. You got Eugene Chadbourne doing double duty on guitar and vocals, shredding like he’s trying to summon demons. David Licht handles drums AND percussion, which makes sense because the dude probably doesn’t sleep anyway. Then there’s Shep The Hep holding down bass duties like a man possessed. This trio doesn’t just play music—they wrestle it into submission.
Now onto the tracks. With covers like "Train Kept A' Rollin'" and "Purple Haze," you’d think they were paying homage—but nah, these guys rip those classics apart and stitch ‘em back together all wrong. Take “People Are Strange,” for example. It starts off eerie enough, but then Eugene’s warbled howl kicks in, turning what should be melancholy into something downright unsettling. By the time the slide guitar squeals its way through the outro, you’re left wondering if someone slipped acid into your coffee. That track sticks with me not just because it’s weird—it’s good weird, the kind that haunts your brain long after the needle lifts.
And then there’s “Tennessee Flattop Box.” Holy hell, this song is a tornado wrapped in barbed wire. It’s fast, frenetic, and barely contained—an explosion of twangy riffs and pounding rhythms that feels like getting chased by a chainsaw-wielding hillbilly. Every note screams raw energy, and when Chadbourne lets loose with his wild vocal delivery, you can practically smell the sweat dripping off the stage. If this track doesn’t make you wanna grab a beer and headbang till your neck snaps, check your pulse—you might be dead.
But here’s the kicker: for all its madness, Unreal Band never loses sight of fun. Sure, it’s messy, loud, and occasionally baffling, but isn’t that what rock ‘n’ roll’s supposed to be? These dudes aren’t chasing perfection—they’re chasing chaos, and damn if they don’t catch it.
So yeah, give this album a spin if you’ve got the guts. Just don’t blame me if it messes with your head. Oh, and one last thing—why does no one ever mention the kazoo solo in “Day Tripper”? Seriously, go listen to it. Your mind will melt.
