Koffin Kats
s/t
Ideal Productions

In only eight songs the Michigan-based Koffin Kats managed to compose the perfect psychobilly record; balancing the raw punk sound of the Misfits and the perfect rockabilly thump of the Stray Cats.

A simple sample opens the record, “My wants are simple—Blood.” From there it’s 22 minutes of furious bass pounding and some of the craziest guitar licks. The style is pure sloppy ’90s punk, but with a groove that is almost danceable. The lyrics are insane, but catchy as all get out. “I wanna see my love six feet underground/ Time to dig her up,” Vic Victor croons cow-punk style on “Graveyard Tree.”

“V8 Nightmare” is a minute and a half thrash-fest devoted to the most demonic hot rod ever made, and “Koffin Kat Rock” can give the “Stray Cat Strut” a run for its money. This album is a bad ass rocker. Its only flaw is the short running time. Hopefully that can be alleviated soon, unless the band is already trapped in hell—or in this case Detroit.

Reviewed by: George Koroneos
Reviewed on: January 18, 2005