F.K.U. (Freddy Krueger’s Underwear) – The Horror and the Metal
Reviewed by: Kenneth Gallant
Review Score: 10
I think it’s fair to say this is my most anticipated release of 2024. I mean for obvious reasons, I’m a horror fanatic and a heavy metal nut; so these two genres go together like fries and gravy. There are dozens of great metal bands that take inspiration from both, but I firmly believe F.K.U. does it best. The band’s acronym is short for Freddy Krueger’s Underwear and boy does that ever roll off the tongue smoothly. The name sounds like it was plucked straight from a Mad Magazine parody; however, there’s no joking going on here.
F.K.U. play crossover thrash that brings to mind bands like D.R.I., S.O.D. and Anthrax. They jam pack the songs with a hefty dose of attitude and chuggy riffs to punch you square in face. All the lyrics are based off horror movies; feeling like 1987 all over again. Every song is mosh worthy and F.K.U. thrash it out with the best of them.
Now that we have the introduction out of the way, let’s sharpen those razor blades and examine the ten tracks that make up The Horror and the Metal. This is album number six for these thrash juggernauts and if you remember what was brought to the table with 1981 (the previous release), then you know what’s in the offering here. It’s full throttle right from the start when the title track ‘The Horror and the Metal’ roars to life with a vengeance. Vocalist Larry Lethal let’s out his best Joey Belladonna scream and gets us off to a great start. Chugging riffs and a relentless pace dominate this track from start to finish.
The band follow this up with ‘(He is)The Antichrist’ and it pulls no punches. Lyrically, the song covers the demonic exploits of Damien from the Omen. There’s tons of chug going on here and it’s a great number to follow-up on. Track three brings heaping amounts of chug and neck snapping goodness when ‘The Spawning’ rears its ugly head. There’s so much meat on the bone here (pardon the pun); when the riffs and gang shouts come out in spades. Obviously, the band are referencing the film Piranha and boy does it ever get me giddy (I’m such a horror geek).
‘Don’t Have To Go To Texas’ starts with a doomy Sabbath opening and then erupts spewing forth meaty riffs and giving us lyrics that talk about the movie Pieces. All I can say is let the chainsaws rip everyone into pieces. The song is followed up with the punishing sounds of ‘Harvester Of Horror’ which might homage a handful of films like Alien, The Faculty, or The Hidden. I think you might be catching my drift here about alien parasites and if you did kudos to you.
The horror nerd in me was tickled pink with the lyrics for ‘Deep Cuts’. Not only does it reference horror films like Blood Frenzy, Humongous and Neon Maniacs, but it’s a love song to the classic days of VHS renting. ‘They Are 237’ is a masterstroke right down to the razor grinding riffs and gang shouts; not to mention the song is about the movie Scanners. David Cronenberg would be proud. Again, more thrash goodness dominates ‘Bringing Back The Dead’ and I absolutely dig Larry’s ear-piercing screams on this one. Rob Halford would be proud as a motherfucker here.
It’s obvious the catchy tempo of ‘Some Kind Of Mosher’ will get your blood pumping furiously. However, I know the title of the song is a play on Metallica’s ‘Some Kind Of Monster’, but don’t let that stop you from liking this song. I liked the lyrics here because it celebrates the joys of moshing and loving horror and metal, so all good. Then we end things off with ‘You Are Who You Eat’ which stomps to life with the heavy riffs and tears into a ravenous pace. For those who caught my pun in the last sentence I was referring to the 1999 horror western cannibal film Ravenous. Actors Guy Pierce and Robert Caryle hobbled through the joys of frostbitten cannibalism to great acclaim. I thought this song captured the film perfectly, and ended off this album on a high note.
What’s not to like on an album that celebrates horror and metal. F.K.U. do it so well, tightening the band’s mission statement into the firmly rooted pillars of both genres. I like the fact they know what they are and want to strive to highest levels on this release. The Horror And The Metal is the best thing F.K.U. has done and everyone in the group is firing on all cylinders. Larry continues to remain lethal with his pipes; while guitarist Peter Stooaahl sharpens his razor-like riffs to perfection. This deadly combination would make Freddy Krueger proud.
The album is due out February 9th on Despotz Records. Check ‘em out!