Throwback Thursday: “S.L.O.B.” by Dr Acula from 2005

Long Island, New York gave birth to Dr Acula in 2005. Their ever changing line-up spawned many other bands, including Kissing Candice before they finally ran their course in 2012 (2015 reunion show aside) with lead guitarist Bill Graffeo being the only member to take in the entire ride. Their debut full length, entitled “S.L.O.B” or Silver-Lipped Operator of Bullshit dropped in 2007 in 187 Rounds Records, re-recording four songs from their previous independent release “Chillogy” EP. A number of songs went on to be re-recorded with the now legendary producer Jamie King for the bands Uprising records album “Below Me!” in 2008. Like a number of albums of the time, song titles were on a theme and It took them from the hit TV series “Goosebumps”. Dr Acula have always been a band that is hard to define in a genre as they have so many elements to their music, bits of Deathcore, Grindcore, Hardcore, Electronics, Screamo and even Punk. It’s the crazed fusion of 80’s horror film lyrics, film samples and metal. It’s great because it’s hilariously funny while making you want to bang your head at the same time. Take opener “Party” as a starting point, vocalist Rob Accardi’s lyric is “This is how we party, so fuck off.. I raise my drink in the air, ’cause im way too drunk to care.. Pants down and bottoms up, Come on girls who wants to fuck?”. Now this is what I call party metal, from the spoken word to the pig squeals. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, it’s all about having a good time. The band is all that is wrong with humanity and it’s so funny that you’ll love it! The album sounds raw, which is what you would expect from a self-release and it helps add to the overall DIY vibe. Everything here is tongue in cheek. There is no over production, no fat, no fuss and no attempt to tame the beast. Nothing is perfect and it’s those imperfections that help add to the insanity and charm of the album as a whole. Indeed, the gang chants of “Tonight we’re torching this mother fucker down” from the closing of “Say Cheese And Die” is probably the most sane moment on the album.

1. “Party” – 1:15
2. “The Cuckoo Clock of Doom” – 2:06
3. “Night of the Living Dummy” – 1:34
4. “Lets Get Invisible” – 2:03
5. “Monster Blood” – 2:03
6. “How I Got My Shrunken Head” – 2:41
7. “Piano Lessons Can Be Murder” – 1:55
8. “Shocker On Shock Street” – 1:53
9. “Say Cheese and Die” – 2:53
10. “Legend of the Lost Legend” – 4:12