Review: Necrosexual “GRIM 1”

Earlier this year, I covered Necrosexual’s most recent EP, and while I was a bit skeptical about the antics and layout, it proved to be worthwhile. Recently, I went to see the band, and not only did they deliver a great show, but I discovered they had put out a full length prior known as Grim-1. While the follow-up EP wasn’t bad, I find the full-length to be a far more focused effort and a bit more solid from cover to cover.

Though I wouldn’t call Necrosexual a blackened thrash band in their entirety, they lay those toppings over everything. Plenty moshable moments creep in, such as the blasts of energy found in “Trust No One.” But the truth is, they have a lot of fun with this and incorporate it in a goofy way. For the most part, the focus is on spookier passages that rely on classic-sounding hooks and horror/comedy lyrics atop. And of course, sexual themes are thrown in. “The Lair Where No Light Enters” and “My Kind Of Freaks” showcase this quite well, and you can pick up hints of King Diamond.

Of course, you can find some that act as full-on heavy-hitters the whole way through. “Necrosexual Encounter” injects that into the atmosphere and utilizes blackened drumming tactics. My favorite song is the aforementioned “Trust No One,” because of how much it jumps around. The first half is almost a dance-worthy banger, but the momentum gained in the second half is pulled off better than anything here. Closer “Dead Sexy” also whips out a rock ‘n roll type intro that busts into a ball of thrash fury.

The boys from Philly and their corpse-painted frontman really deliver a different and tasty dish of sexy hooks and gritty riffs. Grim-1 also contains the only cover of The Rolling Stones’s “Paint It Black” to give it a completely different spin that I’ve ever heard. If that isn’t enough to peak your interest, then you likely didn’t make it this far. And if you get a chance to see them live, absolutely do it.