Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood (1996)
Bordello of Blood is a 1996 vampire movie with comedy character from the Tales from the Crypt series starring Dennis Miller, Erika Eleniak, Angie Everhart, Corey Feldman and Chris Sarandon. The original movie soundtrack was released on August 7, 1996, and features 10-rock songs from classic and contemporary rock acts.
The album
The album gets kicked off by Anthrax with the title-song, Bordello Of Blood. It comes in typical mid-90s Anthrax style with a very characteristic John Bush voice, Scott Ian guitar riff, and Frank Bello-Charlie Benante rhythm section. My favourite track on the album.
Kerbdog continue the set list with what I would define as a dance-metal song. This Is Not A Love Song is a monotonous track that could well have been found on one of the The Crow soundtracks. Another very typical song for a mid-90s horror movie soundtrack.
Track 3 is the classic All Right Now by Free. What’s there more to say? After two metal songs, and knowing the self-irony of the movie, this song fits just perfectly.
Oh yeah, Jailbreak by Thin Lizzy hits the needle after a Free classic and I can’t help but nodding along and loving it. The album catapults its listeners back in time, but on a perfect time machine.
And when one thinks it can’t get better, Sweet turn the ‘Rock On Button’ all the way to 11 with Ballroom Blitz, track 5. I’m truly lovin’ this album right now!
Track 6 features a cover of the KISS classic Deuce, written by Gene Simmons. Redd Kross do a very good job at keeping the old-school rock touch of the song real.
And then, like on every strong rock album, the obliged ballad enters the picture. And who are the Kings of Rock Ballads? Of course, the Scorpions. Ever since I associate this song, Still Loving You, with the movie Bordello Of Blood, it somehow appears to be the perfect vampire love song. “Is there really no chance to start once again?” Perfect, right?
30 Days In The Hole by Humble Pie brings back the classic rock mood with a song about being arrested for possession of illegal drugs. I don’t remember where in the movie this song was played, but it doesn’t make sense to me anymore to have the song on the soundtrack, even though I really like the song.
Cinderella brings us a more contemporary tune with Love’s Got Me Doin’ Time. Also, the feel of the song somehow fits the character of the movie better than the previous track.
The last song of the album sports the very fitting title From The Underworld and comes from The Herd featuring Peter Frampton. Again, a classic rock tune from 1968 that, nonetheless, perfectly rounds up an allegedly unfitting mix of songs.
IMHO
I know that I always make a big fuss about having a concept in an album that is stringent in regard to music, production, mood, and feel. Well, this album might not be a perfect “10” in that regard, but personally all ten songs just somehow seems to fit together; definitely more than on other soundtracks. Maybe, the fact that this is more of a niche album that has not received much promotion – if any –, or the fact that there is an unreleased Anthrax song next to one of the greatest Thin Lizzy tunes of all time on the same record, makes this a must have record.
I can definitely recommend to listen to it. Or do it like I did. Look for it second hand and buy it nonetheless for those few coins. I know that I’ll be listening to it a lot in the near future.
Album grade:
Lyrics 7/10
Musicianship 7/10
Production 6/10
Concept 8/10
Total grade 7/10