The Classic Metal Album Reviews:
Title: Astro-Creep: 2000
Artist: White Zombie
Label: Geffen Records
Release Date: 1995

Rating: 5 Skulls
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    • Reviewed by Solomon:
    Even though Rob and Co. initially rode the wave to fame with the video to "Thunder Kiss '65" from La Sexorcisto - Devil Music Vol.1, along with the all-important Beavis and Butthead nose-pick of approval, Astro-Creep: 2000 came along a few years later and flattened its predecessor. You'd think a metal band who'd achieved a degree of platinum success would be tempted to wimp out, but White Zombie was obviously not that kind of band (and Rob was obviously not that kind of guy, I mean, look at him!). Astro-Creep came out and did one better by actually being darker and heavier than the collection before it. Ironic how the guys (and gal) who were championed by the cartoon duo who helped sink "metal" as the 80's knew it could come around and make one of the heaviest records to ever hit the US top ten. "Metal" was certainly a dirty word by '95, but this album reminded everyone that there were still a few people out there who gave a damn about thoroughly beating the shit out of their instruments.

    On that note, there's plenty of minimalistic headbashing to go around on Astro-Creep: 2000, and that's why it's so cool. You'd think a record with this much simplistic guitar and drum work would be a bit monotonous, but the combination of downtuned string bashing, groovy tribal pounding and Mr. Zombie's indecipherable but oddly infectious gravel throat-isms make this one a winner, one of the best of the 90's in my humble opinion, which you must accept or die slowly. The record is an all-around winner, but I am particularly enamoured by the vampire bite of "Real Solution #9," "Grease Pain and Monkey Brains," and "Blur The Technicolor." Closer "Blood, Milk and Sky" is the crowning touch, combining simple, devastating chord plundering and an exotic, female "Enya" melody that will haunt you for days after. That's about as sensitive as things get, though, so you'll have to deal with this meaty slab of mid-90's neo-metal as it is in all of its dirty glory.
    5 out of 5

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