The Demo Review:

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Band Name: Two Hit Creeper Demo Title: The Stepchildren's Twisted Circus Music Band Members:Michael (Vocals & Accordion), James (7 String Guitar), Alan Mendoza (Bass), Dino Guerrero (Drums). Location: Long Beach, CA Email for This Artist Official Web Site for This Artist Discuss on the Metal Judgment Web Board

Musashi's Review:
You do not hear too many accordions in Metal music. Surprised? Don't be. The accordion and those that try to tame it have enjoyed a rich history of ridicule and persecution. The accordion has ruined the lives of those that try to solve its riddle. Did you know that Barry Manilow had learned to play the instrument by the age of seven? Look at the lives of Drew Carey and Judy Tenuta. They will probably never be allowed to reproduce because of their association with the instrument. The accordion is credited with single-handedly holding back Polka, Cajun and Zydeco music from achieving the national popularity that those styles so deserve.
The accordion, a descendant of the sheng, a free reed mouth organ invented in China, is often confused with the melodion, concertina and bandoneon. I personally prefer the sound of the bandoneon which is predominant in the tangos of Argentina. Rumor has it that Marco Polo brought the sheng to Europe although the Russians claim that the Tartars brought it with them. Or perhaps (more likely) the French blame the Russians and the Russians blame the French.
The modern chromatic accordion was developed in the late 1800s. The left-hand manual had developed into a complex series of bass and pre-set chord buttons arranged according to the circle of fifths (known as the "stradella" system). There are six rows of buttons, consisting of two rows of bass buttons encompassing a range of a major seventh: 1) the counter-bass row (a major third above -- or a minor sixth below -- the fundamental bass tone), and 2) the bass row (the fundamental); plus four rows of pre-set chord buttons: 1) major, 2) minor, 3) dominant seventh, and 4) diminished. The right hand plays melodies on a traditional piano keyboard. Shoulder straps were eventually utilized to free the hands.
Prior to the chromatic accordion, the diatonic accordion would play in a single key with the left hand just playing bass notes. Also an interesting feature was that the diatonic accordion, like harmonicas, would produce different tones on the press and draw of the bellows.
In the late 1920's, Hohner (better known now for his harmonicas) decided to improve the accordion's public image by turning it from a folk instrument played by ear to a respectable instrument played from sheet music. An accordion orchestra of around thirty skilled amateurs was put together and toured extensively by bus throughout Germany and the neighboring countries presenting the new concept to the public. Hohner also began to publish sheet music of classical pieces and established a college for accordion teachers to "raise the standard." The response was enormous... imagine the groupies trying to get on that bus!
When the Nazis came to power, the growth of the accordion slowed down. The propagandists claimed that the accordion was a "nigger jazz instrument" for its close connection with modern American dance music. The Nazis tried to stop accordion bands from playing classical music which for them was an "abuse of the music of our great masters." The president of the Reichsmusikkammer -- the highest institution controlling music in the Third Reich -- declared that "now is the time to build a dam against the flooding of our musical life by the accordion."
The accordion has never regained the popularity it once enjoyed in the early 1900s. Until now! Two Hit Creepers brings the accordion into the age of Metal. Is it creepy? Yes. Is it Metal? Yes. Is it a good demo? Yes. The music reminds me of Mr. Bungle meets Fear Factory meets Danny Elfman. It has that lugubrious, coulrophobic, bedwetting vibe. The great Sam Raimi (director of such fine films as Evil Dead 1, Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness) upon hearing this demo would probably say (in his moe-like voice), "That music is heinous and horrifying! I've got to put it in my movie."
Although this music stands on its own, it would definitely do well if coupled with a scary movie about teenagers at a lake house or at summer camp or at a haunted house or about teenage clowns who haunt people's dreams and make them wet their beds. 2HC's next demo will be produced by Roy Mayorga of Soulfly. That sounds promising. I can't wait.

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