Tiger Army III: Ghost Tigers Rise

In the strange world of psychobilly, existing somewhere between punk and rockabilly, Tiger Army led the charge in the early years of the 21st century. GHOST TIGERS RISE finds the trio delivering more melodic and sophisticated fare than the boilerplate punk aggression of many of their contemporaries. Song imagery tends towards the dark side, but given that drummer Fred Hell survived getting shot multiple times in 2003 (and had his seat filled by Mike Fasano on this outing), it's no wonder. Guitar-playing frontman/producer Nick 13 guides Tiger Army through an array of intriguing songs, ranging from the twang-fest "The Long Road," featuring guest pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz, to the foreboding rockabilly of "Santa Clara Twilight" with its mentions of pirate bones and eternity. Nick 13's warm croon also makes his crew stand out from their So-Cal peers, particularly on the reverb-soaked thump of "Ghostfire" and the surprisingly swinging 1980s pop sound of "Rose of the Devil's Garden."