Educated Horses

Like his brutal film THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, Rob Zombie's 2006 album, EDUCATED HORSES, strips down his macabre aesthetic, largely ditching the overt kitsch and busy, techno-tinged arrangements in favor of a heavy, 1970s-inspired stoner aesthetic. Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper's influence on Zombie have never been more apparent than on these 11riff-laden tracks, including the propulsive "Foxy Foxy," the scathing "Let It All Bleed Out," and the haunting title track to his aforementioned splatter movie, which he wrote, directed, and produced. Although some fans may miss Zombie's wackier, cartoonish style, HORSES marks the emergence of a more mature and formidable performer.