Music Review: Rob Zombie, Spookshow International Live

By Tyler Hodg

Hot off the trail of his recent world tour, Rob Zombie has released Spookshow International Live, his first live album since 2007. Known for his horror-styled theatrics and energetic live shows, it should come as no surprise that Rob Zombie’s latest offering is nothing but fantastic—if you’re in a heavy music kind of mood, that is!

Recorded live across America, Spookshow International Live highlights performances throughout his entire tour. The album is longer than his typical setlist (by three songs or so, depending on the night), so those looking to relive their concert experience are in for an extended treat. Rob Zombie’s entire career is well represented on the album, with songs from his previous band White Zombie (“Thunder Kiss ’65”) to his latest album, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (“Teenage Nosferatu Pussy,” “We’re An American Band”) all being featured. Additionally, included in the liner notes were the words “100% live, no overdubs, no fixes!” which, if true, makes Rob Zombie and his band that much more respectable. Any band willing to embrace their imperfections clearly has a tight grip on what music is meant to be: organic.

The performances by Rob Zombie’s band are as impressive as ever. The live recordings were able to capture the energy of both the band and crowd, which is often difficult to pull off on live records. In several songs, and most notably in “Dead City Radio,” Zombie’s vocals sound weak and strained, but he’s easily forgiven considering not only the amount of shows they played on tour, but also how physically active he is on stage. If you’ve ever seen Rob Zombie perform live, whether in person or on video, you know that he is the ultimate showman; where he lacks in vocal performance is often made up for by his stage presence.

Although recorded over the course of his tour, Spookshow International Live is designed to sound like one full, uninterrupted concert. As intriguing as it is to have multiple shows represented, disruptions in the flow between songs can ruin a live album. Thankfully, listening from start to finish is thoroughly enjoyable, and if you didn’t read the liner notes, you would never know it was recorded on multiple nights.

This new release may not compare to seeing Rob Zombie live, but it’s certainly the closest thing to it. The sonic quality is spectacular and helps in delivering a well-made, immersive listening experience. Between making movies and recording albums, it’s amazing that Rob Zombie finds time to tour as much as he does. Spookshow International Live exemplifies Rob Zombie and his band’s dedication to delivering a live show worth remembering, and there is nothing better than being able to take the experience of seeing the band anywhere you go.

Spookshow International Live was released on February 24 by T-Boy Records/Universal Music Enterprises (UME).