Review by MartinDavey87 for Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe (1998)

Released in 1998, ‘Hellbilly Deluxe’ is the debut solo album by Rob Zombie, taking his first steps into a solo career after the disbandment of his former group, White Zombie. With plenty of horror overtones and imagery, and a huge-sounding production, giving the music an incredibly big, beefy sound, it’s a high-octane adrenaline ride of industrial and groove metal.

Well, the first few songs, anyway.

The album starts off with some absolute bangers, such as ‘Superbeast’, ‘Demonoid Phenomenon’, ‘Living Dead Girl’, and of course, the dance floor filler, ‘Dragula’. These are all fantastic songs that combine heavy grooves and thumping beats, and Rob’s instantly recognisable gravelly vocals are great for getting the listener pumped up. Overall, he has a great sound and style going on here. But it’s not to last.

Sadly, I find that after those few tracks, the album gets quite repetitive. I struggle not to zone out, but it feels like I’m hearing the same song over and over. Even the vocals, both melodies and lyrics, start to feel quite samey in every song. It’s frustrating, because the album starts on such a high, but from the midway point, my interest just seems to vanish.

There are a few songs with weird vocal effects or some such tomfoolery, as well as some “interlude” songs, and none of these inspire me to pay closer attention. And it’s a shame, because I am a Rob Zombie fan, and while ‘Hellbilly Deluxe’ generally seems pretty well-received, I just can’t seem to enjoy it all the way through. Regardless, if the first few songs are anything to go by, Mr. Zombie’s solo career should be an exciting ride, and I look forward to checking out his next album!