A man singing into a microphone while playing a guitar
A man playing a guitar next to another man playing a double bass
A man is playing a red gibson guitar
A man singing into a microphone while another man plays a guitar
A man wearing sunglasses and a leather jacket is singing into a microphone.
A group of people are standing on a stage playing instruments.
A shirtless man is playing drums in front of a sign that says el camilly
A group of people posing for a picture with one woman holding a red cup
A man in a black shirt is playing a double bass
A man is playing a guitar in a dark room

Black Wick Serial Thriller U.S.A. Review

September 29, 2024
The cover of a game called the renfields

So many people have an uncanny and some would say unhealthy fascination with serial killers. Why is that? Is it because we have an innate curiosity to know how people can do such horrific things to others? Is it the quest to answer the most debatable question to be asked when reflecting on these cases? Is it nature or nurture? I'm no criminal psychologist and can't answer those questions, but I can say that I fall into the category of those who are deeply interested in the actions of these criminals. Hell, I even purchased a letter from Richard Ramirez that he wrote to one of his admirers while he was in prison. I'm not sure what that says about me, but that's neither here nor there.


Central Florida's own Joshua Rogers, also known as Black Wick, has released one of the most unique albums I've run across in my 20+ years of music journalism. What we have here are rare and intimate interviews with some of America's most infamous serial killers that have been carefully selected and placed over Frankensteined electronic soundscapes. The manipulation of analog devices creates a dark and disturbing ambiance that reflects the insidious conversations of some of the most notorious murders the country has seen.


Joshua has tirelessly tracked down many of his samples through findings of VHS and cassette tapes at thrift stores and archives providing the listener with interviews that aren't the standard or generic sound bytes that many people would be familiar with. Another key aspect that makes this release unique is that the track listings are the serial killers' inmate numbers, so if you're unfamiliar with the voices, you may have to do some research to determine who it is. Serial Thriller U.S.A. offers something truly different that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

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