The Coffin Caddies I Dream Of Jack-O-Lanterns CD Review

*Originally written in 2007*

A number of years back, I went to see The Rocketz play at Odin’s Den in Winter Park, Florida. While I was anxiously anticipating their performance, I sat through the opening band’s set. I had never heard of them before, but they blew me away with song after song about all the things I hold dear - video games, comic books and horror movies. 

It’s rather embarrassing for me to admit that I had never heard of a band whom I would later find out had released one of my favorite horror rock albums, but if it weren’t for catching them at that show, I may have missed out entirely. 'I Dream of Jack-O-Lanterns' is composed of 16 tracks of bloody, spellbinding tales that will surely please any horror rock enthusiast. What I love about the Coffin Caddies is that there is a personal connection for me to what they play. They cover the gamut of what I as a horror music fan want out of an album. Songs like “Monster Squad”, “Nightmares on Elm Street” and “Michael” pay homage to the classic horror films they represent, while songs like “We Are Venom” and the tale of a morose Skeletor in “Skeletor Am I” brings an interesting and welcomed change of pace to the album. One song that interjects itself in a rather abrupt manner is their cover of the Ramones’ “Poison Heart”. It’s one of my favorite Ramones songs and fits surprisingly well amidst everything else going on within the album.

It’s difficult to pick a handful of standout tracks since they're all fantastic, but those who are interested should check out: “Zombies Ate My Neighbors”, “Ghosts”, “Michael” and my personal favorite, “Horror in Miami”. Every time I hear “Zombies Ate My Neighbors”, I want to pull out my SNES and power that bad boy up and play. It’s got some great guitar work present and was a fan favorite when I saw them play. Another song I must mention is “Lock! Shock! Barrel!” because it’s a highly adrenalized punk rock song that illuminates the very best part of The Nightmare Before Christmas - Oogie Boogie and his band of mischievous henchmen!

~TJ