SilentScream213 White Zombie’s “Make Them Die Slowly” holds the title of best Groove Metal album of the 80’s… because it was the only Groove Metal album of the 80’s. Thrash and Alternative Metal undertones run through it, as does some Noise and Industrial influence. The music and production are both sub par, and the vocals range from tolerable to not so much. Every song is way too long for the amount of substance they offer. However, they do get some credit in that when the songs kick into faster and heavier territory, they are actually pretty damn good. Rob’s vocals play into this as well, as he’s much better when yelling angrily than trying to sing or do whatever else.

Well, that’s just the Thrash influence talking. The majority of this album is sub-par Groove. Probably influential, and still manages to be somewhat unique, but that doesn’t make it great.

Vim Fuego The common first reaction when hearing White Zombie’s 'Make Them Die Slowly' is "what the fuck was that?” This is far removed from the radio–friendly(–ish) comic book/splatter movie rock Rob Zombie has made his name with. So what do we get?

Probably the best way to describe the album is half–paced thrash. OK, so thrash is identified with it's speed and aggression. This has aggression by the bucket load. It just lacks the speed. Play it at 78rpm and you'd get something like a dark and gloomy, almost Gothic, Nuclear Assault. The riffing is fairly standard thrash fare, nothing flashy, but catchy enough. Strangely, the riffs should be memorable, but they slip through your mind quicker than shit through a goose. The solos and drumming are both solid, but unimpressive because of the inability of the band to change out of second gear.

The guitar tone is, well, odd. Imagine Bob Dylan's singing voice as an electric guitar– twangy and nasal, with a hint of a whine. An unusual effect, but as memorable as the riffs are forgettable.

Anyway, enough of the instrumental sideshows, what about the main event? What about Rob Zombie's voice? Luciano Pavarotti he isn't, but like any good singer with limited ability, Zombie knows his limits. He has written the songs to fit his voice, rather than embarrassing himself trying to stretch himself too far. The subject matter of the songs is just what you'd expect from Rob Zombie– B–movie schlock horror. Zombie drawls, moans and snarls his way through such lyrical niceties as "This is murderworld sister/A deep throating little baby–face" and "Justice claws/A death horizon/ Freak–zone flesh/Maggot man rising".

Conspicuous by their absence are the movie samples overused in later White Zombie releases, and a good thing too. The samples were often more interesting than the songs. On this album, the minimalist, stripped back metal is allowed to shine through, uncluttered by obscure cinematic outtakes.

This is definitely not to everyone's taste, although it’s easier to digest than the band’s prior album and EPs. The guitar sound and Zombie's voice can be hard to stomach. Get past those obstacles though, and it's a fun time romp through Rocky Horror land. Spookier than The Misfits and more horrific than The Cramps, this would appeal to fans of both those bands.

Unitron Make Them Die Slowly is the second studio album from Industrial/Groove metal group White Zombie. This is a great example of a drastic change in both quality and style between two albums. After White Zombie's beginnings as a Noise rock band and recording a few EP's and one album with that approach, they decided to get heavier and closer to the style they would later be known for.

As for what it sounds like on this album, bassist Sean Yseult stated that bands like Metallica and Slayer were a big influence on them during this time. Listening to this album, you can definitely hear the influences. The album starts off strong with the sludgy beginning of 'Demonspeed', before firing in chugging thrash riffs. Rob Zombie's vocals have also immensely improved, taking a bit of a lower tone. This Doom-Thrash hybrid really sets the stage for the album, and is definitely one of my favorites. 'Acid Flesh' is another highlight, which reminds me a lot of Slayer. Lots of fast and brutal riffing, combined with the rawness of Rob Zombie's vocals, makes this a great track.

Probably my favorite thing about this album is how perfectly it's able to combine Black Sabbath-esque doom metal and classic thrash. You would think combining two kinds of metal that are pretty much the opposite from one another would be difficult, but White Zombie does it with ease. The song that perfectly showcases this is 'Murderworld', which constantly shifts from fast thrash shredding to meandering sludgy dirges. The seven-minute finale 'Godslayer', also combines the two styles very well. It changes from fast thrash guitar to droning doom parts often. Sometimes the vocals are enough to provoke a doom metal feel, especially in the song 'Power Hungry'. It's mainly filled with powerful rapid guitar, but Zombie's vocals add that subtle doom element to it.

One complaint some may have is the production. I personally have no issue with it, the rawness of it fits in perfectly with the music. It reminds me a lot of the recordings on early Slayer albums, raw yet powerful, fitting with the music. Some albums need a raw production to give the full effect.

If you enjoy classic thrash as well as Sabbath-esque doom metal, give this underrated gem a listen. A sadly forgotten album from one of the best groove metal bands. Hope you found this review helpful, feel free to comment!