Lab Brats were in the mood for Halloween this year, even if my review is a little belated. Lab Brats dropped this three single/ EP that opens with a trad ska influenced Dr Skankenstein. The album closes with a ’60s mono recording of the same track to get that trad feeling of listening to the song over the airwaves on an old radio. As mentioned, “Dr Skankenstein” has a nice, cool trad ska rhythm, but the song has the storytelling and feel of a sketch laid over music. It’s nearly two minutes of fun about creating a dancing monster of impeccable taste in music. The rhythm is great, but if this song is ever played live, it’s probably as a fog machine covers the stage as the band is coming out to begin their set. It’s fun. It sets a vibe. But that’s where it ends. Just a nice little jam about creating a monster for Halloween.
The real gem of this EP is “Monster Mosh”. It starts off with a nice upstroke guitar rhythm that falls somewhere between Joker’s Republic and Less Than Jank on the ska punk spectrum. A thick bass line follows along with some keys. The song is a lot of fun with some great rhythms about trying to take control of a monster-infested party that gets out of hand. Yeah, the lyrics are ridiculous- it’s a Halloween song and it’s supposed to be fun. It has little tribute to Monster Mash and the Toasters (Weekend in LA) and the Specials (Ghost Town). I really enjoy the jam and the vibe; it’s a short, fun, Halloween EP to lighten the mood and get you dancing, and it definitely does its job. So throw on a costume, get out on the dance floor, and get skankin.
Written by Gimp Leg
