### Tiger Army: III - Ghost tigers rise

#### 08/09/10 || Daemonomania

Remember a little while ago when GD went all bromantic over The Coffinshakers? Well, if you’re into that vibe of classic country/fifties music mixed with an obsession over all things dark, Tiger Army might float yer boat too. Please note that this album will fill 0% of your daily required metal intake. None. Nada. But it undoubtedly serves as a go-to disc when Daemoticon needs a non-metal (and non-heroin) fix.

Tiger Army differ from Rob Coffinshaker and the gang in that they sound more like Asleep at the Wheel infiltrated by vampires than Johnny Cash’s wormeaten zombie. Falling solidly into the genre known as psychobilly, but doing so without copying one of a million bands called Ghoulfist or Screech City Rollerdongs or some such shit. Sure there’s piles of standup bass being slapped around like an escort at Mike Tyson’s birthday party, lyrics about undead romance, and a healthy infusion of punk. But Nick 13 has a very pretty, almost Orbison-ish voice and knows how to WRITE A FUCKEN SONG. Seriously, how many motherfucks could use lessons in this discipline?

Indeed, you’ve got come-hither numbers like “Santa Carla twilight” (which might be based on The Lost Boys), rockers like “What happens?”, and the super-mysterious “Sea of fire” that is slow, seductive, and almost makes we want to drop my drawers for these SoCal nosferati. Speaking of blood(ydick)sucking, I was converted to TA fandom and album ownership by the band’s flawless performance when they opened for Social Distortion. Who were awesome in the extreme, as a side note. Anyway, Nick 13 had fangs in whilst he played. Pretty fucken hilarious, if he hadn’t had the chops to back it up.

Aside from the silly double-intro, every song on here is unique and clearly the result of both craftsmanship and emotion. Maybe not emotion, per se, but they ain’t faking it. Despite being a New Englander to the center of my cold liberal heart I’m going to attempt some Southernspeak here. Bear with me. When that cantankerin’ washes over ya to up’n don a cape and terrorize the local hoe down, bring “Ghost tigers rise” along with yer. Ye’ll be glad ya did! Yeehaw, hoo-doggy, taaaaarnation, etc.

- Information
- Released: 2004
- Label: Hellcat Records
- Website: www.tigerarmy.com
- Band
- Nick 13: vocals, guitars
- Fred Hell: drums
- Geoff Kresge: bass

- Tracklist
- 01. Prelude: Death of a Tiger
- 02. Ghost Tigers Rise
- 03. Wander Alone
- 04. Santa Carla Twilight
- 05. Ghostfire
- 06. Rose of the Devil’s Garden
- 07. Atomic
- 08. What Happens?
- 09. Through the Darkness
- 10. The Long Road
- 11. Calling
- 12. Swift Silent Deadly
- 13. Sea of Fire