Dead Boy Productions

Various Artists - Psychobilly Ratpack, Lesson 1: The Best of East German Psychobilly
Halb 7Records
Review by Pavel

Compilations are always fun to listen, and make you discover some really cool bands. This brand new sampler from German label Halb 7 Records makes no exception. Presenting some of the finest East German Psychobilly and Rockabilly acts, this album contains 12 tracks from THEE FLANDERS, TAZMANIAN DEVILS, DAMAGE DONE BY WORMS and THE JUMBLERS. The first band is THEE FLANDERS, one of the upcoming bands from Germany. They specialize in cover songs, so here they play three cover-versions of the other bands in this compilation. It’s good enough, while you are waiting for some original recordings from this ghoulish combo. TAZMANIAN KINGS play old-school Psychobilly, incorporating some classic Rockabilly sound with horror elements. The track that really stands out is “Railroad Blues”. Other band on this compilation is DAMAGE DONE BY WORMS. Their Surf influenced Psychobilly is well played and interesting, but the 3 songs don’t seem to distinguish them from the rest of the bands. The most original band on this sampler is THE JUMBLERS. This Leipzig three-some is playing a wide variety of styles that goes from Neo-Rockabilly and Psychobilly to Swing. The piano-driven, KINGS OF NUTHIN’-like song “Asshole” is a great finish and one of the best songs on this compilation. PSYCHOBILLY RATPACK #1 is the first from a new CD Sampler-series, presenting the best of the fast growing German Psychobilly scene. To be continued….