Review | Crossbone Skully – Evil World Machine

Better Noise Music

When you are presented with ‘Evil World Machine’ of Crossbone Skully for the first time, quite a few things go through your mind, but what strikes me most is the kind of fat smile I get on my face when hearing the songs on this album.

Crossbone Skully is the brainchild of bassist Tommy Henriksen and guitarist Tommy Denander. Both men have a nice resume. We know Henriksen from Warlock, Alice Cooper and Hollywood Vampires, among others. Denander is mostly known for his role in the AOR project Radioactive. He has worked with artists including Paul Stanley, Alice Cooper Deep Purple, Ricky Martin and Hollywood Vampires to name a few.

The idea for this project came about four years ago during a soundcheck with the Alice Cooper band were Henriksen did a vocal soundcheck which has led to this wonderful Rock album, with a clear reference to the 70s rock of AC/DC, with Bon Scott at the microphone.
Henriksen serves as lead vocalist and bassist on the album, and he fulfills that role with verve. At times it seems as if Scott has risen from the grave. Nothing less than amazing what the man manages to do here.

AC/DC MEETS DEF LEPPARD

But it doesn’t just stop with a voice, because the songs could be a marriage between AC/DC and Def Leppard. With a touch of Alice Cooper here and there. Here the wheel may not be reinvented, but this project will make many rock hearts beat faster. The title track ,,Evil World Machine’’ is just an instant classic, as far as I’m concerned.

And if all of that isn’t enough, they have also managed to snare a number of top performers to top it all off. Johnny Depp as the voice of “The Evil Sorcerer,” along with Alice Cooper as “The Bringer of Light,” Joe Perry as “The Big Bad Bone Crusher,” and Nikki Sixx as “The Crooked Crow,” with Kane Roberts as “The Alpha Watchman,” among other guests.
Oh, and don’t forget that legendary producer Robert “Mutt” Lange literally came out of retirement to produce this record. Not surprisingly, the album sounds like it should go down a treat. He still has the skills to deliver a mighty sounding rock album!!

Besides that Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen and Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx lend a hand. Collen contributed to ,,The Boom Went The Boom’’, Sixx to earworm ,,High On You’’.

A CONCEPT ALBUM

I can further report that this is not just an album of great rock songs, no, it is also a concept album. Crossbone Skully is an avenging superhero from outer space, returning to earth to save the world and reconnect with his lost deity love Piper and Kid, the son he never knew he had. ‘’Evil World Machine’’ is a rock concept album that echoes similar dystopian visions such as Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and Diamond Dogs.

Songs that stand out? Yes, just the whole disc!!! All 13 songs can stand their ground alone, but also form a wonderful whole. By the way, if you can’t get enough of the album, the story of Crossbone Scully is also available in a comic book.

Is there anything negative to say about this album? Yes, that with a playing time of just over 50 minutes, it is too short.
Because I already feel like wanting to hear more. So I hope that they will choose to play this album live and that hopefully there will be a sequel for this project. Crossbone Scully is the unexpected surprise in the last days of 2024 as far as I am concerned.

Absolutely mandatory for fans of AC/DC, Def Leppard [‘Pyromania’ era], Alice Cooper.

Mega riffs, insane production, top songs!!! ADVICE!! Play it loud.