World-renowned fearsome frontman WEDNESDAY 13 is back with another slew of harbingers of horror to slay the masses. His new full-length album, Mid Death Crisis, is set to drop on April 25 via Napalm Records.
The Duke of Spook himself dubs the album as a fun, campy, “leave-your-brain-at-the-door” ragerand a true return to his hard-rocking roots! Produced by guitarist Alex Kane (Life, Sex & Death, Enuff Z’Nuff, Antiproduct) and mixed by Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Prong, DevilDriver), the album oozes infectious 80s sleaze metal energy, further accented by a blitzing guest vocal from Faster Pussycat’s Taime Downe.
In his own words, Wednesday 13 tells us his biggest influences for the new album and the band’s essential songs to hear.
INFLUENCES FOR THE NEW ALBUM, MID DEATH CRISIS, FROM WEDNESDAY 13
KISS: “I Stole Your Love”
This is just one of the many songs from KISS that I adore. On our most recent tours, I constantly played KISS before and after our set. As I started writing the music and riffs for the album, I realized immediately that KISS was coming through my riffs. It’s amazing to me that I still connect and compare everything I do to this band after all these years.
Mötley Crüe: “Shout at the Devil
The song, the album, the imagery, all of this took a sledgehammer to my senses back in 1984. I’ll never forget that feeling of rebellion and fear amongst parents. I hoped to grab a little of that era on our new album, and I think I did.
Twisted Sister: “You Can’t Stop Rock ’n’ Roll”
This song will always be an anthem to me, and when I hear it, it commands me. The energy contained within a Twisted Sister album is something I’ve always admired. While making the new album, I wanted to capture the energy of what I do, and immediately it reminded me of Twisted Sister. I guess I’ll always be a S.M.F.
The Damned: “Love Song”
One of my favorite punk bands ever, next to the Ramones. I was finally able to see The Damned live in concert last year. I came home and immediately started writing music. In fact, I wrote two songs inspired by that concert: “Blood Storm” and “Sick and Violent.”
Alice Cooper: “Department of Youth”
Alice will always be at the top for me. His influence on me has never stopped, and I found myself last year in the studio again being influenced by the Godfather of Shock Rock. On the new song “Decapitation,” I do a little tribute/nod to Alice at the end. In fact, I don’t think there’s been one album I’ve ever made in my career that I didn’t refer to him or acknowledge his influence.
WEDNESDAY 13 ESSENTIAL TRACKS
“I Love to Say Fuck” from Fuck It, We’ll Do It Live
If I’ve ever had a hit song, it’s this one. I’ve been playing this song since 1999, starting out in bars in North Carolina. Instantly, it got people’s attention. It has been the one song that has saved us from disastrous opening performances for bands. When the crowd wasn’t having anything to do with us, this is the song that can always reel them in. I have proven it for almost 25 years—around the world, indeed, everyone loves to say, “Fuck.”
“Rambo” from Fuck It, We’ll Do It Live
Before I realized I wanted to be in a rock band, I was convinced I wanted to save the world and be the next Rambo. Like any good nursery rhyme, you can spell it out and sing it. That’s what this song was about. It was too dumb and fun to not work. Another crowd pleaser that has gained us fans just because of the sheer stupidity of this song. I wrote this song back in 1999 in a bathroom of a K-Mart department store. If that doesn’t make it officially cool, I don’t know what would.
“Bad Things” from Transylvania 90210
Dedication songs are cool, but they’re not as cool as one that’s dedicated to someone’s demise. I’ve been asked for years if this song was about anyone in particular, and the answer is no. Everyone has someone through their life that they didn’t like for a moment or still don’t like for an eternity. You can fill their name in the blank here for this song. Another live crowd pleaser that gets people’s fist in the air instantly.
“I Walked with a Zombie” from Transylvania 90210
If I ever wrote a song that children loved, it’s this song. Year after year, I still hear people telling me that their kids love this song and it’s one of the first songs that they started singing to. It’s cute, morbid, and weird, just like me. “I Walked with a Zombie” has been a staple of my live show for years, and it instantly gets the crowd singing along.
“My Home-Sweet Homicide” from Fang Bang
Another great hard rock song from my catalog, however, there’s not enough cowbell in it. This song will always serve as a memento for me, as I remember releasing it as a middle finger to what was going on at the time musically. It seemed everyone was going the heavy metal route, and I just said, “No, let’s rock ’n’ roll.” Lyrically, a lot of people can relate to it. This is the perfect bad relationship/ready-to-break-up song.
