Los Angeles based industrial rockers Skum Love released a new single in time for Halloween, after signing to Candlepower Records, a subsidiary of Virgin Records. The track is “Blood And Roses,” a cover originally released in 1986 by The Smithereens, a band that has been criminally underrated.
The bass has a swagger to it like it owns the streets, and the lead vocals are growly and raw. There is a disjointed feel to the chorus as it goes on, as if it is all becoming too much, overwhelmed to breaking point. The lead guitar is almost sympathetic above the turmoil.
There is a very quintessentially Smithereen’s sound, especially in those guitar riffs and you can hear this still, which is not a bad thing. It is the source which is build upon by Skum Love, attaching a harsher musical style whilst still staying true to the morose tale of love gone wrong. “Blood And Roses” is like Frankenstein bringing to life his monster…. it is not quite the same, but just as loveable.
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