Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats

VOL. 1 – Vinyl // CD // DD

Rise Above Records – (Re-Release / Remastered) October 13, 2017

Reviewed by Terry “The Ancient One” Cuyler

Dancing in the Witches Garden

Hello Tasters today I’m gonna serve up some tasty music from a band called Uncle Acid & The deadbeats. Formed in Cambridge England in 2009 by Kevin Starrs, Uncle Acid & The deadbeats was originally: Mastermind & Frontman Kevin Starrs, on vocals and guitars, Kat on Bass, and Red on Drums. While Uncle Acid & The deadbeats transformed from a power trio into a quartet after Kat and Red left. It was with then that Uncle Acid & The deadbeats established it’s signature sound using elements of acid rock, British pop, and metal, with themes on occult, horror, drugs, murder and mayhem.

For those who are unfamiliar with them, until October this year a search on Amazon and iTunes would have only turned up Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats’ 2nd, 3rd, and 4th albums on CD and MP3 . Though it would be released as a limited edition vinyl in 2014 The album Vol. 1 was initially used like a demo. Marketed directly to the fans on MySpace & YouTube with a limited release of 30 albums on CD-R Vol.1 helped the band purchase better recording equipment for their 2^nd self produced and recorded album Blood Lust. Which after a limited release of 100 on CD-R was picked up by Rise Above Records in 2011 and re-released introducing Uncle Acid’s signature sound to a wider audience.

While I can find no fault with Uncle Acids decision to initially only release Vol. 1 on vinyl, it was on the pricey side. Those who wanted to listen to it had to seek it out on YouTube and burn a copy from a friends album if they didn’t want to buy it on vinyl. Now that Vol. 1 has been reissued on CD, Vinyl, and MP3 fans can throw away and delete their bootleg copies and get the real deal. Although Blood Lust was the album that got myself and many other fans into Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats it all started with Vol.1.

What I enjoyed most about Vol. 1 is knowing that although it had to be done on a limited budget, Uncle Acid & The deadbeats still managed to create an auditory work of art. Opening with “Crystal Spiders,” I was immediately sucked into the album and still find myself having to fight the urge to dance around like a hippie on LSD when I listen to Vol. 1 in public. I like all of the songs on Vol. 1 but some of the best are “Witches Garden” and “Lonely And Strange.” Both tracks are sort of has The Doors does metal feel with some creepy electric organ and the latter having some stellar electric and acoustic guitar work by Kevin Starrs that boarders on the divine.

Then once again we get to listen to that amazing electric guitar and electric organ in “Vampire Circus.” “Do What Your Love Tells You” the album’s 6^th track has just got some gnarly fuzzed out psychedelic riffs. Closing the album out is the creepy song ‘Wind Up Toys.” For those who intend to buy this album on vinyl if you get the band’s special edition it will include the bonus track of Uncle Acid’s cover of the Kinks song “Wicked Annabella”.

Additional Links:
http://riseaboverecords.com/product/vol-1/

https://www.facebook.com/uncleacid/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyOgOmJXlljJqenteOXSboA

Album Lyrics

Crystal Spiders

I can feel two spiders in my mind

Tangled thoughts in webs they left behind.

I fill my head with misery and smoke.

There’s no use it seems they have awoke.

They crawl, they fall,

Those tiny crystal spiders in my mind.

I feel them tapping neat against my brain.

The sound alone at night drives me insane.

The blood runs through my ears and through my eyes.

Skull prison has broken from its ties.

They crawl, they fall,

Those tiny crystal spiders in my mind.

I just wish they’d go,

Leave me alone.

Witches Garden

In the witch’s garden,

Plants are burning red.

Hear the witches chanting,

As they raise the dead.

Man is watching from forest trees.

In the witch’s coven,

Bells are tolling long.

See the spirits dancing,

To their master’s song.

Man is watching from forest trees.

In the witch’s sermon,

Garland passed around.

In the burning circle,

As they hear the sound.

Man is watching from forest trees.

Dead Eyes Of London

There was a ring of blind men

Sent by the reverend to kill

Wealthy old pigs feasting on swill

Inside the mouth of madness

The killer creeps into view

A shadow cast in torment

Coming for you

Dead Eyes of London – They’re watching you

Dead Eyes of London – Follow you home

Dead Eyes of London – They’re watching you

You’re never coming back, you’re never coming back

Down by the river

They found another man

Old fat and wealthy he fits the plan

The foggy streets are silent

The cobbled stones are slick

Blind flash of violence, you must be quick

Lonely And Strange

I look through the window to see world passing me by.

The Harvest sun setting, the smoke rises up through the sky.

The cold chill is creeping through cracks in the ceiling and floor.

Old branches we gathered and brown leaves to seal up the door.

We won’t ever change,

You know we just stay the same

I’m lonely and strange

Old October breeze as we walk through the trees to our home.

We’re stopped by a farmer, an old fashioned charmer alone.

We won’t ever change,

We just stay the same

I’m lonely and strange

Vampire Circus

On a winter’s cold and frosty morning she came

Eyes were glowing red to all that looked at them

What did she see, it was not me

And in her hand were coins of three

On her crooked back, the sack of crops she’d sewn

Beneath the harvest tree, she stood there all alone

And in her eyes, saw her disguise

An evil woman tell’s no lies

Here comes the Vampire Circus

Come taste warm blood from her kiss

Enter the death wall of mirrors

You’ll die in Vampire Circus

The woman passing steals from dead men’s eyes

The sickly village taken by surprise

What do they need, the count is freed

On little children they all feed

Here comes the Vampire Circus

Come taste warm blood from her kiss

Enter the death wall of mirrors

You’ll die in Vampire Circus

Do What Your Love Tells You

Up on the tallest mountain, there lives the highest priest

Above the bloodied fountains, below the godly feast

Do what you want to do, is what he said to me

Do what your love tells you, to do

He stopped the rain with his chanting, the villager looked to the sky

The white sun had appeared, the black clouds had gone by

Do what you want to do, is what he said to me

Do what your love tells you, to do

He raised his hand up in silence, the gathered crowd all stood still

He said he brings with him violence, just through his mind he could kill

Do what you want to do, is what he said to me

Do what your love tells you, to do

I Don’t Know

I don’t think anyone’s here, but I have no eyes.

Footsteps I follow are clear, they tell me no lies.

I don’t know what you know.

I don’t think anyone cares, they don’t come see me.

Left at the top of the stairs, they don’t believe me.

I don’t know what you know.

I feel the pain down my back, yeah.

Roll down the stairs to attack, yeah.

My sharpened nails are so strong.

I wanted you oh for so long, yeah.

I plunge the knife in your neck, yeah.

I slip on the blood on a wreck, yeah.

I should have stayed home in the night.

Because killers don’t kill in the light, yeah.

Wind Up Toys

Left up alone in the attic with the crucified picture of Christ.

There was blood on his hands and a memory from those he enticed.

The wind up ballerina dances to a tune I’ve heard a thousand times.

But all I’ve got to keep me sane is her old chimes.

Now and then I’ll wind her up again.

I’ll push her hair. She likes it when I’m there.

My windup toys. Windup toys. Windup Toys

I’ve yet to see a day of sunlight. I guess they don’t want me around.

It’s just me and Jesus and a gentle playing sound.

Little drumming soldier drumming and a carousel that sings and glows.

When I’ll be set free nobody knows.

Now and then I’ll wind her up again.

I’ll push her hair. She likes it when I’m there.

Windup toys. Windup toys. Windup Toys

I’d like to go downstairs, but it seems nobody cares.

I’d like to see the blue sky and the clouds that pass on by.

I’m trapped within my cell with Jesus here as well.

But I hear that wood latch good. If I had a match I would.