It’s not every day that a rock legend like Mutt Lange steps out of retirement to oversee a project, so you know something special is brewing when he does. Enter, then, Alice Cooper musical director Tommy Henriksen‘s Crossbone Skully and Evil World Machine, a high-octane, no-holds-barred concept album that blends dystopian themes with a love letter to the greats of hard rock. You’ve got echoes of Bowie, a dash – of course – of Cooper, and an unmistakable shot of AC/DC, but somehow the whole package feels fresh, thanks to the songwriting genius of Henriksen and his all-star supporting cast.
Things kick off with the title track, Evil World Machine, and right from the get-go, you can feel Lange’s meticulous hand at work. If AC/DC decided to jam with Def Leppard, this is probably what you’d get—a thumping, stadium-sized rocker that dares you to resist its charms. Spoiler alert: you won’t. Sure, the influences are blatant, but that’s part of the fun. By the time you’ve reached the end of The Boom Went the Boom, you’re grinning ear to ear at the sheer audacity of it all. Crossbone Skully isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel here, but rather burn rubber on it until the tires pop.
Money Sex or God sees Henriksen dipping his toes into some glam rock waters. There’s a whiff of The Sweet here, but really, it’s just another chance for the band to flex their Powerage muscles, with plenty of chunky riffage to keep your neck snapping. And if Flip the Bird doesn’t take you right back to Bon Scott’s glory days, then frankly, you might want to check your pulse. A full-on throwback that demands your attention—whether you’re on the dancefloor or in the front row, you’ll be losing it to this one.
Not everything here is about mindless rock ‘n’ roll mayhem, though. The haunting Everyone’s on Dope pushes things forward a little, even if it’s only nudging us a decade into the future. There’s a definite shift here, with a darker, more sardonic undercurrent bubbling to the surface. Love/Hate fans might hear something familiar, but it’s still very much Crossbone Skully’s own beast.
If there’s a weak point on Evil World Machine, it’s The Sin Eater. Slower, plodding, it loses some of the momentum built up by its predecessors. That said, the last minute of the track sees things ramp up again, reminding us why we’re here in the first place. It’s a brief lull, quickly forgotten as we’re launched into Ima Bone Machine, a progressive(ish) rocker that tips its hat to Henriksen’s mentor, Alice Cooper. You can easily imagine this one filling arenas, with its anthemic build and theatrical edge.
Let’s Bust the Trust feels like a bit of a misfire, though. What starts as a promising Celtic-tinged groove quickly morphs into something a little too cartoonish for its own good. The stomping rhythm feels out of place in an otherwise slickly produced album. Thankfully, I Am the Wolf pulls things back on track with a full-throttle horror rock explosion, complete with tortured guitar solos and all the drama you could ask for. Cooper would be proud.
And then, as if that wasn’t enough, we hit I’m Unbreakable. If you were ever a fan of Leppard or Bon Jovi back in their arena-filling heydays, this track is for you. It’s pure stadium rock glory—nostalgic yet electrifying, with a soaring chorus that practically begs to be shouted back by thousands of fans. It’s the best track on the album, no question.
Closing with the quirky, spoken-word laden Misfits of the Universe, Henriksen and his crew remind us that they’ve got a sense of humour too. It’s a playful nod to Mötley Crüe, full of swagger and personality, rounding out Evil World Machine on a high note.
Ultimately, Evil World Machine is a triumph—an album that combines the artistry of its creators with a generous dollop of old-school rock ‘n’ roll attitude. Sure, it stumbles here and there, but when it hits, it hits hard. With a pedigree like Henriksen’s and a team of legends behind the scenes, Crossbone Skully is one to watch, and this debut proves they’ve got the chops to back up the hype.
Evil World Machine releases on November 22nd through Better Noise Music
Crossbone Skully is my favorite new band! (And I haven’t liked anything new since the 80s.) I love all of their songs, but “I’m Unbreakable” is the standout for me. This song is empowering and motivating. It belongs in arenas around the globe!