You didn’t think we’d forgotten about our all new seasonal column already, did you? Also, we’ve been looking for an excuse to cover Izzy Reign in these pages as we’ve been digging everything that we’ve heard up until now (Also, we’re bringing the term “dig” back so apologies if you’ve received an email or saw any number of social media posts with the term in it from us recently) so what better way to share the IR sound than with her most recent release, a cover of Rob Zombie’s “Living Dead Girl”!
Look, we LOVE Mr. Zombie, own most everything that’s out (Yes, even a physical copy of The Munsters), and make it a point to check out the band whenever they come through town so we’d like to think that not only do we know what we’re talking about when it comes to RZ’s music but also that we’re qualified enough to make an informed critique when someone tackles something in that discography (Also, as reviewers, it’s kind of our thing?) That said, we don’t know many artists who’d dare and try to fill RZ’s big boots (Or maybe some did but never had an impact?) so that’s a big ole checkmark in the first place in the Izzy Reign “plus” column. Second, if you are going to cover something as familiar as this Hellbilly Deluxe classic then you definitely need to add some of your own flair. And with that, another “plus” for IR.
Those familiar riffs are still in the place as are the lurching percussive backdrop (Although this version actually has some big ass grooves) but replacing Zombie’s gruff delivery is a pixie-esque ethereal take from Izzy Reign that’s almost like an extension of the “What are you thinking about?” refrain uttered throughout. Then there’s some added guitar heft to the breakdown making the Izzy Reign version, dare we say, spookier and maybe even that fully realized new school Industrial sound that Zombie had initially tapped into toward the end of White Zombie and the beginnings of his solo career.
“Living Dead Girl” is out now through FiXT and you can find your copy by heading here or to the Bandcamp stream below! For more from Izzy Reign, including the latest on her upcoming debut full-length slated for release in 2025, follow the trail of socials across the interwebs when you click here, here, or here.