Recent Reviews

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Animal House: Living In Black And White
Animal House - Living In Black And White Album Art

Animal House: Living In Black And White

Hard & Heavy Metal Rock
3.5/5.0

Internet Facebook Instagram YouTube
Punishment18 Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 11.03.2021 | Released: 26.03.2021

The story of Italy's Animal House is a bit sketchy. But here's what we know. The band was formed in 2011 from the ashes of cover band and, yes, the quintet took their name from the classic 1978 American comedy film. But then they continued as a cover band. Yet, who they covered is bit of a mystery. I did find a fan made video of them covering AC/DC's Dirty Deeds Done Cheap. It was pretty shitty. The band has been also known to cover tunes by Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Metallica, and Motorhead. Animal House has done small tours, even festivals, and seems to be a favorite at Biker festivals. Now some 10 years together, the band has written their own tunes for their debut album, Living In Black And White.

Lunar Shadow - Click For Larger Image

Lunar Shadow

Obviously drawing from their cover band roots, for their original material, Animal House plays hard and heavy rock wherein classic hard rock dovetails with traditional heavy metal. Expanding upon this, Animal House draws upon twin guitars for sharp and strong riffs, a heavy and speedy rhythm section, assertive, generally clean, vocals, and immense blistering guitar solos. Excepting some light piano to introduce Need To Be Me, there are is no complete keyboard presence.

If we distilled all these things, an Animal House song could be simply considered guitar-centered fast and heavy metal rock; that is riff raging with all things leading to the guitar solo(s). Yet, somehow amidst all this, song melody rises from this intensity. All things taken together, Animal House are capable songwriters. I didn't want to like this recording, but I found the twin guitar work and guitar solos quite compelling.

Eight songs fill this album and notable ones include: Living In Black And White, Beyond Your Fate, The Ghost Of The Loneliest Man, and the fast, heavy, and catchy Bintars. What the fuck is a "Bintars" anyway? All said, for a debut album from a band who cut their teeth as a cover band, Animal House's Living In Black And White offers fans some bombastic, very guitar-forward, fast and heavy rock. Check out the video and support the band.






CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The Bottom Line

For a debut album from a band who cut their teeth as a cover band, Animal House's Living In Black And White offers fans some bombastic, very guitar-forward, fast and heavy rock.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lionville: Supernatural Album Review

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]

October 2024 Stats
  • Views: 14K
  • Active Users: 3.7K
  • New Users: 3.1K
  • Event Count: 41K

    • Source: Google Analytics