Robin Thunder & Speedumb
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
Named for the popular Batman sidekick (seriously), Robin is one of Japan’s hottest psychobilly bands. We’ll pause here so you can ponder the fact that there’s a psychobilly scene in Japan to begin with. Anyway, Robin is a three-piece (guitar, drums, and stand-up bass) act that leans way more toward the “psycho” side of the equation than the “billy.”
In fact, the music on Thunder & Speedumb, the band’s 2009 album, almost is completely hyper-aggressive punk rock and hardcore. There’s very little melody in these songs, and there is next to nothing in the way of traditional rockabilly elements aside from the bass sound (which is almost buried under distortion) and the band’s physical appearance. Maybe that’s just how they roll in the land of the rising sun, but this is a damn sight removed from the classic Cramps psychobilly sound.
If psychobilly is your thing, and you don’t mind it almost totally devoid of its rockabilly roots, you may dig what Robin is all about. They’re definitely pushing the envelope, and that at least is true to the spirit of psychobilly. If you’re in the Cramps/HorrorPops camp though, Thunder & Speedumb might just come across as so much atonal punk rock noise.
Lineup:
Hiroshi – Vocals, Guitar
Yasu – Vocals, Bass
Muta – Drums
Online: http://www.myspace.com/officialrobinspace
Track Listing:
1. 080609
2. Psycho Speedumb
3. Pirates
4. Flying High Again
5. Hellvation
6. From Hell
7. Space Ride
8. Deadly Drive
9. Judgement Day
10. Lost Boys
11. Vulcanus
HRH Rating: 5/10