Crucified Lovers in Woman Hell

Hard to believe that former Slash magazine writer Chris D. is still at it 15 years after his hellacious debut 7" "Radio Dies Screaming," finding three folks to back him in a '90s Flesh Eaters. The two main tracks (as per the title) are both surprisingly vital, kickin', clawin', and scratchin' along the lines of the Weirdos' (original L.A. contemporaries) '90s comeback LP, much better than some of his late-'80s efforts. Best of all, he's reclaimed his main weapon -- the distinctive psycho-voice -- to match brainy, twisted lyrics, the kind that made early works such as 1981's A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die so unique. "Women in Hell" especially is like some kind of demonic death march set to a rippin' tempo. Sadly, both B-sides suck. Suddenly his mates turn into a bad AC/DC metal-wank band, both when covering that group's 1979 song "If You Want Blood" (why?), and even when attempting -- and slaughtering in a hard rock cliché fest -- MC5's great "Baby Won't Ya" (from 1971). So it comes with two songs that deserve accolades and two B-sides that deserve kicking the disc down a long staircase. Oh well, that's why it's called "B" material.