Release Date: October 31, 2025
Label: Missing Fink Records
Website
SURF
ZOMBIES are:
Brook
Hoover - Guitar
Trevor
Treiber - Bass
Ian
Williams - Guitar
Luke
Ferguson – Drums
Are
you looking for a Howlin’ good time? Well, the Surf Zombies have just what you
need! Monster a Go-Go was released on the Devil’s Holiday.
The
fun thing about instrumental surf and subgenres is the colorful artwork that
adorns the releases’ covers. And that’s not the only thing; the music is
lighthearted and usually played with razor-sharp precision. In the case of Monster
a Go-Go, all the above applies!
“Brain
Rock” gets things rolling with an instantaneous groove in all positions. The
twang and resonating tones ring true for any instro fan. The guitars provide a
dreamy atmosphere and also get into an interesting retro chicken pickin’ mode
for a little extra flair, as you hear one of the band members say Yeah! They
are having fun. Incredibly, it can be packed into two minutes and fourteen
seconds.
“Dug
Out” is a definitive 60s first-wave sound, with subtle guitar woven into the
bass, drums, and organ. Funky riffs and hooks galore make for a fun gallop to
the past (laugh inserted at the end).
“Punkin'
Juice” get your juices flowing! This one is a good rockin’ time with dueling
guitars. A real ripper! This high-energy track, powered by a terrific
bass and drum combo, is designed to energize you and get you ready to move.
“Full
Moon on Prom Night” is a nighttime waltz as the moon lights up the sky. But
beware of what that full moon can bring this time of year! Howleen! Guitars are
bright, and the bottom end is tight with variations in tempo and transitions.
“Scream
Soda” continues with the retro motif as the guitars tell the story. The backend
is cutting a path as the bass remains strong. I am impressed by how much the
guitar accomplishes in these short tracks. Some parts reminded me of The
Shadows.
“Bouncing
Baby Bones” has a great rhythm, with the guitars’ reverb and twang resonating
with conviction, but keep the volume down to mid-range. They continue to offer toe-tapping
and head-bopping grooves to keep your body moving.
“Wooly
Willis” immediately recalls ’60s sitcoms with its funky bass line and twangy
retro guitars. The only thing missing is that Hammond B3 churning away. Nice
guitar work and strong bass and drums keep those toes tapping.
“Gill-man
Crashes the Party” takes things in a different direction, showcasing the album’s
variety. The sound in this instro rock piece features a twangy guitar, with
distinctive chord changes and interesting transitions that remind you of the
roots of this music and where it all comes from—a real rocker with many
engaging shifts.
“King
of the Sting” starts with a buzz, then a shout that someone just got stung. The
band’s pace is mid-tempo, with a kind of bluesy, funky Ventures sound that they
would record on one of their covers. Different but very cool.
“The
T-Rex Twist” features a simple drumbeat in the background as the guitars take center stage with well-placed lines and groove-filled transitions. All the
while holding their retro sound and superb control of the guitar’s steady
exchanges.
“Greetings
Cretins” keeps the rhythms flowing nicely, and you get some rapid-fire picking,
glissando anyone? They take guitar players to school on this one. Some country-flavored
notes are inserted along the way as well. They are experts at melding genres,
and this is a shining example of that.
“The
Outlaw’s Last Dance” takes us into another territory altogether with the
thematic atmosphere of spaghetti western-tinged guitar lines, with a bit of
Latin splashed in for more effect. And ah! Did I hear an organ! Briefly, but it
was there—the longest track with a lushness and wordless background vocals
towards the end.
“Midnight
Macho Mambo” ends this musical merry-go-round with plenty of rhythm and twangy
reverb-soaked lines and a steady bottom end. Slick guitars permeate this one,
with the men hollering out the track title a few times. A great way to close
out this album!
Monster
a Go-Go is
full of intense energy and blazing guitars with equally adept bass and drums
for support. The Surf Zombies are back with vengeance!
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder
December
10, 2025
Tracks:
01. Brain Rock 02:14
02. Dug Out 02:13
03. Punkin' Juice 02:53
04. Full Moon on Prom Night 02:42
05. Scream Soda 02:28
06. Bouncing Baby Bones 02:48
07. Wooly Willis 02:38
08. Gill-man Crashes the Party 02:27
09. King of the Sting 02:48
10. The T-Rex Twist 02:06
11. Greetins Cretins 02:25
12. The Outlaw's Last Dance 02:57
13. Midnight Macho Mambo 02:41
