The Spiders

The Spiders

Glitzkrieg (Acetate) If it seems like the Spiders' sophomore album has taken as long to arrive as Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy, truth is it's only been three years since their debut, Sex Is Thicker Than Blood, gave everyone on Red River a new favorite band. Although Glitzkrieg isn't quite the explosive volley of post-grunge fireworks some might have expected, it's still well worth the wait. Keeping the pace at a more Sabbathian plod than a Crüe-like sprint, the Spiders' hard rock funhouse is filled this time out with eerie falsettos, odd turns into reggae, and echoes of everyone from Alice Cooper to QOTSA. A tense reworking of "Sex Is Thicker Than Blood" exudes a simmering sexuality reminiscent of the Cramps, but "The Sneer" is as rude as prime Honky. Christopher Benedict has just enough inherent strangeness in his high-pitched vocals to give his lascivious lyrics genuine weight, and because the album picks up steam as it goes along, guitarist Eric Shaw, bassist Karl Toft, and drummer Gary First are really cooking by the time "Supershy" and "Alive With Pleasure" roll around. The Spiders are still an album or two from knocking one out of the park, but Glitzkrieg comes through in the clutch and lands the San Marcos quartet on second with a stand-up double.