The Brains
Canadian psychobilly combo the Brains graft the sounds of rockabilly and first-generation rock with hard rock and goth influences, all set to ghoulish lyrics inspired by classic horror movies and the writings of H.P. Lovecraft. Playing at breakneck tempos with upright bass and buzzy guitars high in the mix, the group showed off a noticeable punk undercurrent and a dark sense of humor on 2007's Hell n' Back, while their attack grew harder and more aggressive on 2010's Zombie Nation, and 2020's Satana Tarantula brought a bit more polish and precision to their performances.
Not to be confused with the Atlanta-based new wave band of the same name, the Brains formed in Montreal in 2001, fittingly playing their first show on Halloween. The original lineup featured lead singer and guitarist Rene De La Muerte (aka Rene Garcia), bassist Johnny Montreal, and drummer Frank O'Brains (aka François Demers). The Brains made a name for themselves on the Canadian club circuit with a show that included creepy costumes, elaborate makeup, and glow-in-the-dark contact lenses, though the band switched to a more conventional look when the contact lenses began giving Rene eye troubles. They made their recording debut on a 2003 psychobilly compilation called Zombie Night in Canada, contributing the track "It's Over."
Two years later, the Brains brought out their debut album, No Brain, No Pain, on the German Crazy Love Records label. Their second full-length release, Hell n' Back, came out in 2007 and found the group sounding tighter and more confident. After releasing a self-titled LP in 2009, their first for Stomp Records, the Brains issued the tougher, hard rock-influenced Zombie Nation in 2010. By this time, Johnny Montreal had left the group, and Colin the Dead (aka Colin Irvine) took over on bass. In 2010, they also brought aboard new drummer Pat Kadaver, while Frank O'Brains moved to second guitar.
Frank's tenure on guitar was a short one, and the Brains were a trio of Rene, Colin, and Pat for 2011's Drunk Not Dead. The Monster Within arrived in 2013, and their next release, 2014's The Cover Up, was a four-song EP in which they put their own stamp on tunes made famous by the Cure, Billy Idol, Depeche Mode, and Soft Cell. 2015's Out in the Dark introduced a new drummer to the Brains' lineup, Philippe "The Beast" Pinard, as the group's touring schedule became busier than ever, frequently taking them to Europe, the United Kingdom, and even Russia as well as North America. It wasn't until 2020 that the Brains issued their next studio LP, Satana Tarantula. The album was their first release for Cleopatra Records and included guest appearances from Patricia Day of HorrorPops and Danny B. Harvey of the Swing Cats.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
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Satana Tarantula
Rock - Released by Cleopatra Records on 10 Apr 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tutti Frutti
Little Richard, The Brains, Danny B. Harvey
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on 2 May 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Blue Christmas
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on 14 Dec 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Devil with a Blue Dress On
The Brains, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on 24 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rock Billy Boogie
Robert Gordon, The Brains, Dead Boys
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on 10 Aug 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
I'm Still Standing
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 28 Mar 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
Wanda Jackson, Linda Gail Lewis, The Brains
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on 19 May 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Paradise
Lemmy, The Upsetters, The Brains
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on 18 Aug 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Drunk Not Dead
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 4 Nov 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Monster Party
Rock - Released by Cleopatra Records on 10 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Monster Within
Rock - Released by Cleopatra Records on 15 Apr 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Matchbox
Rockabilly - Released by Cleopatra Records on 27 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Brains (Remastered)
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 21 Apr 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Cover Up
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 28 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
No Brain, No Pain
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 23 Aug 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rare Tracks from the Vault (Demo)
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 31 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Don't Take Your Guns To Town
The 69 Cats, Them Guns, The Brains
Alternative & Indie - Released by Cleopatra Records on 14 Mar 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hell n' Back (Remastered)
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 1 May 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Zombie Nation (Remastered)
Punk / New Wave - Released by Cleopatra Records on 11 May 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo