Various Artists - Portraits of Serial Killers Volume 2

Well, about a week ago, I reviewed a compilation based on horror movies. And now I'm going to be reviewing a compilation based upon real life horrors. Real life predators, murderers, sadists, necrophiliacs; all those disgusting and crazed lunatic who belong behind bars are represented in this album through various forms of electronic music.

And why not start off this compilation other than making a nice little instrumental filled with samples about necrophiliac and grandma killer Edmund Kemper? The song plays off with a variety of small effects behind a static cover, until later where a firm electronic beat oozes with the song and plays off very noise like. It was a decent effort to bring out the image of this psychotic man.

Other such faces as the Night Stalker, Maria Van Swanenburg, and Bible John. Though, I feel as if the music is sometimes too light to be used in reference to such dark people. Such as CatDog's Sexual Sadist. Now, I'm not saying that the music is bad in any form. It's good, I can tell you that much. But to be used to describe such horrific scenery and brutal men and women, well, it just seems a bit off. The unnerving presence of such horrifying men and women just seems to lost it's touch.

I think Scrotal Tear's song was perhaps the darkest on the album, perfectly complimenting killer he's based off of: Amin Meiwes. A German cannibal. You have to love the grittiness of this song.

Nonetheless, I still found this to be a nice effort at trying to bring forth serial killers in song form. I do think that it would have been a much better album if the music was much more dark, moody, and atmospheric to really send a chill up your spine, but that's not what was presented. The placement of each and every sample within the songs were really good, though. And they do manage to spook you in one way or the other. Feb 16 2014