Zombie’s performance is stunning here, brining a low-pitched drawl to the verses that sounds positively insidious. An appropriately evil organ begins the proceedings and leads into a slow-paced verse that chugs along in wonderfully foot-stomping fashion. “Michael” is the next to last track and pays homage to the sinister star of the Halloween series. The song brings a pleasing blend of old and new Zombie influences which should hopefully give each camp something to enjoy. The quiet verses make a nice contrast to the relentless energy of the chorus and give the song a comfortable pace. It sounds right at home next to former Hellbilly Deluxe 2 singles such as “What?” and “Burn”, but has a more abrasive edge that its predecessors lack.

“Everything is Boring” is sandwiched in the middle of the disc. Longtime fans are sure to have a smile on their face with this one.

It almost sounds out of place on the album as a whole, lacking almost any of the catchy pop influences that have been so prominent in his work of late, but its two newcomer brethren make the fit more comfy. It has been a long time indeed since Zombie has sounded more like his old self than on this stunningly aggressive track. “Devil’s Hole Girls and the Big Revolution” begins the festivities, becoming the album’s new opener. With the addition of a few new tracks, the tweaking of one that was a bit self-indulgent, and even a little video content, Rob Zombie has moved this a solid step closer to being deserving of its title as a sequel to his most fondly remembered solo album. Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, you’ll find something to like in this reissue of Hellbilly Deluxe 2. There’s a great deal of debate as to whether his recent work is actually any good. Longing for the past seems to be a common pastime among Rob Zombie fans.

Hellbilly deluxe 2 rob zombie