Mädhouse: ‘Bad Habits’
MÄDHOUSE
BAD HABITS
Released on April 23, 2021 (ROAR! Rock of Angels Records)
Review:
“…make me your bitch…pull my hair…and treat me like an animal…” are the words spoken from a young female before Mädhouse rips into ‘First Lick Then Stick’. Is this sleaze rock? THIS IS SLEAZE ROCK! This is among the sleaziest rock n’ roll I’ve ever heard and up there with the likes of a Faster Pussycat and once again, makes me feel so dirty I need to take a shower after listening…. and I must admit I love every second of it.
Austria’s Mädhouse dropped their sophomore album Bad Habits on April 23rd which is much of a continuation of their 2019 debut Money Talks Bullshit Walks. Although there is nothing new on Bad Habits via Mädhouse‘s hard rock style, I can hear a maturation in their songwriting with some increased catchy melodies. The album starts off in high gear with “Bang Bang” which is a bombastic uptempo track that sets the stage for what’s in store for listeners. Fans of some vintage gutter-rock era Skid Row, Spread Eagle, McQueen Street, etc will most eagerly lap up Bad Habits‘ blatant nod to this period.
Mädhouse have to date released two videos in promotion of Bad Habits. “Sick of It All” is another killer track with the ability to make the listener emote gut-wrenching pain in a Covid world. Not that the song is necessarily about our Covid time frame and the challenges that come with it, but the lyrics spoke to this listener. They say that sympathy is the understanding of another’s feelings but empathy is actually feeling it with that person. “Sick of It All” is as if the song is right there along with you while you puke your guts out or punch some walls. The other video is for “I Walk the Ponygirl.” I’m not sure what this means but it still sounds cool. Other notables are the beer stein toast-smashing KISS-esque ‘Live It Up’ which sounds like it could be a Paul Stanley song from Revenge.
I suppose “Pure Oxytocin” is Mädhouse‘s attempt at a more tender ballad but even that rips like a Cinderella song comparable to “Nobody’s Fool.” “Say Nothing At All” has one of the sweetest and most melodic sing-along choruses with harmonies in the verses. It’s extremely well done. “Tourette Brunette” is cut from this same cloth as the band showcases its ability to combine elements of pop-metal with vicious metal chops. While I do make comparisons of tracks on Bad Habits to other bands, this is purely from a reference point. Mädhouse do have their own sound and the shrieks from lead singer Tommy Lovelace are quite unique. Sleaze Roxx writer Mark Gregory has likened Mikky Stixx and Thommy Black‘s guitars sounding akin to a razor cutting through metal. I wholeheartedly agree.
And now for the album’s criticism:
(Left blank intentionally)
To summarize — this album gets 5 stars out of 5 from this reviewer. Bad Habits was written for arenas with thousands of fist pumping fans singing every single word of their new favorite band’s lyrics, and that band is Mädhouse.
Track List:
01. Bang Bang
02. Sick of It All
03. First Lick Then Stick
04. I Walk The Ponygirl
05. Itch To Scratch
06. Atomic Love
07. Rodeo
08. Bad Habits
09. Live It Up
10. Pure Oxytocin
11. Fake It Till You Make It
12. Metal Creed
13. Say Nothing At All
14. Tourette Brunette
15. Love To Hate
Band Members:
Τommy Lovelace – vocals
Mikky Stixx – guitars
Thommy Black – guitars
Rickey Dee – bass
Casey J. Eiszenman – drums
Band Websites:
Official Website
Facebook (Private group)
Reviewed by Mark Horvath for Sleaze Roxx, April 2021
Mädhouse‘s “Sick of It All” video:
MÄDHOUSE – “Sick Of It All” (Official Video)
MÄDHOUSE – “Sick Of It All” (2021) – Official Music Video. Taken from the album “Bad Habits”, out on April 23, 2021.Get “Bad Habits” now:Physical:https://roa…
Mädhouse‘s “I Walk The Ponygirl” video:
MÄDHOUSE – “I Walk The Ponygirl” (Official Video)
MÄDHOUSE – “I Walk The Ponygirl” (2021) – Official Music Video. Taken from the album “Bad Habits”, out on April 23, 2021.Get “Bad Habits” now: https://bit.ly…
Mädhouse‘s “First Lick Then Stick” track:
First Lick Then Stick
Provided to YouTube by Believe SASFirst Lick Then Stick · Mädhouse · Michael Kronstorfer · Michael KronstorferBad Habits℗ Rock Of Angels RecordsReleased on: …