Synopsis:
Only one more show and heavy metal guitarist Spencer Hesston can finally quit Rot in Hell. No more touring, no more fighting, and no more unwanted advances from the lead singer’s girlfriend. But instead of waking up the next day in their Midwestern hometown, the band finds themselves dazed and confused in an abandoned settlement in the middle of the desert, with no idea of how they got there.
Things are done a little differently out here: the trees have perverse urges, the spiders have human fingers, and every time they step outside the town transforms into a new hellish nightmare.
In this town anything is possible, except making it out in one piece…
Review:
“One For The Road,” by Wesley Southard is what would happen if Lewis Carroll wrote Alice In Wonderland whilst high on acid and listening to Black Sabbath. It’s brutal, bizarre, and bodily-fluid soaked, and also a very interesting, down-the-rabbit-hole-esque take on hell. Southard’s storytelling is steeped in rock n roll references, like a live wire, it’s crackling with energy and dripping in gore… I tore through its 90 pages in a sitting, and am here to tell you that it isn’t one you can miss.
The story is told in the form of a journal, written by Spencer, who seems unable to believe what he has been through. A member of the touring metal band “Rot In Hell,” the guitarist has finally recognised that life on the road is not for him. Not to mention, Spencer surpasses his douche-bag band members, particularly lead singer Steve, in every way- and is planning to ditch the band, alongside drummer Vinnie following the tour’s conclusion. He wakes up in the back of the van one morning… the equipment is gone, his tech has been stolen… and oh… they have literally ended up in hell.
The way the book is structured adds to the ridiculousness of the entire ordeal. We begin with a set up that feels very much like Billy Silver by Daniel J Volpe. We meet Spencer’s unlikable bandmates, and we’re bracing ourselves to be hit by the harsh reality of rock n roll. We are, to some extent, but whilst Volpe opens our eyes to the miserable reality of drugs, sex and murder- Southard drags us to the very surreal depths of hell, where some new horror lurks around every corner, and even the trees are disturbing (think The Evil Dead).
As aforementioned, the members of “Rot In Hell,” are a motley crew of vile and selfish misfits. The narrator, whilst not quite as creepy or abusive as the others, is no saint, and is more neutral. Presumably deliberately, Southard forfeits the reader’s connection with the characters for fetid, steaming body horror and phantasmagorical creature features. He really rather does the opposite, making the cast rather intolerable… meaning as readers, we’re quite happy to put our feet up and just read about these horrible things happening to these horrible people. There’s a malicious glee to it, and if you simply take it for what it is, it’s impossible not to have a fun time.
Perhaps my only complaint? I want more of it! I often criticize books for being too long, but with this many unique ideas, why cut it short at 90 pages? In this literary mosh pit, Southard obliterates boundaries with the force of a well-timed guitar solo. From demonic creatures to devastating betrayals, there’s a real originality to it, and the only thing Southard doesn’t manage to incorporate are dull moments.
If Brian Keene set about writing a grindhouse “The Wizard of Oz,” the product would be almost identical to “One For The Road.” If you’ve ever read and enjoyed a Brian Keene novel, particularly The Earthworm Gods, you will love One For The Road. Equally, fans of Skipp and Spector’s “The Scream,” or Grady Hendrix’s “We Sold Our Souls,” will enjoy the music references sprinkled throughout. I absolutely love music mixed into my horror, and plan to do a blog post on it in the near future, feel free to reach out with any recommendations!
Whether you are a die-hard metal head, a seasoned horror aficionado, or just somebody looking to put themselves through some weird shit, “One For The Road,” is the underrated gem you didn’t know you needed. A disturbing symphony of macabre wit and demonic chaos, this head-banging, splatterpunk award-winning journey through hell is a necessity.
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