Record Reviews

Anders Manga's first album as Bloody Hammers served up scoops of gothic horror covered in death-grunge syrup. Spiritual Relics comes from the same carton, only more potent, touring having tightened up the graveyard riffery and given Manga's vampiric croon a raspy edge. The former synth-rocker reconnects here with his inner Roky Erickson, source of the band's name. "At the Well of Nazareth," "What's Haunting You," and "Night of the Long Knives" make terror tuneful and brooding intensity exciting instead of creepy. "Science Fiction" ends it all on a shockingly pretty, mostly acoustic note. (Sat., 3:05pm, Antone's)