''Grim Scary Tales'' is the fifth album by American extreme metal band

Macabre In works of art, the adjective macabre ( or ; ) means "having the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere". The macabre works to emphasize the details and symbols of death. The term also refers to works particularly gruesome in natu ...

released in 2011. The album cover depicts the notorious Romanian prince

Vlad the Impaler Vlad III, commonly known as Vlad the Impaler ( ro, Vlad Țepeș ) or Vlad Dracula (; ro, Vlad Drăculea ; 1428/311476/77), was Voivode of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death in 1476/77. He is often considered one of the most im ...

holding a goblet filled with blood. The album focuses on historical figures famous for killing people, such as

Vlad Tepes Vlad III, commonly known as Vlad the Impaler ( ro, Vlad Țepeș ) or Vlad Dracula (; ro, Vlad Drăculea ; 1428/311476/77), was Voivode of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death in 1476/77. He is often considered one of the most im ...

, Countess Bathory,

Gilles de Rais Gilles de Rais (c. 1405 – 26 October 1440), Baron de Rais (), was a knight and lord from Brittany, Anjou and Poitou, a leader in the French army, and a companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc. He is best known for his reputation and later convi ...

, and

Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68), was the fifth Roman emperor and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 un ...

. It has been described as "primitive death metal, occasionally erupting into nursery rhyme or cartoon-theme melodies, and the vocals go back and forth between guttural growls and high-pitched, hoarse shrieking". It is also Macabre's first release since ''

Murder Metal Macabre is an American extreme metal band from Chicago, Illinois, United States.Birchmeier, JasonMacabre Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2015 Since their formation in 1985, the band has featured the same three members with no lineup cha ...

'' in 2003.Archives''
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Concept

The album focuses on historical figures famous for killing people, such as

, Countess Bathory,

, and

. Corporate Death described the album concept as "document ngthe history of murder from the earliest recorded killers in chronological order", and suggested that there would be a second part "finish ngthe timeline".Bowar, Chad
"Macabre Interview: A Conversation with Vocalist/Guitarist Corporate Death"
.

About.com Dotdash Meredith (formerly About.com) is an American digital media company based in New York City. The company publishes online articles and videos about various subjects across categories including health, home, food, finance, tech, beauty, ...

. Retrieved February 21, 2014.

Reception

George Pacheco, in

, described ''Grim Scary Tales'' as "more of a novelty than anything else, despite the band's crisp, thrash riffs and steamroller rhythms" and suggested the album "isn't really worth more than a few cursory, curious spins at best".

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

's Phil Freeman was also ambivalent about the album, suggesting that "longtime Macabre fans, who find depth in the band's lyrical fixations, will doubtless be thrilled at their heroes' return. Most metalheads, and everyone else, can safely skip this one, though".

Track listing

# "Locusta" – 2:57 -

Locusta Locusta or Lucusta (died 69), was a notorious maker of poisons in the 1st-century Roman Empire, active in the final two reigns of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. She supposedly took part in the assassinations of Claudius and Britannicus. She was a f ...

# "Nero's Inferno" – 2:43 -

# "The Black Knight" – 4:05 -

# "Dracula" – 5:10 -

# "The Big Bad Wolf" – 4:06 -

Gilles Garnier Gilles Garnier (died 18 January 1573) was a French serial killer, cannibal, and hermit convicted of being a werewolf. He was alternately known as "The Hermit of St. Bonnot" and "The Werewolf of Dole". Life The Werewolf of Dole, Gilles Garnier wa ...

# " Countess Bathory" (

Venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

cover) – 3:26 -

Elizabeth Bathory Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Elizabeth (biblical figure), mother of John the Baptist Ships * HMS ''Elizabeth'', several ships * ''Elisabeth'' (sch ...

# "Burke and Hare" – 4:17 - Brendan "Dynes" Burke and William Hare # "Mary Ann" – 3:27 -

Mary Ann Cotton Mary Ann Cotton (' Robson; 31 October 1832 – 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. Despite her sole conviction for murder, she is believed to have been a serial killer who killed many o ...

# "The Bloody Benders" – 2:46 - The Bender Family # "Lizzie Borden" – 1:33 -

Lizzie Borden Lizzie Andrew Borden (July 19, 1860 – June 1, 1927) was an American woman tried and acquitted of the August 4, 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. No one else was charged in the murders, and despite ost ...

# "The Ripper Tramp from France" – 3:38 -

Joseph Vacher Joseph Vacher (16 November 1869 – 31 December 1898) was a French serial killer and necrophile, sometimes known as "The French Ripper" or "L'éventreur du Sud-Est" ("The South-East Ripper") owing to comparisons to the more famous Jack the Rip ...

# "Bella the Butcher" – 3:00 -

Belle Gunness Belle Gunness, born Brynhild Paulsdatter Størset (November 11, 1859 – possibly April 28, 1908), nicknamed "Hell's Belle", was a Norwegian-American serial killer who was active in Illinois and Indiana between 1884 and 1908. Gunness is thought ...

# "The Kiss of Death" – 3:24 -

Béla Kiss Béla Kiss (; ; c. 1877 – after 4 October 1916) was a Hungarian serial killer. He is thought to have murdered at least 23 young women and one man, and attempted to pickle their bodies in large metal drums that he kept on his property. Ba ...

# "The Sweet Tender Meat Vendor" - 5:04 -

Carl Großmann Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Großmann (13 December 1863 – 5 July 1922) was a German serial killer, sexual predator, and alleged cannibal, though it was never proven that he cannibalized his victims. He committed suicide while awaiting the end o ...

Credits

* Corporate Death - Guitars, Vocals * Nefarious - Bass, Vocals * Dennis The Menace - Drums

References

{{Authority control 2011 albums Macabre (band) albums Albums produced by Geoff Montgomery Willowtip Records albums Cultural depictions of Gilles de Rais Cultural depictions of Lizzie Borden Cultural depictions of Vlad the Impaler Cultural depictions of Nero Cultural depictions of Elizabeth Báthory Hammerheart Records albums