 I’m a huge punk fan, my CD collection is proof enough of that. But, I’m not the biggest zombie fan. So, while the punk concept of Zombie Punks Fuck Off intrigued me, the zombie part of Sam Richard’s anthology had me worried I’d be reading the same old story of disease ridden undead. Yet, I quickly discovered that infusion of the punk spirit elevated these 14 stories into something unique and different. These are not your typical punks or zombies, these are loud in your face monsters that have no problem flipping off the status quo to make an awesome anthology to make any horror fan happy. We all know the zombie mythos, the basic plot points that we’ve seen so many times that they’ve become stale. In Zombie Punks Fuck Off each author took the formula, spit on it, and did their own thing. What we get are stories about living instruments that can only make music after being fed flesh, or an infection that can turn someone into a safety-pin-in-the-nose, tattoo-covered, lyric-spouting-crazy-person with a hunger for brains. Stories about aging singers trying to get their sound back and the dangers a crowd might face while listening to a killer bass line. I loved not knowing how the zombie piece of a story was going to come into play, the creative ways the authors went to give us something truly different. Besides the zombie focus, we get a lot of punk music, spirit, and attitude. You don’t have to be a punk fan to enjoy the stories, but there are a number of references to bands and people that might not make sense to someone who’s not familiar with the scene. However, the authors do a great job getting you into their worlds, describing dirty bars, shitty bands, and fast music. They capture the music so well that I could almost hear the songs in my head and wishing I could be in the pit. Music is not always the focus of these stories, and punk isn’t just about three chords and a killer beat. It’s also a lifestyle. And we get plenty of stories about kids standing up against the norm, fighting against the forces that aim to keep down those who are different. They might face off against the Thought Police or find that their punk hero has been changed into the leader of a rehabilitation clinic focused on turning punks into upstanding citizens. In these stories, a zombie might be the best way to truly revolt against life, or show that even in death you can still be punk as fuck. This is where the anthology really shines, using zombies as the ultimate punk flag. It was in these moments that you could really see the authors’ punk roots and I loved every second of it. There isn’t much to complain about in this anthology. The only knock would be if you are not into bizarro. A number of stories stray pretty deep into this territory and while I’m still on the fence with this genre, I know that it’s not everyone’s jam. I appreciate the imagery and wild nature of bizarro, but I find that I have to give up focusing on the plot and let the author take me on the ride. The nice thing with anthologies is that you can skip the stories that might not be your thing and jump to the next one. I’ve been to countless punk shows, from basements all the way up to stadiums. I’ve been kicked in the head, thrown up on, and covered in beer. So, I knew I’d find something in this anthology to get me past my dislike of zombies. And you know what, the authors delivered. They truly captured the vibe of the punk spirit and found a unique way to twist in zombies to make for a really entertaining anthology. No matter if you are a fan of punk music or a fan of zombies, you’ll find something here to get your blood pumping and your head bobbing. Zombie Punks Fuck Off We've been hearing forever that Punk is Dead. And zombie stories are even deader. ZOMBIE PUNKS FUCK OFF is here to show that is bullshit. This antho is loaded with 14 stories of gnawing teeth, shredded entrails, rotting masses, punk as fuck fury, post-punk weirdness, and beautiful decay. Within these pages are a touring Christian Punk band run afoul of a horde of living dead, a group of zombie-infected anarcho-punks staging a revolution in London, Hank William's far-distant great-grandson struggling against the restraints of universal fame, and guitars that gently eat. "This is my dream book, I can't believe it exists!" --Jeff Burk, author of Shatnerquake and The Very Ineffective Haunted House   Comments are closed.
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