File Under: Cabaret Punk rating: A tracks 1. Tattoos Fade 2. Zen and the Art of Breaking Everything in This Room 3. My Ancestral Homeland, New Jersey 4. Just the Best Party 5. Paul Robeson 6. Poor Old Jeffrey Lee 7. One for the Witches 8. Peter Lorre 9. Younger Man 10. I Wouldn't Want Live in a World Without Grudges 11. Heart Attack '64 12. Let's Steal Everything 13. Secret Service Freedom Fighting U.S.A. 14. The Models and the Mannequins 15. Pumpkin Time related links The World/Inferno Friendship Society DCN Records

Sometimes the true quality of a band just can’t be transferred onto a studio album, understanding this essentially means sometimes you have to get off your ass and go to a show. The World/Inferno Friendship Society are, undoubtedly, one of those bands that exude such amazement, that, unless seen live, one can not fully comprehend exactly what this band is about. Hallowmas Live at Northsix is, in recorded fun, definitively, what The World/Inferno Friendship Society are all about.

First of all, not only is this album a collection of the bands’ greatest songs, but they are performed in their pure live version, as opposed to their dirty, dirty studio counterparts. Live show favorites such as, "Just the Best Party," "My Ancestral Homeland, New Jersey," and "Secret Service Freedom Fighting U.S.A." are all here, and performed outstandingly, sung by not only the band, but also the very enthusiastic crowd (fortunately, this isn’t one of those live recordings that tends to be more of the crowd than the band). The only thing that is really missing from this particular show was getting it in the head with the thousands of candy corn that were the treats for the crowd on this Halloween.

My one problem with this album is that it didn’t really contain any pictures from the show, or more than three of the band. It isn’t really a big argument or anything, but certain editors of webzines did take a handful of shots of the band at the show that would have greatly complimented the album in the liner notes or something. There is something else the band maybe should have considered, it’s something that a lot of bands are doing now a days, and it isn’t totally selling out or anything, but the WIFS maybe should have included a short video of one of their songs or something on the album to get across the true feeling of their live show. Maybe.

The World/Inferno just have one of those sounds that words really can’t describe, which translates into the band having to speak for themselves. World/Inferno not only speak for themselves on Hallowmas, but they virtually incite a riot. If you’re looking for a new band to start listening to, and you have sort of an "eclectic" taste, then you’re going to want to pick up this album. However, if your old, don’t like to have any kind of fun, or are even remotely a fan of Ronald Regan, then this album, along with this band, will not be up your ally. Otherwise, listen to this, enjoy, break some stuff, and never, EVER, go to Jersey (it’s a crappy, crappy state).

Jason Cipriano is the Senior Editor. Contact him at jasonc@rockzone.com.