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This band has a great name, and that’s why I bought this CD. The cover, which is kinda ugly, did make me hesitate for a moment, but in the end I decided that you can’t pass up on a band with a name as great as “Concombre Zombi”. Well, luckily enough, I didn’t have to regret buying Daylight Comes, the debut full-length of this US Psychobilly-trio. Their take on Psychobilly is on the rawer, harder side of the tracks, reminding me at times of Astro Zombies’ first CD and some nods towards the likes of Cenobites (the second CD mainly) and such.

The sound on the album is quite good, and I was delighted to find that the slap bass is quite prominent in the mix here, unlike with some of the rawer Psychobilly-bands where it seems there’s even too much focus on the guitars on the expense of the bass. Raw and unpolished, but clear enough to make out the individual instruments is how I’d describe the sound on Daylight Comes. Musically, this is okay stuff. Nothing groundbreaking here, and to me it sounds like Concombre Zombi have many good ideas and a lot of potential, but that sometimes the potential remains just that: potential instead of superb songs. Most of the tracks are enjoyable and nice, but only Psychobilly Madness is really, really good. All the big things are done right here, but there are a few small things that, when improved, would raise Concombre Zombi leagues above their current position. First of all, some of the vocals sound a bit insecure, for lack of a better word. The angry shouts work well, but the clean, sung vocals are mixed rather low, and somehow it makes them feel like the band weren’t 100% sure if they sounded good enough (whether that is the case or not in reality). This is a bit annoying since it makes hearing what’s sung a lot harder. Secondly, Concombre Zombi have a few good, catchy “shout along” choruses, but they are so short that they’re over before you realize they’ve begun. Make ‘em a bit longer, and they’d really add a punch to the songs. Also, some of the songs appear a bit monotonous and samey, much because of the two aforementioned flaws and especially a bit catchier and longer choruses would break this monotony.

But, all in all, I was left with a positive aftertaste. Sure, there are things to improve here, and sure Daylight Comes could have been a better disc, but it’s a good and enjoyable album as it is. And as debuts go, Daylight Comes is more than acceptable and definitely a good start to what I hope becomes something even better in the future. Check it out if the harder, heavier half of Psychobilly is your thing.