Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats @ Alhambra, Paris - January 16th, 2025


With Nell' Ora Blu, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats have delivered one of the standout Metal records of the year—though calling it “Metal” feels reductive. This album transcends the usual bounds of distorted guitars and headbanging, crafting a sonic experience that could serve as the soundtrack to an imaginary giallo, the Italian thriller genre of the '60s and '70s. Drawing inspiration from films like Suspiria or Don't Torture a DucklingNell' Ora Blu is an auditory horror-thriller complete with sound effects and Italian dialogue. It’s an immersive, almost cinematic creation, practically begging for a live production as theatrical as the record itself.


The first time I saw Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, they were opening for Black Sabbath. I enjoyed their early albums—Vol. 1Blood Lust and Mind Control—but their live show didn’t leave much of an impression. In hindsight, the problem was the venue: the vast space didn’t suit their stripped-down, retro Doom Metal aesthetic. Plus, it’s hard to win over a crowd eagerly awaiting one of the most iconic bands of all time. That early performance felt like a band with potential but not yet the vision to match it.

With Nell' Ora Blu, that vision has finally emerged. Uncle Acid’s early work aligned them with retro Doom heavyweights like Cathedral, Saint Vitus, and Electric Wizard—unapologetically steeped in Black Sabbath worship, but limited by those confines. Now, they’ve forged a path all their own. This new direction deserved an equally bold presentation, and the Paris show, kicking off their Nell' Ora Blu tour, was a stunning showcase of their evolution.

The performance blended hallucinatory sounds with sensory stimulation, combining Psychedelic Rock with props, costumes, screens, special effects and a spectacular light show. After a half hour of B (even C or D) movie trailers (complete with ads for the concession stand) the  twisted dreamscape began, a real love letter to the low-budget charm of exploitation cinema. Much like a real giallo, the plot was incomprehensible... Something about a phone? Who cares. What resonated was the raw, visceral energy of it all. Unlike glossy Hollywood horror, this was refreshingly human. You could see the strings, and that imperfection only added to its charm.

Comparisons to theatrical rock epics like The Who’Tommy, Alice Cooper’s Welcome to My Nightmare, or W.A.S.P.’s The Crimson Idol are inevitable. But Uncle Acid’s show is something else entirely—grittier, darker, and dripping with macabre mystique. Despite its sinister veneer, the production never takes itself too seriously, embracing the campy charm and exaggerated flair that made giallo films so captivating. It’s a love letter to the genre, reverent in its attention to detail but playful enough to revel in its absurdities.

Musically, there are still some remnants of the occult Doom Metal Uncle Acid was known for, but the band has significantly expanded its lexicon with Psychedelia, Jazz, Funk and even Easy Listening, drawing inevitable and intentional comparisons to Goblin, the Italian band that scored those classic Dario Argento giallos.

Kevin Starrs, the mastermind behind Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, says that these performances of Nell' Ora Blu are limited and there will never be another run. But what if this ends up being wildly successful? What if, after years of competent, excellent even, but derivative Stoner Doom Metal, Uncle Acid had finally found its true identity?

SETLIST:

   


 

 

 


 


 

 



Check out these related Electric Eye articles:


You might also enjoy the following items:

  

  

  

Scan the QR code below to subscribe to Apple TV: