The Incredible Crocotiger - Messer Chups
- johnaalex
- Aug 26
- 4 min read
The Incredible Crocotiger (10 Year Anniversary)
MESSER CHUPS
Released July 25th 2025
LABEL: Hi-Tide Recordings
Reviewed: 7th August 2025
10 years after the original release of the marvellous 15 track album Messer Chups have remixed, remastered and re-released 12 of the best tracks from THE INCREDIBLE CROCOTIGER. With new artwork and copies available in different formats our favourite Russian Rockers have delivered to us a blend of Surf Music with a splattering of B-Movie vibes and just a little bit of Psycho-Rock on top.
Band Members:
Oleg Gitaracula: Guitar/Vocals
Zombierella: Bass/Vocals
Bisfer: Drums
Track by track.
1/ MAGNETO: original the 2nd track on the 2015 release, Magneto is a brilliant opener to this 10 year remix. Slightly longer than the original this instrumental opens with ‘The Outer Limits’ TV Theme Riff which returns periodically throughout. This has a 60s horror B-Movie feel with minor chord progressions, beautifully levelled reverb and eerie sound effects.
2/ MOON RACE: Rasping sax starts Moon Race before a traditional rockabilly style guitar riff gives us the main melody. The sax returns throughout with the added bonus of a short solo that adds a perfect level of sleaze to this excellent composition.
3/ FLESH & BLOOD: Track 3 takes us back to Messer Chups rockabilly/psychobilly roots with a song sung menacingly and seductively by Zombierella. This demonstrates the depth and flexibility of the band and their willingness and capability to widen their repertoire beyond what they are most associated with.
4/ WAR PARTY: War Party starts off with drums and bass with the occasional sound effect which is uncannily like the noise one of my guitar amps used to make if I knocked it accidently???
This is more traditional surf sounding music with excellently delivered picked guitaring but still with a B-Movie Horror slant.
5/ JOKERMOBILE: The guitar playing on Jokermobile is worth repeat listens as Oleg treats us to a masterpiece in creating southern sounding guitar sounds with some excellent fretboard skills. As the name imples, this is a great driving tune and one to turn up the volume high and hit the accelerator…..hard!
6/ TITI CACA TITI: Although the name suggests that this will have a South American feel this instrumental has a distinctive Hawaiian feel with some brilliant lap steel guitar throughout. This is a really relaxing tune, imagine yourself on a beach, glass in hand as the sea washes against the shore….. you get the idea. I really like this one and it is very unlike any other track on this record, again demonstrating the versatility of Messer Chups.
7/ INSOMNIA OF THE MUMMIES: This is a traditional surf style track and a very, very good one with a very, very catchy 12 bar riff. Add in some horror film vocal sound effects and you have one hell of a track. Mid way through watch out for the upbeat break which although unexpected, adds an extra bit variety to this brilliant instrumental.
8/ HORNS & HOOVES: Horns & hooves will get your feet stomping to a catchy hillbilly style riff at the beginning but wait for some extremely impressive fret-work from Oleg…… Think Django Reinhardt meets Johnny Cash……. Listen and enjoy
9/ SON OF CHUPACABRA: This is a great surf style instrumental with plenty of horror sound effects to play homage to the legendary vampire animal. With a perfect guitar tone and minor (key) riffs this instrumental perfectly creates a scary vibe appropriate to the song’s subject.
10/ TOMB SWEET TOMB: Tomb Sweet Tomb is a very stylish 60s sounding instrumental with a bit of swagger. With 2 guitar tracks combining perfectly and bouncing off each other with complimentary riffs, this a superbly written piece of music. My only criticism is that it finishes too soon , I wanted it to go on and on and on.
11/ CROCOTIGER: The track starts with drums and a lovely sounding bass line supporting guitar stabs before the main riff kicks in. The guitar, as always with Messer Chups, is incredible but the Rhythm Section steal the show for me by creating an almost hypnotic backing which drives right through the track.
12/ THE CURSE OF STEPHEN KONG: This brilliantly named instrumental treats us to some smooth (and rasping) sax playing playing alongside jungle sound effects and the customary guitar riffs. As this last track this is a great closer to a fantastic remix of 12 great tunes and a celebration of the creativity and originality of Messer Chups.
SUMMARY: Messer Chups are the experts in 60s style instrumentals. Their expertise in delivering the very best surf music and B-movie sounding tracks is unquestionable and their talent and passion in bringing authentic yet original music from the past to the present is untouchable.
RECOMMENDATION: The original album was great and this is the best of the best of that great album with enhancements adding to your aural pleasure and overall experience. If you love instrumental guitar based music, you’ll love it, if you don’t know whether you love instrumental guitar based music I am confident that this album will help make your mind up. I am also very confident that you will love it too.
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