Evil World Machine

The Zoo Crew is spinning the electrifying track "Evil World Machine" by Crossbone Skully, from their debut album of the same name, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its raw, dystopian energy. This song, the title track of the 2024 release, is a high-octane rock anthem that sets the tone for the album’s sci-fi concept, centered around a superhero named Crossbone Skully who returns to a chaotic Earth to save humanity. One fascinating piece of trivia comes from a 2022 MetalTalk interview where Alice Cooper described the song as a “galactic masterpiece,” noting the mysterious nature of the character Skully, who might be “a villain or a hero, maybe a little of both.” Cooper’s enthusiasm highlights the song’s larger-than-life aura, which was amplified by its animated music video, directed by Riley Donahue of Saturday Night Live fame, premiered at the San Francisco Fan Expo in November 2022.

Another intriguing tidbit comes from a November 2024 Louder feature where Tommy Henriksen, the mastermind behind Crossbone Skully, shared that the song’s intro was inspired by David Bowie’s “Future Legend” and Mötley Crüe’s “In the Beginning.” Henriksen aimed to craft a narrative that pulls listeners into the album’s universe, addressing themes of greed and societal corruption with a call to “destroy what is evil.” The track’s production, overseen by legendary producer Mutt Lange, who came out of retirement for this project, carries his signature massive riffs and clattering drums, as noted in a Louder review. A 2022 Facebook post by the band teased the song’s “pulverizing” energy, building hype for its role as the album’s lead single, setting the stage for the upcoming graphic novel and animated film, “Thing #1.”

Crossbone Skully is the brainchild of Tommy Henriksen, a seasoned musician known for his work as guitarist and musical director for Alice Cooper’s band and as a member of Hollywood Vampires alongside Johnny Depp and Joe Perry. According to a 2024 Better Noise Music bio, Henriksen’s journey to creating Crossbone Skully began during a soundcheck with Alice Cooper’s band when a lighting technician, formerly with AC/DC, heard him channeling the vocal style of AC/DC’s Bon Scott and Brian Johnson. This sparked the idea for a solo project that evolved into the multidimensional Crossbone Skully. Henriksen, who has also produced and written for artists like Lady Gaga and Halestorm, drew on his punk and metal roots from his early days in bands like Warlock with Doro Pesch and his punk outfit POL (Parade of Losers). His collaboration with guitarist Tommy Denander and Mutt Lange, introduced through their work on Alice Cooper’s 2017 album Paranormal, brought the ambitious Evil World Machine to life.

Fans can dive deeper into Crossbone Skully’s universe through their official website, where updates on the graphic novel and animated film are shared. The band is active on social media, engaging Zoo Freaks and beyond via their Facebook page, which has over 2,200 likes and posts about album releases and live shows, like their debut performance at the Viper Room in November 2024. On Instagram, they share vibrant visuals of the Skully character and music video snippets, while their X account keeps fans updated with news and fan interactions. For fan communities, the Crossbone Skully Fan Club on Facebook is a growing hub where enthusiasts discuss the album, share fan art, and celebrate the band’s sci-fi rock saga. While no standalone fan websites were found, the band’s Bandcamp page offers direct access to the album and fan reviews praising its “mega riffs” and “insane production.”