Pop Music Reviews : A Dramatic White Zombie in Santa Monica

Since its noisy origin in the New York rock underground of the late ‘80s, White Zombie has diligently absorbed elements of practically every type of music that’s crossed its path--most prominently punk, metal, hip-hop and industrial.

This year the band really hit its stride with its fifth album, “Astro-Creep: 2000,” and its show Thursday at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium proved that the supercharged hard rock band can be as dramatic to watch as it is to hear.

Transformed into a throbbing voodoo grotto, the stage became a cross between Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean rides. Flash pots, fireworks, a striking light show and film clips of B-movies from which the band often borrows sound bites for its songs punctuated a set heavy on “Astro-Creep” material. Sheer volume and adrenaline pumped the music up to superhuman proportions, but no matter how explosive the scenario became, frontman Rob Zombie remained a steadfast, charismatic point man, leading the band through its pace and bantering at the tightly packed crowd like a jovial rock ‘n’ roll Yosemite Sam.

Because it’s so easy to lapse into complete camp or embarrassing earnestness, the schlock horror/sci-fi motif has become something of a rock cliche. White Zombie has the presence of mind and force of will to refrain from creating such monsters.