Great Balls of Fire, Knockin’ on Heaven’s, Good Vibrations, Maybe Baby, Ain’t That a Shame : HOUSE OF FREAKS “Tantilla.” Rhino. *** 1/2

“Monkey on a Chain Gang,” the 1988 debut by this two-man band, evoked the spirits of the blues, punk and early rock without seeming particularly bluesy, punkish or retro. Working this time with producer John Leckie (XTC, Pink Floyd) and demonstrating increased maturity and ambition, singer-guitarist Bryan Harvey and drummer Johnny Hott have come up with an album that isn’t quite as steady as the first, though its peaks reach higher than anything last time out.

The Freaks’ songs are redolent of Southern imagery (the band has returned to its Virginia home after two years in Hollywood), and rise from the depths of despair with anger and fury (“Man does the work, but God gets the credit,” Harvey howls in “I Want Answers”), but also with sympathy and tenderness.

Sometimes the new ambitions and bigger sound (a guest keyboardist appears on many tracks) get the best of them, with the weight and the occasional ornate flourishes threatening to crush the songs--though Hott proves himself among the most accomplished drummers in rock. Still, this sophomore outing is solid enough to show that the terrific rookie effort was no freak occurence.