Superhorror-Hit Mania Death

Logic IL Logic Records
2017

Lead by vocalist/guitarist Edward Janine Freak, Italy's Superhorror make their long-awaited return with "Hit Mania Death". It was some four years ago when I last covered this "unique" band. At the time they were known as Superhorrorfuck (link). They may have shortened their name for album number four here, but that same wild and reckless attitude that was present on "Death Becomes Us" remains. For the uninitiated that means more sleazy punk rock and glamorous hard & heavy metal with a ghoulish tint. It also translates to more politically incorrect lyrics and a well-earned "Parental Advisory" sticker! All dressed up in their white make-up and red lipstick, Superhorror are still as freaky as ever and yet they still have the ability to write catchy as hell material that will get stuck in your head long after the party is done! The big different between album number three and album number four is variety. While you are still going to hear the influence of bands/artists like Alice Cooper, W.A.S.P., Lizzy Borden, Ozzy, Murderdolls, Samhain, and Wednesday 13, "Hit Mania Death" brings things like country and blues to the party. There is also more funk on display here than there was on "Death Becomes Us"! On paper that might all sound weird and a bit far-fetched, but as is the case with Guns N' Roses and Kid Rock, Superhorror makes it all work to it's advantage. With musical growth there is always the chance of things going badly. For Superhorror this growth is rewarding for not only the band members, but longtime fans as well. With four years between album number three and album number four, "Hit Mania Death" has been well-worth the wait and then some. Welcome back Superhorror. You have been missed.

Characula-"Headstone" Single

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Her self-description says it all. "The desire of a woman... mixed with the blood of a she-demon... It's Characula". Neither a vampire, nor a werewolf, mummy or any other creature known from myth and folklore (although this creature of the night is every bit as seductive and enticing as they come!) Characula is a divine, dark and mysterious horror rock icon in the making. And she is soon to take the UK by storm! Too bad then that I'm stuck here in the states! Currently hailing from parts unknown/the other side of the curtain (OK, in reality it's Southern California, but a goddess like this couldn't possibly be from our known version of reality could she?) Characula combines seductive horror rock with sci-fi and with a style that can truly be describe as all her own she prowls the night looking for new souls to devour! And she does all of this will delivering glamorous rock and roll that is spellbinding and downright smashing! "Headstone" is merely the latest in a string of phenomenon material including the ghoulish "Mummy Dance!" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRNikva89yY) and a killer, damn sexy (as heard and seen it the official video of it!) cover of  "Ready For Love" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69iltZm-HkQ) that ended up leaving me as nothing but a pile of smoldering embers! With a full-length album slated for sometime in the future Characula, whose like a B-Movie queen as envisioned by Alice Cooper, could just be the next horror rock to lay conquest to our puny planet! I for one will welcome the conquest and be a willing subject and do her every bidding! How about you? 
https://soundcloud.com/characula/headstone

http://www.characula.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Characula

Reaper's Riddle-Game Over

Firestarter Distribution
2014

Formed back in 2009, during which time this Perth, Western Australia-based heavy rock band released their self-titled debut album, Reaper's Riddle offer up their latest recording, the six-track/six-pack "Game Over". Serving as he follow up to "Drop"*, a single which was released in August of 2013, "Game Over" is a tale of two cities. Opening up (promisingly enough) with a brief instrumental intro (sounding for all the world like something Alice Cooper or Ozzy Osbourne might have used back in the early eighties) things take a turn for the worse with "If You Died Tomorrow"**, a tune that (for lack of a better reference point) comes across as a heavier version of Nickleback! To say that this was disheartening doesn't even begin to properly convey my disappointment. Especially as we're talking about a band that looks like this:

On "The Clock Part 1" lead vocalist Clayton Mitchell and company (guitarists Michael Willis & Dan Bishop, bassist Jason Edwards and drummer Wayne Frodyma) do make an attempt to right the wrongs and thanks to (slightly) ghoulish vocals and some heavy, post-grunge leads I found myself hopeful for better things to come. Once the title cut kicked in I found myself agreeing more with their (Facebook- posted) list of influences (everything from Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath to the likes of Disturbed, Rob Zombie and Megadeth/Metallica) as the band packaged classic rock riffs with the twisted mash-up of White Zombie and The Misfits! Moving on to "Fade The Grey" the band, which is highlighted by lead vocalist Clayton Mitchell's versatile vocal delivery (he seems to move between the kind of vocals you would expect to hear coming from bands like Staind, Puddle Of Mudd and Nickleback to this ghastly/ghoulish demonic front-man with little to no struggle!) again turns it's attention to classic guitar riffs although this time it's more in line with late 70's/early 80's hard rock and heavy metal. Pieced together with equal pieces/parts of Rob Zombie's spookiness and Pantera's groovy as hell nature it works so well that one can't help but wonder just what the heck was going through Reaper's Riddle's mind when they decided on "If You Died Tomorrow"? Dear God please tell me that some suit and tie rep didn't tell them that they needed a "single"! For this is one act that has the whole heavy rock/heavy metal sound down pat so there's no need to write some stupid radio rock crap when you're talking about how freakin' effective cuts like "Game Over" and "Fade To Grey" are! Either way we close out this promo version of "Game Over" just right with "Labyrinth". Here the Disturbed influences come rushing in and with a heightened sense of emergency the band rolls out the headbanging riffs of bands like Metallica and Megadeth while vocalist Clayton Mitchell acts like a wild & chained animal just waiting for his first chance to escape his enclosure and attack his prey! Hot damn! With a new album schedule for sometime later this year Reaper's Riddle are one band that needs a wider, more worldly-based audience so (hopefully) their next full-length affair leans closer to (style-wise) wicked cuts such as "Game Over",  "Labyrinth"and "Fade To Grey" while pushing the envelope into even more adventurous (heavy metal) territory!

*As I was halfway done with this review it dawned on me that the band's name seemed awfully familiar. After going through my past posts I found that I had actually covered this ingle back in late August of last year! You can read that review right here: http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=reaper%27s+riddle

**The tracklist for this (digital) promo was different then what you would find if you were to pick up this EP through Amazon or some other source. For whatever reason if went like this:

1. Intro
2. If You Died Tomorrow
3.The Clock Part 1
4. Game Over
5. Fade To Grey
6.Labyrinth

Meanwhile, at least on Amazon, it goes like this:

1. Intro
2. Game Over
3. Fade To Grey
4. The Clock Part 1
5. Labyrinth
6. If You Died Tomorrow

The "official" version (with "Game Over" as the second track) makes a HUGE difference so I suspect that somewhere along the way someone wised-up and change the running order of these tracks.

The Lurking Corpses-23 Tales of Terror (Re-Release)

 

Hells Headbangers

2013

With the countdown to Halloween already starting for all the lovely little ghouls and goblins out there, which is understanding as I'm all about the customs and candy myself, what better way could there possibly be to celebrate the occasion then this limited edition 2LP re-release of "horror metal*"? I can't think of any myself as we're talking about Fort Wayne, Indiana's own The Lurking Corpses who, having formed in 2001, originally released this sample-heavy (it sounds like mostly old horror films clips), tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek album back in 2003. Serving as their debut-album/introduction to the masses (as well as their first potential recordings since having just escape from the insane asylum LOL!!!), the ghoulish "23 Tales of Terror" was a naughty little collection of tracks that were as much about sex and violence as they were a showcase/celebration for the band's obvious love of old-school and new-school horror films. Up front on the mic was (and still is) Lord Vladimir Von Ghoul whose ghoulish, Danzig-like delivery could easily switch over into a death metal growl at the snap of two boney fingers! While the group, whose latest release, 2012's "Gross Encounters of the Sacrificial Rite", was a split with Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's The Beyond, has struggled through their fair share of line-up changes (among the changes in this group has been the use of 5 different guitarists since 2001!) they are still at it and when you listen to this re-mixed and re-mastered double LP it's easy enough to see the appeal they possess. Even though the band tips the scales between death metal and horror punk there's more than enough "straight-down-the-middle" heavy and trashy metal to keep this one well grounded. Early on it's obvious to tell that the group has a love for The Misfits, but if you're also a  fan of bands like Samhain, Grave Robber, The Undead and Vladimirs then this is an album you might want to listen to. And then there's the obvious reference of solo Danzig as well a thrashed-over Schoolyard Heroes or a much more talented and twisted form of First Jason! All told there's just so much ghoulish rock going on here that for someone like me, who is most definitely leaning towards the weirder side of life, it's just too much fun to pass up! As it is a llimited-edition double-LP, available on both colored vinyl and traditional black vinyl, you'll want to snatch your own copy a.s.a.p. as it's sure to sell out.

 

* The Metal Archives claims that the band refers to their style of playing as "Horror Metal".

http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/the-lurking-corpses-23-tales-of-terror-vinyl.asp

Chains-Dancing With My Demons 7"

Svart Records
2013


Chains was formed in 2010 by Etienne "Hellscream" Chelleri (Bleeding Fist, Naberius ). With Chains he is known as E. Chains and, prior to the recording of this limited 7", he handled all of the instruments and vocals. joined by Hour of 13's Lord Samhain. On "Dancing With My Demons" Lord Samhain, who actually joined up with E. Chains after the release of Chains' sole full-length recording, "Of Death", plays drums and end the result is rather chilling and eerie.  Reportedly earlier recordings (which also included the 9+ minute demo/single "All the Colors of the Dark") where similar in nature to Sunn O))), Moss and Urfaust, only with the added elements of 70's horror movies. Those 2 releases certainly sound like they would be worthwhile tracking down as the earlier recording were also said to be influenced by bands like Death SS and Paul Chain! Here though the music, which has this musty vibe to it, come creeping out slowing like a ghoulish skeleton from an old 70's Euro-thriller! On this 2-track release Chains experiments with not only drone and doom elements, but vintage death rock and horror rock. Toss in some dark metal and give the whole thing a ghoulish vibe and you've got "Dancing With My Demons".  With another full-length album due out in either 2013 or 2014 this 2-track 7" only serves as an appetizer for all the ghouls and boys out there!



https://www.facebook.com/ChainsOfficial?fref=ts