Lords of Salem-Hell Over Salem

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Based in Stuttgart, Germany and lead by vocalist Postel (a powerful and highly-expressive front-man that is easily the biggest selling point of this up-and-coming group!), Lords of Salem is a goth-laden/horror rock-infused hard & heavy rock/metal band that has one stellar EP to it's name. Released on October 31st of 2018, "Hell Over Salem" is the debut recording from this four-piece outfit that looks as if it just stepped straight out of a 1980-something post-apocalyptic movie!

Starting off with the upbeat, groovy, and ghoulish "Monster Girl" (a horror rock and roll number that oddly recalls both The Cult and the likes of Rod Zombie & Wednesday 13!), this four-track EP by Lords of Salem clocks in at under 15 minutes in length, but that's more than enough time to get the job done. Boosted by the strength of the title track and "Zombie Monkey Woman", Lords of Salem's first offering showcases a young band that already knows how to write catchy material that is filled with great hooks, inspired-samples, and colorful lyrics! Mixed and mastered by Achim Köhler (Primal Fear, Brainstorm, etc), "Hell Over Salem" is a quirky fun recording that takes its cues from everyone from The Misfits to Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction. A short and sweet EP, this release should find a huge fan base with anyone that loves the likes of (later day)White Zombie, Rob Zombie, Wednesday 13, and quite possibly even The Murderdolls.

The Flesh Eaters-A Minute To Pray A Second To Die (2014 Re-Issue)

Superior Viaduct
2014

Re-issued last month by Superior Viaduct, which means this one is fresh off the presses and probably still hot to the touch(!), "A Minute To Pray A Second To Die" is the second studio album from California's legendary (experimental) punk rock band The Flesh Eaters. The product of Slash magazine writer/punk poet Chris D.(aka Chris Desjardins) this oft-times macabre/downright moody band, which was fittingly enough named after a cult horror film from the sixties, was formed in L.A. in 1977 before making it's official debut one year later with the 7-inch EP "Flesh Eaters" (aka Disintegration Nation). Three years later the punk "group" issued it's first full-length album, "No Questions Asked", and with it's dark, near-death rock take on garage rock and roll the stage was set for The Flesh Eaters (with it's goth rock mentality) to do something truly magical. Cue 1981's "A Minute To Pray A Second". More experimental and (in a way) breath-taking then "No Questions Asked" (an album that is also consider to landmark achievement in the field of punk rock) The Flesh Eater's (bizarrely beautiful) second full-length album benefited from having a star-studded backing band featuring a real who's who from the then ever-expanding L.A. punk scene. Besides having Chris D. on lead vocals/shrieks and maracas the one-time line-up included Dave Alvin (Blasters) on guitar, John Doe (X) on bass, Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) on sax, Bill Batemen (Blasters) on drums and DJ Bonebrake (X) on maracas, snare and marimbas. With it's darker hues and morbid, horror-themed lyrics the ghoulish "A Minute To Pray A Second To Die" had the impact of a speeding hearse slamming straight into punk's underground rock scene and (influentially) it would go on to inspire bands for years and years to come! By bringing together roots rock, country, rockabilly, goth rock, jazzy garage rock, death rock and the blues the album took a stab at what punk rock was supposed to sound like and turned it into something radically different and gloriously original. Much like The Gun Club this L.A. band marched to it's own beat as evident by the oddball nature of this landmark recording. As a re-issue it sounds as wonderfully madcap as ever making it all the more deserving of a spot in everyone's essential punk rock collection!

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