Some things are worth staying up for which includes horror filled Midnight Feature, and by luck, the UK trio have released a new single called “Rite Here.” The spirits are going to rise with this one.
Is that a cowbell? Oh, there should definitely more cowbell in our punk rock, and so behold the bell from the beginning of this track. It rings in the sawing guitars as we go down to swamplands, infested by creatures of night as they bide time in their place of rest, because it is ‘Rite here, rite here, buried in the graveyard,’ and they await your arrival.
Midnight Feature always seem to have a lot of fun when writing and performing their tracks, possibly because they don’t take themselves too seriously whilst immersing themselves in the gothic B grade movie thrillers that ignite their imagination. It’s “RiteHere” and right now, so get on down with the ghouls of MidnightFeature. And more cowbell!!
Since the release of their debut single “From The Grave,” psychobilly Brits Midnight Feature have quickly backed this up with a new track “HELL-A-VISION,” with a bonus video made by the band at the Eerie Ink Tattoo Studio, Walsall, UK.
The Evil Dead beginning of the video prepares for the blistering launch of the track. The chorus is belting out the title, that would definitely have moshers thrashing around in the pit screaming in delight. It is a frenzy of drums, cool guitar licks and riffs, and with vocals that are dark and egging you on to join him in the throws of a killer thriller.
If the Japanese have taught us anything, it is never open up and watch a dubious video tape. This might result in South African vampires and having a great band play at your place….okay, yeah play the tape! The music video is very kitsch fun and reminds me very much of TheDamned’s “Video Nasty” which of course was featured on The Young Ones, but it isn’t just the video that harks back to this track. The themes, energy and general joy of the genre come through in spades. You should get hooked on a “HELL-A-VISION” with the Midnight Feature.
UK record label, We Are Horror Records, have released the debut single for psychobilly band MidnightFeature, which is called “FromTheGrave.” Following in the great tradition of horror rockabilly groups, the band has four members with amazing names. There is Joshua Alucard (vocals/guitar), Markus Aticus (bass), Dr. Richard K. Straker (guitar) and THE BRAIN (drum machine). Well, okay, technically the drum machine isn’t alive, but after all, it is a horror outfit.
You are greeted with the famous line from Frankenstein (1931), ie ‘It’s Alive!!,’ so you already know you are going to be on a winner. You are then hit by the, frankly, coercively silken crooning vocals of Alucard, the wonder axe wielding and devastatingly thumping bass… oh, and of course TheBrain keeping that undead heart beating.
It seems these lads have been brought up on a diet of Hammer Horror and B Grade black & white horror, which I admit are my favourite types. All this lends itself to the imagery of both dead and undead ladies, such as vampires and reanimated corpses, whom we all know make the best goth girls. I love this track. It moves and shakes, incorporating all the best things about the horror punk genre. A great tune and a well wicked sense of humour. Is it gothabilly or is it psychobilly? Eh, I will let you be the judge, but I really hope people pick up on MidnightFeature and give “From The Grave” a listen.
Over a year ago, some guy called GarrettCooper, in South Australia, decided to create a new project called BraveMistakes. He then thought that he might put out one original song a month, for a whole year. When you listen to each of the tracks, you can hear the progression as Cooper developed his singing talent and grew more comfortable in his role of songwriter. Somewhere on this journey, he has found like minded musicians and BraveMistakes is now a fully fledged band. A new single has just dropped called “UnchainedMelody“.
The style is simple and straightforward, with guitars interlacing delicately, between plucked and strummed. Cooper’s singing is definitely the focal point, smooth and rich like honey, as the lyrics roll of his tongue. The track is saturated in longing, for time and distance can be unkind to lovers.
Sounds familiar I hear you say. Yes, it is a cover of the 1965 song, first performed by TheRighteousBrothers and made famous yet again in the movie Dirty Dancing in the late 80s. This solemn rendition is near spine tingling, the musicianship stunning and I swear Cooper’s vocals get better every time I hear him. A perfect version of “UnchainedMelody” to slow dance with your dearest, by BraveMistakes.
Californian foursome, The Writhers, are no dummies when it comes mosh pits. So the psychobilly, horror punks have written an ode to the church of the mosh pit and those that do not participate in the joyful flailing aptly called “Pit Dunce“. Now there maybe or maybe not wild accordion within, so hold onto your bobby socks, it could be a wild ride.
The soulful doo wop and harmonies take you back to 1950s America when bands such as the Del-Vikings were creating waves…. but somehow, you just know this isn’t going to last. Abandon all hope now, as we are flung into the abyss, as the band kicks in. Crashing guitar, rumbling bass, and thunderous drums are only rivalled by the enthusiastic vocals chastising the pit dunce, whom has flaunted moshing etiquette and not joined the motley dance by submitting their body to the tumultuous hordes.
This is just so much fun. The energy and passion is real, confirming the horror punk genre is very strong currently. There was a sneaky accordion in the intro…. we have been marked safe for now however. Don’t be the “Pit Dunce” and throw yourself into the fray with TheWrithers.
Not going to deny it. I do love a bit of rockabilly/psychobilly and horror punk, so you can imagine how pleased I was to be introduced to the new album, Brains For Friends on the Russian label Bubblegum Attack Records. This is a split release between four bands, Romero’s Nation, The Dead Friends, Molly Fancher and the Chaneys, with each of them contributing three tracks.
Romero’s Nation will blow you away with the rollicking starting track “More Brains!“, the apocalyptic “Darkhangeisk After Midnight” and the beautiful horror love song “When Your Girlfriend Is Dead“, of course, completely punk style. The fabulous goth rocker styled tones of “Area 51” greet your ears, heralding in The Dead Friends, followed by the more punk ravaged “Endless Fear” and the frenzied guitars bursting out in “Sin City“.
You should brace yourselves for the rock stylings of Molly Francher, where we get a taste of the band singing in Russian for the first track. Ha! There is the brilliantly creepy “The Kid And His Story” which you know might not end so well, especially with the whole hearing voices thing and the wailing warning tale of the “Victim Of Psycho“. The psychobilly is strong with the Chaneys and they literally go hell for leather. They are going to make you feel like you are trapped in B grade 50’s horror movies, initially with “Invasion” and the green men are going to shrink ray everyone. I guess the victim was full of “Vim & Vigor” before they suddenly departed this mortal coil (suspected happy killer song), followed by the speeding “Harbingers Glow” with those absolutely amazing harmonising vocals. Fucking ace!
You need this music in your life. All four bands are bursting at the guts with talent and each track is superb. It is all fun and games until someone loses an eye or their head falls off while in the mosh pit, but if you are a horror punk fan then that is part of the appeal. Even if you are not into horror, most punk and psychobilly fans will get a real kick out of this. So remember to be kind to others and give Brains For Friends.
Onyx Music Reviews 