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CREEPSHOW
Creepshow I

Self-released (2023)
Rating: 8/10

The album cover of this debut full-length sure does grab your attention, and to further the appeal this ghoulish clan has enlisted the help of members of Axeslasher, Ghoul and VHS for its sequel to 2020’s Bump In The Night EP.

The Chicago, Illinois-based horror show assembles graveside adorned in cloaks and masks and lowers coffins to the soundtrack of its own snappy metal. There is a blackened thrash edge to proceedings as the creepy combo rattles off a batch of feisty compositions which come laced with atmospheric synth work and led by the vicious tirades of lead man Uncle Death.

A majority of songs here are fast, aggressive affairs that have a vein of a d-beat kick running through them. Tracks such as ‘Reign Of The Goblin King’ employ more melody than most of the cryptic cuts on offer and that’s down to the strong lead work. Strangely, in spite of the pace offered throughout, with the likes of ‘Midnight Hour’, ‘Blackstone Keep’ and ‘Mausoleum’ there remains a direct air of crispness and glossiness to proceedings and to an extent such clarity means that this opus never reaches the primitive or unorthodox nature showcased by acts such as, say, Devil Master.

There is still a wicked and frenzied nature to this rabid beast, but there is variety too. The go-go surfin’ hustle of namesake track ‘Creepshow’ and the thorny speeding ‘Voodoo Magick’ are prime cuts as is the foreboding ‘Hexed By The Dead’. Another gem then for the fireside crackle as campfire tales are spun on All Hallows’ Eve.

Neil Arnold

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