Horror-punk tunes to get you in the Halloween mood

By Chloe Williams, Columnist

With Halloween on the horizon, I wanted to review something a little spooky. Creeper is a six-piece rock band from England. Though they have been described as a horror punk band, they can be best described as the auditory equivalent of watching a black-and-white vintage horror movie; not so much gruesome and terrifying as it is dark and clever. Their first full-length album, “Eternity, In Your Arms” was released on March 24, 2017, and is a concept album inspired by My Chemical Romance and “Peter Pan.”

  1. “Black Rain” is the first act of “Eternity, In Your Arms,” and smoothly transitions from ambient piano into the strong, wailing guitar lines. The pure emotion delivered in the first track sets up the mood of the entire album, so much so that the listener can almost feel the rain pouring out of their speakers as they experience this song.
  2. “Poison Pens,” the heaviest song on the album, but remains highly melodic. This track moves fast with constantly pulsing drums and guitar work. The driving force that is the majority of this song is countered so perfectly with its ominous and sinister bridge claiming, “I fell like an angel for you. Now I do the deeds the devils do.” The songs ends with a hanging, aggressive outburst that straddles the line of a scream.
  3. “Suzanne” serves as the proposal to a lost lover to run away and start a Bonnie and Clyde-esque relationship. This track introduces a thriving bassline that can be discovered easily and always remains persistent. Upon arrival to the chorus the listener is presented with a halting call-out moment, beautifully dragging out the tension until the chorus finally drops. “Suzanne” uses the technique of hissing to cultivate the eerie overall tone of the song that contributes to the album as a whole.
  4. “Hiding With Boys” is a fascinating song, as it provides an almost feel-good melody while describing a rather somber situation. The song starts of strong with beautifully harmonious guitar work melting into bouncing lyrics. The chorus is highly dramatic in the best way and the group vocals provide a very choral effect. The bridge builds in intensity until one last call-out leads the way back into an extravagant restatement of the chorus.
  5. A favorite track of the band itself, “Misery” is the first slow song presented. This track is introduced by clean guitar work instead of acoustic instruments. The song shifts to the shakily-voiced and delicate bridge that expands into the pressing affirmation of, “You are years ago.” The song then explodes into the product of authentically crafted melancholy.
  6. Down Below” is an especially creative piece that effectively uses shuffle-feel. This stylistic choice contributes to the vintage horror aesthetic that Creeper thrives on and demonstrates extremely well. The hushed, almost whispering bridge leading into an all-out expressive restatement of the chorus leads the audience flawlessly into the track’s big finish.
  7. The drumset takes the wheel in “Room 309,” pushing the song off and away with precision. The guitar work is extremely tonal, making the overall sound foreboding and calamitous. The female voice is reintroduced at this intricate moment, presenting in this song a sense of conversation. The once aggressive and vigorous song ends with gentle desolation.
  8. “Crickets” is an absolutely stunning song; floating seamlessly from poised and graceful held notes to indelicate and gravelly laments. The crickets in the background and acoustic guitar give this song a homey and relatable feeling before the vocals are introduced and the tone switches to one of harrowing heart-break.
  9. “Darling” features lively and persistent guitar work, lyrics that flow effortlessly together, and impressive drum fills. The bridge merges a head-banging moment with a slowly building reach towards the chorus. A final restatement of the chorus is made with heart-pounding drums and violent, driving guitar hits.
  10. The opening guitar line in “Winona Forever” presents to the audience a western feel. Deep growling and extremely low vocals in the second verse contrast with the enthusiastic vocal performance found in the rest of the track. The guitar in the bridge begins with a reverberating effect before a whirling guitar is added. Background vocals, swift guitar chords and a lead vocal fallout pushes this track to an end.
  11. I Choose To Live” describes the notion that even though hardship has been had, a decision can be made to move on and heal. The drums and echoing background vocals help the lead vocals rise to meet all other sounds in a full-bodied chorus. Brass instruments and electric guitar present themselves at the fullest moment of this song. Piano and vocals take their time delivering the final message of the album: “I choose to live.”

Leave a Reply

Close

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.