psychobillywerewolfdad

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Call Me Crazy Channel Nine Films Bus Stop Productions Wr/Prd:  Beau Batterson Dir: Adam Orton Stars: Chris Pagnozzi, Jessica Denney ★★★★★ Inspired by the true story of a self professed vampire and a cannibal who fall in love during their stay in a mental hospital, Call Me Crazy riffs on romantic comedies. The short opens with a montage of news reports, interviews with class mates, and talking heads giving their thoughts on the case, before jumping ahead to the hospital, where Michelle (the vampire) is caught in a love triangle with another patient, and Isaac, the "cannibal". Its soon revealed that Isaac is not only NOT a cannibal, but is a tabloid reporter, looking to exploit Michelle's feelings to get a story. As he gets closer to her, his own feelings begin to get in the way. When his boss chokes to death on a pretzel in his own apartment, Isaac has a golden opportunity to become a real cannibal, and prove to Michelle that his feelings for her trump his dedication to his job.

The gore is minimal, and tasteful, playing more on Isaac's deranged motivations than on the gag factor of blood and guts. The film has a surprisingly poignant ending, with a montage of Polaroid wedding pictures and pop punk back ground that is a strong nod to the late 90s teen rom/coms that influenced the film.  Overall, the film is sweet, funny, and even a little touching. Cinematically, its well shot, well acted (and Jessica Denney is adorable), and easily walks a fine line between gritty independent film and the slick polish of studio work. A decent score rounds the film off well, and makes it easily one of the best independent horror shorts I've seen in recent memory.

Call Me Crazy is available to stream on IndieFlix, and at less than 15 minutes in length, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you missed it.

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Acclaimed author of Children Of No One and the forthcoming I Am The New God, Nicole Cushing will be coming on the show! Keep your eyes peeled for updates!

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Mark Jones (creator of Laprachaun) crowd funds new film

Mark Jones has an indiegogo page set up to crowd fund his newest film, a bizarre fusion of Vampiric lore and his never quite B-Grade Leprachaun flicks, called Vamperchaun. You can check out the campaign page at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vamprechaun and give it a look. Just prepare to be...underwhelmed. With only 46 days left to meet their $100,000 goal, they've only raised $80. I think its safe to say that this film is going to remain a cheap beer and pizza fueled nightmare exclusive to Mr. Jones's imagination. Happy belated St. Patrick's day!

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Energy A Tribute To The Misfits ★★★☆☆ Remember that quick 5 minutes where Davey Havok wanted to be in Samhain and released Black Sails and did the Son Of Sam record? Relieve that glorious yet all too brief time with this album. This is what it would sound like if Davey Havok sang for the Misfits.  Energy pay tribute to the Grandfathers of Horror Punk with their renditions of Astro Zombies, Bullet, We Are 138,  Attitude, Hollywood Babylon, Die Die My Darling, and Where Eagles Dare. The songs are faithful in musicians ship, making it clear that Energy doesnt want to reinvent the songs, but honor them. The album is a fun, energetic EP of covers, and you could do a lot worse than crank this while driving around or surfing the web. These songs are among my favorite original lineup Misfits tunes (though a cover of the original version of She with organs in lieu of guitars wouldve been killer) and the Energy recordings have definitely found a permenent place in my horror rock playlist. Clocking in at around 15 minutes, its a quick romp, but a fun one. I wont review it track by track, because we've all heard the songs before, but i will say you should check it out. I for one am glad i didnt let this release pass me by.

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Shadow Windhawk And The Morticians Casket Spray EP ★★★★☆ By now, Im sure all our listeners and readers are aware that I have a passionate love for all things horror rock, and friend or not, Shadow Windhawk is a rapidly rising voice in independent horror rock. His pedigree is undeniable, from his tenure with Salt Lake City shock rockers DIEMONSTERDIE, to his work with Argyle Goolsby (ex Blitzkid), to his recent solo acoustic effort Tales From The Black Lodge, a Twin Peaks inspired EP that is raw, haunting, and beautiful and is reviewed elsewhere on this site.

In wake of his departure from DMD, which itself came as a shock to fans, and has been awash with conflict, Shadow has not stopped pushing himself and its never been more apparent than with his newest project: Shadow Windhawk And The Morticians. A powerhouse trio of accomplished SLC musicians, Casket Spray is their first release, and bodes well for the future of this fledgling band. Like TFTBL, Casket Spray opens with an intro track, this laden with soundbites from various iconic horror films, ambiet sounds, and a decidedly industrial feel. This quickley gives way  to the bombastic punk rock we've come to expect, a sound that is both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly new. With vocals that call to mind Davey Havok, Argyle Goolsby, and Glenn Danzig, and backing arrangements that are reminiscent of early AFI, the album kicks in strong and doesnt let up until the final note rings out.

1428 is a rollicking tune, obviously inspired by Nightmare On Elmstreet, and showcases the talents of all three members. Windhawk's guitar playing is precise, powerful, and energetic, and his leads are some of the most blues driven youll hear in horror rock or any punk for that matter. Drummer Trip MD complements the sound well, driving the songs without taking over, and providing nuance and flare, while bassist Rich Misery locks into the pocket and gets comfortable, easily walking his bass through the songs with a warm, rich tone, that gently accompanies the crisp tones of Shadow's 6 string.

Midian is easily the longest horror rock song Ive ever heard, clocking in at over 8 minutes long, but this is in no way a bad thing. I may be biased by my unashamed adoration of Night Breed, and Clive Barker in general, but the song rocks from start to finish, never growing tedious or dull as some longer songs are wont to do with other artists. The track is diverse, and really feels like a love letter to Barker's work, as well as a mission statement from the band itself, loudly proclaiming their presence, drive, and inevitable longevity. Like it or not, The Morticians are here to stay, and for my money, that is in no way a bad thing.

The Marsten House is an abrupt change from the previous tracks, dark, heavy, brooding, and down tempo. With a blistering, doomy riff that calls to mind the Initium record by Samhain, and the first 2 Danzig records, the songs is a funeral dirge in the best sense of the word. Winds soaring vocals comliment the song, and Trip's drums are heavy handed, perfectly pushing the song into metal territory, without sacrificing the passion of the previous songs. Although another long track, at over 6 minutes long, it flys by, every line  as enjoyable as the last.

Halloween 63' opens with soundbites referencing everyones favorite Shatner masked killer. Another down tempo tune initially, 2 minutes in the song kicks into overdrive, recalling the early work of Blitzkid, particularly Shadow and Rich's screams, and the harmonies of the backing vocals. Its clear that the material draws influence and inspiration from old school horror punk, and is a refreshing change from the pop punk influenced and psychobilly tinted boo wop of some more contemporary acts.

The final track is The Ossuary, which will Immediately sound familiar to long time horror rock fans. It took me a minute to place it, but the riff is strikingly similar to the Kong At The Gates intro and outro from the Misfits album Famous Monsters. Im not sure how intentional it was that the riff be so similar, so i cant comment on that. I know personally, i recorded and released a song, and then later, when i heard the American Psycho album for the first time, found my riff and melody were note for note identical (much to my embaressment). I will say that theres not a lot of room for originality in horror rock, and theres only so many brooding chord progressions out there. But the similarity doesnt detract from the song, and its another dark, heavy rocker, that pulls you in and doesnt let go. Its clear that Shadow Windhawk And The Morticians are ushering in a resurgence of old school, metal influenced horror rock, and I eagerly await a full length offering. Horror rock has a new contender, and Glenn Danzig would be proud.

You can pick up the new ep Casket Spray at shadowwindhawkandthemorticians.bandcamp.com as a digital download or a physical cd, along with other merch and updates about the band, and you can follow them on facebook at www.facebook.com/shadowwindhawkandthemorticians

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Press Release: Bryan Edward Hill Brings Neil Gaiman's "Death" To The Screen!

Writer/Director Bryan Edward Hill is currently in pre-production on his short film titled DEATH: BUTTERFLIES AND DRAGONS, based on Neil Gaiman’s immensely popular comic series. Actor Suziey Block has signed on to play the titular character.

Hill’s original story places Death at odds with a muderous sociopath. The short film marks Hill’s first collaboration with Block, who is best known for her breakthrough performance in 2012 indie-thriller ENTRANCE. It was her performance in that film that made Hill pursure her for the role.

“It’s a dark story and a dark film,” says Hill. “Suziey’s already shown that she can stand at the center of a grim tale with her work in ENTRANCE. She really was the only person I would want to do this with, and I’m excited to capture her interpretation of Gaiman’s character. Short films are labors of love, done independently, so we as filmmakers can take more risks. I’m such a fan of the source material and I hope other fans will embrace what we do, and people unfamiliar with Gaiman’s beautiful world will be driven back to his excellent and challenging work.”

DEATH: BUTTERFLIES AND DRAGONS heads into production in late February. Hill is coproducing with his wife Evelyn Hill, under his Primal Pictures LA banner with partner Christopher Pratt.

The film will be exclusively released digitally on the Reelhouse platform in Spring 2014.

As a screenwriter, Hill has projects with Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures

. Currently, he is in negotiations to direct a feature film based on his Top Cow Productions comic SEVEN DAYS FROM HELL, a supernatural thriller from his own script.

Hill lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Black Spot Faster Productions Dir: Luther Bhogal-Jones

Black Spot is a new short horror film from Uk based film maker Luther Bhogal-Jones. I confess to being ignorant of any of his other work prior to this, if any, but when a press release shows up in your inbox asking you to check out new indie horror, if youre anything like me, you click for joy.  The film is just under 6 minutes, and despite the lack of dialogue (only a single sentance is spoken in the last seconds of the film), story is conveyed well by the imagry. Our protagonist,  referred to as Paul in the press release, is driving down a winding country road when his car breaks down. As he begins to walk down the road in search of assistance, he unwittingly steps into a corridor of madness, violence, and fear.

It was shot with a camera smaller than a blackberry, over the course of a single day, on a shoe string budget, but despite that, it doesnt look as low brow as youd think. The film is definitely greater than the sum of its parts, and the original score really hammers at the viewer, and called to mind classic 60s/70s Hammer horror, as well as the scoring of the late 70s/early 80s direct to video horror scene here in the states.

The film is available to stream online for free, but what struck me immediately was that the filmmakers had gone through the effort to make the film available in Stereoscopic 3D and traditional "red/blue" 3D formats, in addition the its standard release, all of which can be streamed on the page, which is handy for those of us who hang on to 3D glasses. Being an avid horror fan and self professed psychobilly, I of course have several pairs of 3D glasses left over from Nightmare On Elm Street 3d, so I was able to watch it in 2 of the 3 available formats.

Though red/blue 3d does add a surprising amount of visual depth to the film, it doesnt make up for the loss of resolution, or the slowly growing headache that comes  with it. I didnt have a pair of stereoscopic 3d glasses handy to watch that version, but handily, the film  can be watched in its original, 2d format, which is a lot easier on the eyes, and allows  you to enjoy the film, direction, and makeup work a lot more.

The lack of dialogue was an interesting choice on behalf of the film makers, and I'd definitely like to see this world and these characters expounded on in a feature length indie flick.  The scenario is a bit misleading at first, calling to mind Romero's zombies in NOTLD, before revealing that no one is actually dead. The brief flash backs showing the protagonists recent past, for me, were more confusing than enlightening, and i felt the story telling there couldve definitely used a boost, but overall, its an interesting piece of indie horror cinema, and at less the 6 minutes long, you could do a lot worse than to watch this flick. And even with its flaws, its still better than The Strangers.

If you want to give Black Spot a watch, head over to http://vimeo.com/85651165

★★✩✩✩

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Guns N Zombies (Pc and Linux)

Guns N Zombies is, at first glance, a fairly formulaic horde mode styled shooter. Set in a zombie apocolypse, this top down isometric gaame would appear to be one of a glut of similar games we've seen recently. But spend a little time with it, and theres a surprising amount of depth for such a simple concept.

Though the game isn't released yet, a free demo is available via their steam greenlight page (link below), as well as from their website. The demo is an alpha build essentially, so muddy graphics and buggy mechanics are to be expected, and i wont comment on them until i see a final build.

The game features a VAST array of enemies ranging from simple shambling zombies, to mutated giant creatures, to nono-bot infested beings that are a hybrid of zombie and cyborg. But in the face of horrific beasties, you are not unarmed. A dizzying selection of weapons, turrets, and special abilities await you, and unleashing them on hordes of the undead is a blast.

Each level has a set of objectives (too simplistic a system to call them missions or quests in their own right, id consider each level its own mission). Completing them will reward you in various ways, as will blasting your way through waves of the undead. Enemys drop loot, a form of currency that can be used to upgrade your various weapons and abilities, a system with surprising depth for a $4.99 indie title. There is a loose story in place to set the stage for each level, but in all honesty, it could really use some beefing up (I'll write for free, devs!). Additionally, the language localization is a bit iffy. Ill chalk it up largely to the fact that a lot of the english language doesnt make sense, and things like syntax and grammar dont translate well, but the dev team could definitely use a team member who speaks english as a first language to help in that area (again, I'll work for free!).

Aside from these small issues, Guns N Zombies has a lot to offer, with co-op gameplay, a really cool animated beastiary of the zeds you encounter, visually interesting environments, and a lot of good, gorey fun. It may not have the depth of story of some other survival horror games, but for 5 bucks, its a great game to jump into solo or with a friend and kill some time, while killing the undead. I look forward to the final release, this is one I'll definitely be adding to my steam library.

If youre looking to pick up the free demo, head over to http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=158853223

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Darrow Chemical Company Plastic Smile ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Darrow Chemical Company's 2011 release "A Nightmare On Seventh Avenue" was a rocking 8 song album that was a raucous group of horror rock tunes with a distinct pop undertone. Their newest release Plastic Smile takes the same formula and improves on it, without sacrificing any of the intensity we've come to expect of them. Whereas their first release kept firmly to the realm of punk, "Plastic Smile" feels like a more diverse record. With a more overt pop sensibility, particularly on He Said, She Said, which calls to mind early NOFX and early 90s So-Cal Skate Punk in general, the album is altogether more accessible to a fan base that may not necessarily have found them had they stuck to a formulaic horror rock approach. Leading track Plastic Smile is a rocking tune with a heavier, rawer sound than much of their other work. The fast paced riffing and bombastic percussion are reminiscent of Motorhead, while front man J.V. Bastard (formerly of Gotham Road, Mister Monster, Graves) displays a more dynamic and rough vocal style that immediately made me think of horror rockers CancerSlug. A strong melody, killer lyrics, and a chorus that sticks with you well after its over round this song out well, and make it obvious why its the leading tack and title song. Tracks 4 is a revamped recording of Better Dead Than Wed, ironically appearing in the same slot as it did on their last album.  Its a lot more polished this time around, but aside from the better production values, not much has changed. Regardless its still a great song that is equally suited to raised fists and head banging as it is to singing along and dancing. W.H.B . leads off with layered guitars and a pounding rhythm section, kicking into a killer tune that's equal parts 80s hardcore, and 90s sing-along punk rock, complete with "woah"s and a group vocal, and split in half by a brief foray into thrash with a ripping solo and chugging guitars, before driving right back into the rest of the tune. The Dead Don't Care is more reminiscent of their last release, a fast paced punk number, but hearing how J.V.'s vocals have grown between ANOSA and Plastic Smile is a treat. His melodic parts are much stronger than on previous releases, and it makes for some great harmonies. Brown Eyes is a rollicking pop punk tunes, easily the most radio friendly of the album. A good track, enjoyable, danceable, but nothing about it really stood out. Closing the album is Nowhere To Run, a mid tempo headbanger that blends trilling leads and subdued percussion during verses, with heavy handed thrash riffs and pounding drums with call and respond group vocals throughout.  Oddly, towards the end of the song, it fades out entirely, then fades back in, only to end a few measures later. Overall, Plastic Smile is a killer release, displaying a lot of diversity, talent, and growth from Darrow Chemical Company and I eagerly await what comes next from this dynamic act.. Stream it on Spotify, or just buy a copy so you can blast it in your car. Personally, It'll be some time before another album replaces this one as my workout music.

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

working on my outline for an upcoming episode of Spook and destroy, featuring founder of Gore Noir magazine Mitch Rafter! Other upcoming episodes will include MOMMY S3Z NO, animator and VFX artist Ari Grabb, Boston based band Energy, The Independents, The Order Of The Fly, THE CURSE OF SORROW, mixed media artist The Art of 1692, DIEMONSTERDIE, Cold Blue Rebels, Lugosi’s Morphine, Mark Dickinson of Others and Horror-Punks.com, and more! Keep your eyes peeled and ears open for updates, announcements, and new episodes, and be sure to follow Spook And Destroy!

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Ghost BC - If You Have Ghosts ★★✰✰✰ Swedish metal band Ghost has rapidly built a massive following with their blend of dark psychedelic riffs, overtly satanic lyrics, blasphemic papal imagrey, and haunting, dark, heavy music. Their new EP, the Dave Grohl produced If You Have Ghosts comes out next week, but I got a chance to sit down and give it a good listen today. Some songs will be familiar to fans, such as the dark, doomy cover of ABBA's Im A Marionette, on which producer Dave Grohl also plays drums. The song is a beautifully haunting take on the original. Other songs on the album will be new to some listeners. Their cover of Roky Erickson's If You Have Ghosts is.....lack luster. I was disappointed i couldnt find more to like about the song, as a long time fan of both Ghost and Roky himself. The song is light, upbeat, poppy, and worlds prettier than the original. All in all it doesnt sound like Ghost. If it were the very first song I'd heard by ghost, i may be prompted to check out more stuff, but as a fan of their original music, this cover is just too far off from Opus Eponymus or Infentessimum. Their cover of Army Of Lovers' Crucified is more in line with what were used to from the satanic swedish rockers, with pounding drum beats, soaring organs, a heavy, chugging guitar riff, and Papa Emeritus II's trade mark choir vocals interspersed with a deeper almost agressive vocal style. The final cover on the album is Depeche Mode's Waiting For The Night. A slow, doomy, hymn-like rocker, its just a bit too doom for me. Single sustained chords, simple percussion lines, an understated organ line, and a very plodding, monotonous structure make what couldve been a great cover an excercise in patience. Closing the album is a live recording of the band's hit Secular Haze, recorded at a Brooklyn "live ritual" earlier this year. The song itself doesnt differ notabley from the album version, other than the mix, which is honestly, kind of awful. Muddy backing vocals that detract from Papa's lead vocals, an uneven mix of the band that has the organ practically drowning out the drums in parts, and guitars that fluctuate between wildly overstated, to barely audible. Id expect much better from a band of this caliber. All in all, its a 6 track EP of 5 covers and a live track, for 6 bucks. If you dont wanna take my word for it, feel free to pick it up. If you like it great, if not, youre only out 6 bucks. Personally, I'd sit this one out and wait for a new album of original material.

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Energy- New Worlds Of Fear EP ★★★★✰ The newest release from Boston based band Energy is a short, but energetic foray into a world of haunting melodies, sweeping guitars, and a dynamic sound that is as refreshing as it is familiar.  Front man Jason "Tank" Tankerly's melodic vocals call to mind Davy Havok, while still remaining fresh, interesting, and unique. A strong, tight rhythm section, with a round low end from their bassist and a crisp, clean drum sound perfectly compliment the clear, sweeping leads and the glassy, driving rhythm parts, creating a polished, layered sound that isn't over produced, and still maintains the power and, if you'll excuse the pun, the energy, that is Energy. Though only 6 tracks long, New Worlds Of Fear feels like a complete album, neither too short or too long, clocking in at around 20 minutes. The songs move seamlessly from track to track, giving a strong feeling of cohesion to the record, and affording a more storied presentation. The entire album is nothing but standout tracks, from the energetic pop punk sound of Another Yesterday, to the melodic doo wop tinged Dead In Dreamland. Sandwiched between originals is the pleasantly surprising cover of The Ramones classic track Pet Semetary. An entertaining take on the song, Jason's vocals lend them self well to the song, and the kinetic, blistering take on the song is a fun romp through a familiar tune, that is both heavy and haunting. The Shadowlands brings us to a more metallic sound, with a heavy opening, soaring leads, and as always, the powerful, almost beatific vocals, coupled with raw, intense screaming back ground vocals. The Shadowlands, musically speaking, is easily my favorite of the record, for the intensity alone. Final track They opens with a soft guitar line and a soundbite of John Cusack's character from High Fidelity, soft, crooning vocals, and slowly builds into a fast paced punk tinged number with a driving back beat, that maintains the soft, innocent quality of the first half of the song, without sacrificing a heavy, danceable riff. All in all, Energy is a band that calls to mind many elements, from metal, to hardcore, to punk, all with a slick polish and a strong pop sensibility.  It would be a mistake if you were to miss out on this band, and i strongly recommend this album. I know Ive already got all of their previous releases, and I look forward to poring over them and savoring every song.  New Worlds Of Fear is available to stream on Spotify, on iTunes, Amazon, and as a FREE download from energy.bandcamp.com Check out energy on facebook at www.facebook.com/thisenergy and www.thisenergy.com

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

DIEMONSTERDIE - October 21st, 1976

★★★★✩

From the crushingly old school metal sound of the opening track Zealots Of The Bloody Circle, to the closing growls of One More Fucking Time, October 21st, 1976 is a powerhouse of an album. The newest release by SLC Horror Rockers DIEMONSTERDIE, the album has a distinctly "metal" sound, with more mid tempo numbers, crushing guitars, hammering drum lines, and frontman Zero Delorean relying more on his throaty growl than his usual haunting baritone.

Despite the mid tempo songs and heavier approach to the bulk of the songs, there is still a distinctly punk sensibility to the entire record. The driving guitar work of recently departed member Shadow Windhawk and his trilling, bluesy solos are more reminisent of Johnny Thunders than Kerry King, and the presence of melodic backing vocals, and the trademark horror punk WOAHS keep the album firmly grounded in punk rock, while still allowing for a punishly heavy sound and a diverse array of songs.

Songs like "I Will Always Hate You, Frankenstein" harken back to the campy, spooky horror rock of previous releases like A Great And Terrible Loss, and What Is Shall Always be, whereas more tongue in cheek numbers like Dont Panic, This Is Only A Test! and The Trouble With The Neighbors (a personal favorite, as it speaks to my own problems with pissy neighbors and over-zealous law enforcement in my career as a musician) call to mind the material from Fall To Your Knees.

October 21st, 1976 is a broad album, that evenly showcases the diversity of DIEMONSTERDIE's sound, and is a welcome dose of all new material from one of horror punk's strongest and most interesting acts. Its available as a digital album on itunes, amazon, and other digital music retailors, as well as available on cd and deluxe colored vinyl from the band directly. For a free preview, stream the album on Spotify, and be sure to check the band out on facebook at www.facebook.com/graveyardshocknroll and at www.diemonsterdie.com

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Episode two is up now, streaming in our media player to the left! Give it a listen and pay close attention for a discount code, that grants FREE SHIPPING on all City Of Horror orders for the month of November!

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Episode 1 of Spook And Destroy is now online, streaming in the embedded player on the left side of our page! head over now  and listen to some tracks from Wind Hawk's new solo EP Tales From The Black Lodge, along with an hour long interview on everything from Twin Peaks, to playing Ghouls Night Out Fest with Argyle Goolsby, to his departure from DIEMONSTERDIE.

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Shooting for a midnight premiere of Spook and Destroy just in time for Halloween, with our first episode, an interview with Shadow Wind Hawk, formerly of DIEMONSTERDIE, and current solo artist as well as guitarist for Argyle Goolsby. Keep your eyes peeled for updates and with luck, youll be able to stream the episode tonight/tomorrow!Hear about his recent solo ep, and upcoming ep Casket Spray, as well as information on his departure from DieMonsterDie, and his collaboration with Argyle Goolsby, the facts behind the announced project The Morticians, and more!

[psychobillywerewolfdad]

Upcoming interview with Johnny Voodoo, owner and founder of Voodoo Kustoms!