Review - Esmeralda's Ghost - 'Invasion of the Zombee Girls' EP

Esmeralda's Ghost

Invasion of the Zombee Girls

EP, self released on April 15th

I don't want to worry anyone but with the sheer amount of horror punk bands crawling from the depths of this island right now I'm pretty sure we're about to be consumed by some sort of undead uprising. This may or may not be an improvement on our current situation. To disgracefully paraphrase Emma Goldman, though, 'If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your damn apocalypse' and this new wave of British horror punk (NWOBHP if you will) is ushering in the end times with fun. Enter Esmeralda's Ghost from Leeds who drift into the melee with a debut EP to add to the Zombie Girl Summer of punk we're about to embark on. Emerging, phoenix-like, from the remains of previous solo project Ashes On The Cemetary Ground this is a full-on horror punk assault (rather than delving into the goth rock elements of AOTCG) which delivers some toe-tapping good tunes.

Starting off with a minute of zombie moans in the appropriately titled 'Zombie Shuffle' it soon shifts into the excellent, dark and bouncy 'You Make My Screams Come True' and a track resurrected from AOTCG 'Zombie Girl', a gloriously fun horror punk anthem which remains just as fun as it was a couple of years ago when I heard it's previous incarnation. Amongst the rather somber offerings of the previous band this stood out; a hideously catchy, and fun, story of loving the (un)dead which can sit happily alongside the numerous similar tales of necro-love in the annals of the genre - and on it's own merit, too. Infectious B-movie inspired punk is very much the theme of this EP - the short but sweet 'Invasion Of The Bee Girls' buzzes in, leaves an impression and then flies off.

'(I'd Love You More) If You Were Dead' hits with menacing 'woah-oh's' before another stand-out track rumbles in with 'Screamplay'; name dropping horror icons as it rolls along on a solid horror punk foundation that would not sound out of place among the best of the current crop of US bands. 'Night of the C.H.U.D' is another punchy track referencing classic b-movie fare (and may or may not have another meaning), before the EP is rounded off by a spoken word afterlude which finishes things off nicely.

There's an awful lot to like on this strong EP - impressive as a solo effort, it's clearly born from a love for the style and sound of horror punk, drips with an admiration for the spooky and b-movie chic, and is full of fun, catchy tracks that leave an impression. 

You can purchase the EP digitally from the 15th April, with a physical CD release also imminent, as well as being available on all the normal streaming services. Go give the band a follow on Instagram and Bandcamp (where a quartet of the songs are already available).

And a special thanks to Esmeralda's Ghost for designing the new logo of this blog - fitting that this EP is the first review in the newly named era of the site!

Review - Tricie and the Phantom Punks - Ghost Town single

Tricie and the Phantom Punks

Ghost Town

Single, released 3rd April 2026

Houston, Texas's formidable horror punk force of Tricie and the Phantom Punks have unleashed their latest single on the world - a near-3 minute rock n roll undead assault dripping with punk rock heritage and spookiness. After last years exceptional 'Date Night at The Morgue', one of my highlights of 2025, and the ode to Tobe Hoopers chainsaw-wielding horror masterpiece that was this years 'Saw Serenade', 'Ghost Town' arrives with some potential to fulfill - and does just that. 

There's a supernatural strut to the song which mixes the hard hitting punk rock with an underlying gothabilly / gothic country vibe - befitting the Weird Wild West cover art (and a style I am particularly fond of). It never veers too far away from a solid horror punk basis, the horror-Americana elements just ripple through the song, but it's highly effective and is another great track from a band on the top of their game. There's an undeniable love for Texas and H-Town (the song written by Houston punk legend Mike Porterfield of Poor Dumb Bastards) which runs through the band's releases which give them an identifiable vibe mixing American cultural tropes (zombie cheerleaders, Disneyland) with a Texan swagger. The state is not short of great horror punk but at this rate we will be talking about Tricie and the Phantom Punks alongside Ghoultown as masters of the craft (as well as many other current Texan bands ripping it up).

The band play Black Magic Social Club in Houston on Saturday April 4th and, excitingly for me, cross the pond to appear at the Horror Punk Fest in Birmingham, England on October 3rd where they are sure to be a hit.

'Ghost Town's is available to stream and download (from the 3rd April) from your regular streaming and digital music download services! The band can be found on Bandcamp and Instagram (and various other places - check out there Linktr.ee)

Review - Midnight Feature - Hex Rentals album

 

Midnight Feature

Hex Rentals

Album, released 17th April 2026

Birmingham's Midnight Feature have been around for a couple of years now in the UK horror punk scene, releasing a few singles and last year's 'Creeping Fear, Raging Monsters volume 1' EP to some acclaim - delivering a theatrical yet menacing gothic punk meets horror punk sound, they very much threatened to become a leading light in the unquestionably small (but rapidly growing and always thirsty for more) scene on these islands. Stepping into 2026 and the news that they would be releasing their debut album was warmly received, and I've spent the last few months eagerly awaiting what promised to be yet another quality English horror punk release. Now it (it being Hex Rentals, which is a great name by the way) is here and - early spoiler alert - we've got another banger of an album on our hands here.

Every good album needs a kick-arse start, and Hex Rentals certainly does that. 'Final Girl' is a new one and an extremely strong start; a rumbling, atmospheric gothic horror punk number dedicated to iconic female names and reverberates with the sort of dark menace that the best of the genre manage so effortlessly. Listen in a dark room with only the flickering light of a CRT TV playing iconic b-movie horror and this is close to bliss.

'Vampires and Other Creatures' is next up, and whilst this appeared on their 2025 EP the version here sounds much better. Production is cleaned up but it loses none of the brimming terror which ever-threatens to consume you. It was a good song previously but it's now a great song. 'Night of the Demon', named after that classic of British horror cinema delivers another slice of goth-tinged horror punk; this also appeared on their earlier EP and yet again the improvement in production elevates it (although I do miss the audio clips!). There's little better in life than a dirty ol' horror punk band delivering rock n' roll the way Satan himself intended - three tracks in and Midnight Feature are contending with Calabrese (masters of the craft) in doing just that. To underline that very point, next track 'Death Walks in High Heels' swaggers in with a Gothabilly attitude that I'm an absolute sucker for. Another new song to me this is just a foot-tappingly awesome, and rightfully satanic, gothic tale.

'Hellavision' was first released as a single back in 2024 (as 'Hell-A-Vision'); it's been reworked but still slices with precision as it delivers a Danzigesque number showcasing the bands range within the often pigeon-holed genre - next track 'Saturday Night Fever Dream' taps into the same rich vein, another song which just glistens in its gothic punk assault, less full on assault more slowed down suffocation in the doom-laden riffs and attitude. It benefits from being another song greatly improved production wise from its appearance on the earlier EP.

'His and Hearse' hits with some more atmospheric gothicness before 'Satans Night Out' (released as a single in March) melds catchy horror punk with a sort of deathrock sensibility; satanic cries mixed with 'woah-ohs' and more unrelenting, leather jacket-wearing sauntering that would make Glenn blush, delivered with the intentional DIY gloom and confidence of a band that knows exactly what it is going after. Take next track 'Lets All Do The Frankenstein' - a gothabilly influenced ode to B-movies which comes off like The Brickbats doing a Blitzkid cover of a Zombina and the Skeletones song; that hint of whimsy which good horror punk needs, but an underlying doom and gloom and old school horror aesthetics.

The range of the band is noticeable, and the influence from various sectors of the scene makes its presence felt again in next track 'Damned If You Do', a take on horror punks borderline obsession with the sound of doo-wop - done right. A new version of a song which appeared on their EP and much improved again, this is a (serial) killer take on the melodic, nostalgic mix of horror and 50s sound which comfortably sits alongside the best examples other bands have produced. 'From the Grave' is another previous single released back in 2024 and my first exposure to the band and this improved version delivers another great slice of 'traditional' horror punk with those hints of goth, Danzig-inspired darkness. It's missing the audio clips from the single again (I do love a good audio clip) but the improvement of production is noticeable and is a stronger song as a result.

'Rite Here' first saw a release a single in 2025 and is another song which benefits from the production overhaul here. A spooky, Samhain-meets-Calabrese vibe, this is another one you can chalk up as a staggeringly cool and confident track, before the album closes up with the haunting and sombre slowed down title track. Few bands deserve comparison to some of the bands mentioned in this review (I don't like dropping other bands names in too much as it feels like taking credit away from the band itself), but its hard not to compare the style and vibe to those greats of the genre, although Midnight Feature still maintain their own identity.

We've already seen some great albums crawl from these haunted shores this year and Hex Rentals join that list - stirring up some darkness with a mix of gothic horror punk, accomplished musicians and improved production, this can comfortably sit alongside the best in the business.

Hex Rentals is available to stream and for digital download on the 17th April; a limited run of physical copies will also be available at upcoming shows. The 'Satans Night Out' single is also out now!

You can find Midnight Feature on Bandcamp, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube, as well as streaming on Spotify.

Review - Oracular - Jack the Ripper

Oracular

Jack the Ripper

Single, released 30th January 2026, We Are Horror Records

Leicester horror punk band Oracular are a band to keep an eye on as we stumble into 2026; they impressed with the literary-inspired 'Fictious Science' on last years WAHR comp 'The Kids Are All Fright!!!' but return here with a new iteration of the band, promising to deliver some more top tier horror punk to these islands. Their first single is now here, a classic take on the genre in more ways than one, dragging the UK horror punk scene into the new year with singalong-worthy, hard hitting melodic punk rock with a new take on an old tale. 

Fronted by Danny Demented, formerly of UKHP legends Siblings of Samhain, these misfits from the Midlands delve back into the smog filled, gas-lit streets of Victorian London to tell their tale of old Saucy Jack himself, from the infamously unknown serial killers own point of view. A scathing manifesto of the Whitechapel fiend follows, speaking of the joy in his murder spree, of cementing his legendary status which - more than a century on - transcends the murders and has turned the Ripper into an iconic horror figure drenched in the blood soaked events that happened on those dark London streets.

Guitarist Alexander the Grimm, bassist Gonz Van Ghoul and drummer Dee Kreeper deliver horror punk in the 'traditional' style, taking the melodic but aggressive approach of genre luminaries such as Blitzkid, Ripsnorter and the aforementioned Siblings of Samhain and adding a suitably British take on the sound - there's a touch of a rougher, Victorian-slum-like street punk sound to the song, from the spoken-word intro delivered by 'Jack', right through the crunching riffs and the anthemic chorus.  

It's a great start to the year for the newly energised and refocused band, delving into a subject matter that is always ripe for content and delivering a solid and highly enjoyable song which is sure to introduce them to the wider horror punk scene in a suitably blood-drenched and murderous way. 

'Jack the Ripper' is available to stream on all streaming platforms from the 30th January. You can also buy the song from We Are Horror Records which I certainly encourage you to do!

2026 update - the future of the blog

 As things have been going on in the background for the site, but no real new content has been posted in a couple of months, I wanted to post an update here for anyone who is following the site.

Originally I'd planned, somewhat randomly, for the site to solely be dedicated to the UK horror punk scene that I was re-discovering after several years pursuing other interests. I was - and still am - really digging finding new bands and wanted to do something vaguely creative to have an outlet whilst doing so. I had a blog and a name but a very vague idea what I was going to do - some reviews, the odd interview, some random playlists. No real grander plans aside from that.

But delving into the local bands delivering some killer releases in a genre I've always loved led me to widen my horizons. I realised very quickly that whilst I knew plenty of horror punk bands from around the world, there were dozens, hundreds even, that had passed me by. There were plenty of sites online showcasing them, but nothing really seemed to leap out at me as a place to go to discover the wide world of the genre. Seeing as I had this blog in it's early stages it seemed obvious to widen the scope a little. International reviews, a worldwide horror punk band map and list (because I do love a list) and just a wider view of the genre.

Moving into 2026, the horror punk world map has developed into something pretty cool, with over 1,000 bands on it at the moment plus a further 800 already penned in to be added in the next couple of months. After tinkering with some HTML, I also got a working template for the horror punk band list which, whilst still in very early days and not populated by more than one proper entry at the moment, is now setup to allow me to add many more bands quite easily. I'm restarting reviews, have some killer artwork on the way (and attempting to get 100% away from any AI art in the process any that I did use was always placeholder artwork until I got proper bits sorted) and my passion and enthusiasm is at a very high point!

Which leads me to the future. A UK based perspective will obviously remain - I am, after all, from here - but I am currently weighing up whether to change the name of the blog to 'Horror Punk versus the World' to better reflect the direction the blog will go in (and giving me a chance to get some killer b-movie inspired artwork in the process!). I've managed to somehow convince myself this will be a good change as I've written this post, but need to do some checking online to make sure the name hasn't been used before before making the change. So what will happen now in the future, if that change does happen?

- The world horror punk map and band list remain and will be the focus for the next few months. It's nerdy as hell sure, but I love lists and geography (yes, I know!) and from feedback from numerous bands this seems to be a genuinely useful resource. 

- I will add a new section to the site retaining all the 'UK Horror Punk' bits, and still focusing on the UK scene. This hopefully retains my original view of what I was going to do here.

- If I do indeed change the name of the site, I will change address and everything - and fix any links that would therefore not work! Best to do this change before I add tons of content!

- I'm very keen on showcasing horror punk style artwork on the blog and will be, throughout the year, getting in contact with artists to hopefully do this. Not only because the artwork is sick, and it will make the blog look cool as hell, but any very minor thing can I do to shine a spotlight on artists alongside the focus on bands and the horror punk genre has to be a good thing. I will hopefully be commissioning artwork from various sources throughout the rest of the year.

- When I get the above sorted, and settle down a little bit, I'll see about expanding other bits - as always I've got 9000 ideas and time to focus on 2. Putting on some gigs down here in the south west of England is on my agenda (it's been 20 years since I put a gig on, time to get back to it!), a compilation would be cool, and down the line would be great to do some merch - but that's all very far off, and I need to put some proper content up here before thinking about most of that!

- The site will still remain horrendously and gloriously D.I.Y. Whatever I decide to do in the future it will be messy at times, always independent of any bands and labels and very much punk rock. At the moment it's just me, but hopefully that will change as the year progresses and I'm always looking out for similar minded people who are as insane as me and may share some of what I think the site could be!

Just want to finish up by thanking all of the bands and people who have reached out to me since I started the blog. I'm not going to get all sentimental here, but horror punk has literally saved my life this past year (and punk saved me 25 years ago too) and this blog is giving me something to really focus on and which - I really hope - will be of some use to people. The music deserves some more attention and if I can do that at all, even in a small way, and have some fun along the way that's pretty damn cool. 

New International Reviews Roundup

Here's the latest selection of relatively random reviews for recent releases from the wider world of horror punk.

Zipperguts - Books of Blood (Album - 2025, USA)

The first full-length release from Zipperguts is a brutal lesson for those that think every horror punk release sounds the same. Describing themselves as 'Grindhouse Punk' is spot on - this is a dirty, raw, bloodied soundtrack to a serial killer; a grimy piece of malevolent horror punk that should be played with the lights out, preferably after indulging in obscure exploitation horror movies. The gravelly, tortured vocals of Jared Lord tell tales of murder, disfiguration and unhinged horrors - 'Smile', 'Shallow Grave' and 'Last Rites' being particular standouts, whilst the bells toll to open 'I Fuck Nuns' before it descends into blasphemous horror punk savagery. It's like a mix between dark 80s hardcore and first wave black metal (without the metal; through the grime and dirt this is most assuredly a punk album), the audio equivalent to that supposed snuff VHS tape passed around in your teenage years. It's a pretty great album.

You can purchase digitally at the bands Bandcamp page. 

You can also purchase on CD and Vinyl from HorrorShock Records. 

Review - Haddonwood - Deadcase

Haddonwood

Deadcase

Album, released 31st October 2025

Haddonwood hail from the North East of England, that current hotbed of horror punk talent, and have been steadily releasing tracks for all of 2025, each teasing the eventuality of this debut album release which arrived, fittingly, on Halloween. With a stated goal to deliver anthemic, energetic and catchy horror punk covering a wide variety of horror themes (and boasting a literal skeletal drummer, which must be unique) and a good reception to their earlier releases, this is certainly a band on the up - so how does the album hold up? Is it yet another top UK horror punk release this year? Time to take a look.