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.
