Review - a pair of Oracular singles!

Oracular

Phantom and Dancing on My Grave

Singles, 2026

Sometimes I get distracted. And by sometimes, I mean a lot of the time. I had set out to review Oracular's second single release back some time ago - and I'm so behind in my own schedule they've only gone and released a third before I even got the review up! Rather than add another release to a backlog I really need to get a grip on, it seems fitting to do a double feature review for this most promising of UK horror punk bands.

These East Midland fiends (from Leicester, in fact) delivered the excellent 'Jack the Ripper' at the beginning of the year - an atmospheric horror punk tune which conjured up images of 19th century foggy London streets as they took on the tale of one of these haunted islands most enduring serial killers. It was a highly enjoyable take on the genre which dripped with a very British sense of horror, and is a song I've returned to throughout the year.

Their follow up, though, was even better. Released early in July, Phantom takes inspiration from another classic piece of horror lore, The Phantom of the Opera, moving from the gaslight and smog of Victorian England to the opulence of the Paris Opera and the literary classic from Gaston Leroux. I dig horror punk bands that dip their toes into the gothic world of the late 1800s, and for UK bands especially it gives a Hammer horror edge that I very much can get behind. The song itself is top class melodic horror punk, soaring vocals and sing along chorus are instantly enticing - it's not pounding punk rock, but really leans into the melodies and atmospheric music that the best horror punk bands can do so effortlessly. Near three minutes of an excellent example of the genre, and the best song the band had released to this point.

Come the month of August (the summer has melted into one long horrible heat wave, so time has no meaning anymore) and it was time for the third single from the band, Dancing on My Grave. Another atmospheric example of melodic horror punk this is a slightly more sombre affair; there is a serious macabre feel to the song and once more it conjures up visions of Hammer horror, dark streets after midnight and horror-Victoriana. It really is exactly what I want from the genre - bands like Blitzkid did it so well, but Oracular are a homegrown talent that evoke a very particular era of horror which is often overlooked. The echoey vocals and gothic sound work brilliantly and whilst it's not as instantly powerful as 'Phantom', it's in many ways a more memorable song for the imagery it creates in your mind. Following in the footsteps of Siblings of Samhain - a band who had very much the same vibe - and along with bands like das Ghoul, they've so far eschewed resorting to zombie flicks, slasher films or grindhouse pictures for their content (although nothing wrong with any of that!) and it very much gives them a fresh appeal that I for one am all for.

Signed to that bastion of the UK horror punk scene, We Are Horror Records, the future is incredibly exciting for Oracular. Playing what is set to be THE horror punk event of the year, the Horror Punk Fest 2026 in Birmingham in October, and with no doubt some more excellent songs to be released in future, they are a band to keep a disembodied eye or two on. Their artwork is also top class - always an important part of any horror punk band!

And next time, I may even review on time!

You can follow the band on Instagram and Facebook, Spotify and Apple Music and check out their page over on We Are Horror Records, where you can also pick up an excellent t-shirt! Buy some tickets to Horror Punk Fest 2026 too - I'll be there, but more importantly some of the very best horror punk bands these gruesome islands have to offer will be too (and some Texan guests!).

Take a listen to all the songs from the band below - but more importantly, go and support your local horror punk scene and give these guys a much deserved follow and purchase (or two).