Review - Toria and The Terror 'The Operating Table' EP

Toria and The Terror

The Operating Table

EP, out May 15th from We Are Horror Records

Barely a week goes by at the moment without another storming entry into the current wave of UK horror punk - we're living through a golden age of the New Wave of UKHP, bands emerging and gaining wider recognition, releasing essential records and starting to take on the established scenes from around the world. At the forefront of this are the bands signed to We Are Horror Records - now with a renewed UK focus - a home grown label spreading fear, horror and spine chilling jams across these cursed islands and across the seas. Numerous UK acts have appeared on past compilations from the label (as punk rock always has done, compilations have proved essential gateways to discovering new bands) and one which has stood out, alongside the release of three standalone singles, are Liverpool's Toria and The Terror (currently based over in Tokyo), a ferocious force blending the theatrical gothic side of horror punk with the always outspoken empowerment of the marginalised and forgotten in the very best traditions of the feminist-led punk legacy of this country. The unholy trinity of past single releases have been essential - the caustic anger of 'I Want Blood', the skin crawling terror and insanity of 'Worms for Brains' and  the haunting 'Funeral' have mixed metal, goth and riot grrrl influences, wrapped them up in a horror punk cape and battered listeners who may have come expecting some good ol' fashioned horror punk melodies with something altogether more dynamic. 

News of the band's first EP release was therefore pretty exciting. When bands aren't rigid in their stylistic output you never know what quite to expect, so on firing up 'The Operating Table' I wasn't sure whether to expect gothic rock influenced tales of woe, anger-fueled riotous punk rock or something else entirely. Amazingly, all of the above - and more - weave their way into what is quite simply an excellent EP. It starts with a bang - 'Frankenstein Girl' is a fuzzy, metal meets garage punk tale of self-loathing and the perils of celebrity worship. It seethes with anger, barely containing the rage as it courses along, always threatening to explode and take the world with it as Toria screams 'with every little stitch I become a new bitch'. Few bands can properly blend the horror aesthetics with pointed social commentary (possibly the best example of a UK band doing so would be The Ruined, which is never a bad comparison) but the band do it superbly here. 

The second song ('The Morgue') takes a different tact, an atypical horror punk song blending influences from horror surf, psychobilly, 60s horror shock rock akin to Lord Sutch and a spooky vibe, all coupled with the teetering-on-the-edge of madness style that is somewhat a signature of the band. It's a marked departure from the bands previous output, but is enormous fun showing how varied their influences are, and is the sort of instantly likeable song that brings to mind their fellow Liverpudlian icons Zombina and the Skeletones. 

The final track of the release has appeared before - on WAHR's 'The Kids are all Fright' comp last year. I absolutely raved about it then, an intense cover of the classic Bauhaus song 'Stigmata Martyr' that sounds like Bikini Kill covering the goth rock pioneers and time has not diminished it's impact. It's a spine-chillingly powerful slice of blasphemous gothic riot grrrl noise.

With the two opening tracks set to appear on the bands upcoming debut album 'Wicked Hymns', and with the pedigree of their earlier releases and the bands range of influences and sounds, Toria and The Terror are set to take the horror punk world by the scruff of it's metaphorical neck before tearing it off, all whilst wearing a blood-soaked smile. An absolute class release from a band who brings something different to the table and who could very well be the UK's biggest horror punk export in the years to come. 

You can pre-order the digital release on the WAHR website and it will be on all the usual streaming and download services come the 15th may. Whilst over on WAHR pick up some band merch and the previous single releases. You can follow the band over on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and over on WAHR's Bandcamp page (and give the label a follow over on Instagram and Facebook too!)

Random classic reviews - a trio of Murderland!

Thanks to an Instagram post from Esmeralda's Ghost (check out the new album!) I felt I had to revisit the glory that is California's own weavers of tales of serial killers, gore and comic book horror Murderland. As a band which re-enforced my love for horror punk but offered something a little different, they remain close to my heart and a personal favourite.

Murderland - Lights Out (Album, 2007)

I first stumbled upon LA's Murderland some time between the release of this, their debut album, and 2011s 'Prelude To A Kill'. I don't remember how exactly - probably some random find when compiling a yearly Halloween mix CD - but I'm so thankful that I did, especially as this remains one of the very best the genre has to offer. At just 7 songs long it's a sharp, short, monstrous attack of fast and melodic So-Cal hardcore and a touch of metal influencing their tales which, fittingly for the superb artwork, could come straight out of an EC comic story. Every song lands brilliantly, each delivering 2 minutes-something of horror-pop-punk with memorable hooks and impeccable story telling. I love this album so much I had it played at my wedding as it was a fave of both myself and my wife, and whilst every track is a banger it's hard not to single out 'October Sky' - a song so near-perfect, so perfectly pitched between emotional resonance and comic book horror, that it deserves a place in any future Horror Punk Hall of Fame (and my love for it outlived my marriage - but we're both still big fans of the band!)

Murderland - Prelude To A Kill (Album, 2011)

Murderland's second album is a classic. Not just of the horror punk genre, but of punk more generally. It's a hill I will absolutely die on. Whilst it was no doubt hard to top 'Lights Out', which was seven songs of near perfection, taken as a whole this just about manages to do so. It's still comic book horror, fast and melodic punk rock that California is so good at producing, with fabulous lyrics, unrelenting hook-laden pop-punk with noticeable thrash elements, but there is so much more thrown in this time. From perfectly placed sound clips to a gore obsession that would not be out of place in the repertoire of your favourite death metal band, this is 13 songs of twisted tales of Americana, of late night seedy motels, dismembered bodies in the bathtub and smiling serial killers. It feels almost like horror punk noir - whilst 'Lights Out' dealt with the ghosts and ghouls, this is a more human sort of terror. Whilst nothing quite tops the glory of 'October Sky' as a stand out track, 'Hacksaw Romance' runs very close. A twisted tale of dismemberment and love, it's like a sickly sweet pop-punk cover of a goregrind track, a masterful macabre monstrosity told with the band's usual tongue-in-cheek humour. One of the very best horror punk releases of all time, an album I would include in a top ten of any punk releases and which was a major factor in me re-embracing the genre around 2011. And yes, this also played in full at my wedding. 

Murderland - Splitsville (Album, 2016)

Described by the band itself as a move away from the pure horror punk of their earlier releases, Splitsville is definitely a more 'mature' third album, a more personal and introspective collection of songs that still pack a punch with solid, infectious punk rock. Being a bit of a fan of turn of the century (...well, that makes me feel old) pop-punk this is no bad thing and this would not look out of place as a Drive-Thru release circa 2001, with a touch of Alkaline Trio vibe running through it, an accomplished and well written album. However this isn't the short and sickly sweet deranged tales of before - whilst there's a splattering of horror punk themes it lacks the gruesome fun of either of it's predecessors and the change up from two minute storytelling perfection to longer more 'emotional' songs lessen it's impact. A solid and highly enjoyable release if you're missing the days of Midtown, The Starting Line, The Movielife and New Found Glory - but it's not the genre classic of either Prelude To A Kill or Lights Out. Must be noted though that there are few bands who could match the intensity and quality of either of those - and for most people who aren't as obsessed as we are with the horror element, Splitsville is a very good release indeed. 

The band are on Instagram and Facebook as well as Bandcamp and Spotify. 

Review - Ultrafiend X - 'Cold Dead Me' single

Ultrafiend X

Cold Dead Me

Single, May 5th 2026

Emerging from the crypts of Sacramento Ultrafiend X are one of the most exciting new bands on the scene at the moment; a melding together of gothic glam metal and horror punk, theatrical darkness, riffs and tales of terror that are dripping with atmosphere all wrapped in a distinctive style and passion that rips through every song. A live album release, as well as several demo tracks, have given way to a year of killer single releases in 2026 which has helped to build the bands momentum that doesn't look like stopping anytime soon.

Their third single of the year (after the excellent pounding horror punk of the lycanthropic loving 'Moonlight Hell' and the soul burningly dark and heavy Danzig-like 'Devil's Lake') is now here, in the form of 'Cold Dead Me' and it's another beast of a song. Going down the more 'traditional' horror punk route, this is a melodic, catchy and energetic song with a touch of nostalgic horror 'n roll, just the sort of thing that every self-suspecting genre-fan will be right at home with. Coupled with their previous singles, and the live/demo output of the past, this release just underlines how accomplished the band are and how excited you should be for the future.

Out now as a single (with some great artwork) to purchase (Bandcamp) and on streaming services (Spotify). Go follow the band over on Instagram too!

Review - Rise From Your Grave - 'Stay Awake' single

Rise From Your Grave

Stay Awake

Single, releases on May 15th

Pittsburgh's Rise From Your Grave have established themselves as one of the most dependable and respected of the current crop of horror punk bands, mixing horror punk harmonies with crunchy heavy metal and delivering catchy, hook-laden horror odes over the course of several singles, EPs and - when you include their incoming new album 'Choose Your Score' releasing in the autumn - half a dozen excellent albums. With a killer back-library behind them already, news of an imminent single release is always cause for celebration, so when 'Stay Awake' landed in my inbox I was already excited - and after spending some time with it I've still got the sort of buzz that only great horror punk can give me.

With inspiration from the exploits of every one's favourite clawed, nightmare infesting killer of teens Freddy Krueger, Stay Awake delivers a melodic assault replete with horror punk woah-oh's and soaring vocals; a catchy-as-hell song with those touches of horror love that we all find so irresistible. The subject matter may have been used many times before, but this ticks all the boxes for any self-respecting horror punk fan and goes right up there with The Casket Creatures 'Springwood Slasher' and Shadow Windhawk's '1428' as the best examples, and comfortably sits alongside both as the sort of instantly memorable and anthemic song which makes this the best music genre in the world.

It's a pretty damn great teaser for the upcoming album from a band that wins the award for 'Best Band Name' from me due to my self-proclaimed and longstanding Sega fanboyism, instantly drawing me to the band the first time I heard them. Probably the best thing to ever spring forth - sorta - from Altered Beast as well! Now we just need a horror punk album based around semi-forgotten Sega horror classics like IllBleed and D2 and I don't think I would be able to contain myself. But...I digress...

Stay Awake is out on the 15th May on streaming and over on Bandcamp, where you can currently also hear a preview of the song. Whilst you're over there pick up some merch and take a dip into the band's catalogue, you won't regret it.

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.