Every time we get a message from beyond we cannot help but feel a shiver engulfing the body. It is not from fear though but a shudder of anticipation from dropping again into the beyond that is the musical world of UK outfit das GHOUL. Past releases have proved it a fascinating and pleasure haunting place so undertaking More Spectral Manoeuvres In The Dark what could be better?
Not a lot as it turned out as the EP is another rousing and fun outing with the Witney, Oxfordshire hailing quartet. It is a six-track sonic creepshow of what they term Gothic-tinged, horror-stained, punk ‘n’ roll terrorpop! and an adventure into the dark side as animated in craft as it is spooked in creepy tales, each brought into the light by principal songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Craig ‘The Plague’ Holtom, whose spectral messaging again pulled us into another moment of das GHOUL diablerie.
With bassist Bernard Ghoul-Hefner, drummer Mary Ghoul and keyboardist Octavia Von Wakeman rounding out the frightful foursome, das GHOUL has evolved a sound across the years and encounters like their 2020 Video Nasty EP and following acclaimed albums Trip The Light Phantasmic and Fruit Of The Gloom that merges horror punk, psych rock and dark pop for one unique infestation. That creative swarming wraps bone-chilling tales with their own sense of sinister fun and for no finer delight and distraction than within More Spectral Manoeuvres In The Dark.
The EP provides the most seductive invitation into its spooky realm with La La La, the opening moment a carnival-esque lure of temptation and virulence that took mere breaths to pull our own participation into its arms. The forty five second come-on leads to the querying of Why Does Grandma Glow In The Dark? which from initial inescapable rhythmic incitement to funereally floral keys and inquisitive vocals, wrapped ears in suggestive and creative aural illustration.
For the main and across their new EP, das GHOUL songs are snapshots in length adding to that anthology like feel, and though at times you may wish for more time with a certain moment it is a quickness that fuels a fast action adventure that never diminishes in crisp enterprise as proven by the following I’ve Never Seen That Axe Before. With Von Wakeman’s keys adding a Dave Greenfield hued flourish to their intimation, the track wraps ears in a picture-esque suggestion as the bass moodily strolls and beats land with intent. In the midst Holtom weaves his own sinisterly melodic acts while arguing the obvious.
From one deviously compelling moment to another with Pandora’s Vinyl Curse soon proving favourite track of the release. With a rapacious energy and intent to its gait and another animated flush to ear gripping keys, the song challenges and falls into the dark realm of the devil’s music with a warning that only sparks a want to try. It is a punk and rock ‘n’ roll trespass at its virulent best, a merciless manipulation of sound and enterprise that left lungs gasping by its end after lustful participation.
Oh My! What A Grisly Find is next up and shares a gothic serenade of sound come ballad of darkness. It too even with its more restrained urgency casts an inspiriting persuasion, drawing energy and imagination into a darkness magnetically woven by das Ghoul.
The EP ends with the irresistible lure of Morbid Curiosities, an afflicting and tempting of the band’s fiercely and inventively individual sound sprung in yet another sonic vignette of malignant and enlivening enterprise and adventure.
More Spectral Manoeuvres In The Dark is an aural picture show and musical adventure in one and yet another addictive outing with das GHOUL, a band that we hope never come out and see anything worthy in the light but find the full illumination of attention they deserve.
More Spectral Manoeuvres In The Dark is out now; available as a name your own price digitally release @ https://ghoul1.bandcamp.com/album/more-spectral-manoeuvres-in-the-dark and on CD @ https://wearehorrorrecords.co.uk/product/1006557
https://www.facebook.com/666dasGHOUL666 https://www.youtube.com/@dasghoul2489
Pete RingMaster 13/06/2024
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