Bringing Halloween to Christmas with more charm and bloodlust than Tim Burton could ever imagine, Irish queen of the macabre Venus de Vilo recently unveiled her new Frightmas EP Slashing Through The Snow. Consisting of three tales of festive mayhem sculpted in the distinctive and seductive style the Dublin born songstress of the grave is increasingly renowned for, the EP suggests there is hope for the Christmas song after all.
Once more Venus de Vilo tempts ears and imagination with her mix of acoustic and vocal rockabilly/vaudeville inspired prowess, a sound and temptation littered with additional aural candy. It is a blend which has already lured acclaim for previous releases such as the Edgar Allan Ho EP and Handle With Scare; a creative haunting and bewitching trespass masked as songs which has also seen the lady light up Dublin’s rock/metal bars, Burlesque and Cabaret nights, and open mic nights for the past years. She is also an alluring artist and writer/poet amongst many things, qualities also adding to the enthralling package of Slashing Through The Snow.
Santa’s Slay is the first dark deed on the EP, Venus instantly enticing ears vocally as her fingers strum with equal temptation on her guitar. A twisted and uncompromising visiting from the guy in red, song and artist reveal the real bloody heart of the revered protagonist of the festive event. It is a gripping insight, the outstanding and persistently compelling voice of Venus as mischievous as it is creatively harmonic and a rousing incitement on the imagination alone, but especially when loaded with her lyrical devilry.
Second track Mistletoetag is a dark folk lined encounter, Venus colouring her words in the most open and strongest lilt of her accent heard before in her songs, which only adds to the pull of the siren-esque croon. Every noted element of the season is sinisterly woven into the dark romance taking the listener from the heart to the slab, each a flirtation drawing the imagination deeper into the beguiling treat playing like an intoxicatingly intimate Black Christmas.
The EP is completed by The Night Before Christmassacre which as expected twists the ‘traditional’ yuletide story into one of visceral foul play and inescapable outcomes. Venus spins a web of grim and murderous predation, entrails and body parts littering the superb piece of rouge red prose cradled by haunting harmonies and electronic ambience.
The track as both its companions is outstanding, Venus at her best and more whilst taking ears and thoughts on a thrilling horror stained ghost train ride, one stalked by the big bloke and his guts splattered beard. Christmas is the time when you find out if you are on Santa’s good or bad list, though it matters little in the world of Venus de Vilo as confirmed by Slashing Through The Snow; there you are going to get yours come what may.
Slashing Through The Snow is out now @ https://venusdevilo.bandcamp.com/album/slashing-through-the-snow-album-comic-book-and-killendar-2016 and includes illustrated lyrics, comic book, and the digital version of Venus de Vilo’s 2016 “Killendar”.
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Pete RingMaster 11/12/2015
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The RingMaster Review 
Dear Venus, Always so compelling, a wonderful review of an even more amazing artist.