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Need a fresh, new album to stream this Halloween? A certain Southampton goth rock/horror punk sextet have got you all covered. Happy Halloween, one and all, guys and ghouls…
After the success of their 2023 record Sanguivore, which was voted Metal Hammer’s best album of the whole year, Creeper have well and truly propelled themselves into stardom. From undertaking an intimate UK tour of their own, to supporting Atreyu on their European tour, to THEN supporting Black Veil Brides on their US tour, it’s become clear that the demand for this band is massive and utterly relentless. Now, 2 years on, the group finally return in the most fiendish of fashions with the album’s highly anticipated follow-up and sequel – Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death. Now THAT’S something you can really sink your fangs into!
The record begins with a low bass-boosted synth line and ominous sounding strings that slowly rise and rise, until a familiar female voice beckons – “Beneath the flashing neon lights of a distant dream, a rock ‘n’ roll nightmare is coming true…” And if you’re a fan of Creeper, the voice should definitely be familiar, as we see the return of Patricia Morrison, former bass player of The Damned and wife of their lead singer Dave Vanian! After a final warning of “May God have mercy on their souls,” we launch into Mistress of Death, led by a haunting choir, before it catapults the listener into an 80s glam metal setting to further fuel its background and lore. Drenched in that glorious mid-80s glam sound, it acts as a true love letter to that period and the goth genre in general. The breakdown is very much unexpected, going into a doomy metal style that is akin to bands like H.I.M. or Type O Negative, before it resolves in an equally-as-unexpected key change to see the track, and overall introduction, out.
It’s not all glam metal and 80s core, though. Some songs go beyond the realm of this subgenre and will truly surprise you, like Razor Wire, for example – a song that oozes with slick, jazzy sleaze in a way that makes you think you’ve somehow stopped at an old-timey burlesque house. A presenter takes the mic and informs a cheering crowd to “Put your hands together for the Mistress of Death” as keyboardist Hannah enters the stage and lends us her truly impeccable vocal range. Belting out a bridge of “I’m a guillotine girl, I’m a bed of nails / Just a pretty face in love with the fires of love’s embrace” isn’t enough, though – shortly after, we’re treated to a sexy sax solo that is, frankly, seductive as all hell. It’s a left turn that is 100% welcomed!
Another track that takes a turn, particularly towards old-school Creeper, is the album’s lead single, Headstones, which kicks straight off with a burst of wailing guitars and fast, booming drums, eventually getting layered with Will’s low, evil vocal tones. The wah-drenched guitar work in the post-chorus sounds like Grave Disorder-era The Damned, something Captain Sensible would definitely have performed on. It also has both my favourite line and vocal delivery on the entire record – “Surrender your soul to the sins of the devil’s caress.” Every time I hear it, I feel like submitting to the preaching singer – sign me up for whatever cult he has going on!
On the final track, Pavov Nocturnus, we get treated to a piano-led symphony that has a great mixture of deep, harsh verse vocals (courtesy of Will) and then a melodic and beautiful chorus (courtesy of Hannah). The two vocalists mix together perfectly to create one of the album’s strongest tracks. Its instrumental is very Cure-inspired, particularly in the vein of their recent album Songs of a Lost World, but then when the guitar solo kicks in, we’re taken back to that 80s glam metal atmosphere. But before too long, Patricia’s chilling narration returns yet again at the end of the track, finishing with “The final curtain falls, our story is complete. Further than forever, locked away inside a dream.” And just like that, the Sanguivore sequel is over.
Sequels can be hit or miss – they’re either really good or really bad, there’s never really an in-between. But in the end, Creeper have successfully excelled in creating a sequel to Sanguivore that has enough depth and variety for it to stand alone as its own counterpart. But why stop there? I’m sure that fans are craving part 3, the true finale… the question is, will we get it next? Only time will tell.
‘SANGUIVORE II: MISTRESS OF DEATH’ is available HERE
DECEMBER – WITH ICE NINE KILLS
8th – Manchester, O2 Victoria Warehouse
9th – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
10th – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena
12th – London, OVO Arena Wembley
Follow Creeper, HERE
Review – Joe Richardson
Photo credit: Harry Steel
