The Lurking Corpses Lurking After Midnight
If you’re into Horror, Punk, Metal or anything remotely close to these terms then I’ve got something special for ya! The Lurking Corpses & their label, Hells Headbanger Records recently announced the release of the band’s new album, Lurking After Midnight! It’s been a decade since we’ve gotten a full length release from these boils and I’ve been bummed that I haven’t been able to get off on a full length from the band – 7″ splits don’t do enough for me, just pisses me off! I’ve had the distinct pleasure to cover all of their releases or at least I’ve had them covered by my pal, TJ, on our old site. Honestly, it was so long ago, I don’t know who wrote what or covered what, but none of that matters, he and I have always been big fans/supporters and we’ve tried to spread the good word of the Corpses and today is no different! We’re here to talk about the new album, Lurking After Midnight. So pull your tombstones out and let’s get uncomfortable like we did way back in 2003 when the band released their first album – “23 Tales Of Terror”!
Lurking After Midnight is a brilliant album title, no doubt, it’s an influence from the long lost Silent Horror movie, London After Midnight. And I say that because I’ve said it/written it down about 20/30 times since I got this album. I’d be ashamed if I didn’t mention that this movie featured the late, great Lon Chaney. Sadly, I’ve never seen it, it’s supposedly lost. I believe it was destroyed in the MGM vault fire in 1965. If anyone out there has a copy, or knows better, please let me know. I’m dying to see the movie and have been for years! I’m a straight up Horror Geek hence the reason I’ve always been a fan of this band, they’ve waved the flag of Horror in every manner possible since their arrival. Notably, the bulk of their tracks have excerpts from Horror movies, which furthers the mystique and camp of the band for me. Musically, the band draws influences from every genre and sub-genre under the sun – Surf, Doo-Wop, Punk, Black, Death, Grindcore and so forth. Oftentimes I find it hard to categorize the band, it’s a skitzo’s wet dream, there’s something for every one of your personalities! Given the Horror influence and the sometimes deep baritone voice of Lord Vladimir Von Ghoul, it would be easy to say they have a sound similar to the Misfits, but that’s lazy and just not true. Sure there are some tender-IZING moments where you’ll get that Glenn Danzig vibe, (“Black Dahlia”) but for every one of these, there’s another time where Von Ghoul shrieks and screams (“Satan Is Real”) and I get TONS of Mercyful Fate/King Diamond feels and I don’t care what anyone says, nobody does Horror music quite like the KING! There’s also a good bit of ole fashioned growling (“Funeral Home”) so you get some Death Metal vibes. As I get deeper into the album I find myself enjoying the latter half a bit more – side 2 for the vinyl/cassette geeks out there! There’s some really catchy and fun moments to be had which I’ve come to expect and enjoy from the band. “Murder Sweet Murder” is a fantastic example of this, from the woah woahs, to the rousing chants of “Hail Satan, Hail Satan”! While it’s frowned on here in the Bible Belt, I’ll be humming and singing that one at the most inopportune times for years to come. The aforementioned “Satan is Real” is another menacing, medium paced track that dulls the senses until that beautiful falsetto kicks in and you can’t just help but squeal YAHHHHH!!!!! The last two tracks on the album “Heartbreak” and “Sweet Lenore” are my personal favorites, with the latter coming across more like a death ballad until the midway point, where it picks up tempo wise and rages on frantically until it drives the song off a cliff ending the album with Von Ghoul cackling maniacally. The album ends much like an old Horror movie, kind of out of nowhere, which is pretty neat to me.
I’ve been a fan of The Lurking Corpses since the band reached out to us all those years ago and asked us to cover their debut album – “23 Tales Of Terror”. I’d be lying if I said they’ve broken the mold with Lurking After Midnight, they haven’t, but they’ve continued on in the ways of Murder Happy Fun Time! If you’re a fan of the band, this album will move you in the same manner that all of their other releases have. Personally, this is what I expected, no, scratch that, this is EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED! I yearned for another dose of sweet catchy tracks about Horror, Terror, Murder and Satan! These dudes put the FUN in Funeral, they scratch all the itches that I have for campy Horror vibes and they’ve made my year by releasing this album! I feel like old friends have returned home after a very long unwanted absence. It’s a wonderful feeling to still be getting off on this band’s music all these years later. Lurking After Midnight is scheduled to be released on disc and digitally on May 24, 2024 via Hells Headbangers Records. I’m not sure if there will be a vinyl press, there’s no clear answer on that question. I’d like to think if the disc sells well there might be an urge to capitalize on it and offer a vinyl pressing. So hear me now TLC fans, hit the links below and get this album pre-ordered, you’re going to want this blasting at your next seance or the next time you decide to head out to the graveyard to dig up a date!
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