Music & Reviews: Welcome to the Horror Show by Sam Haynes

Track Listing:
1. All Hallows
2. Ghost House
3. Shadows
4. Scarecrows
5. Zombie
6. Doll House
7. Ghost Train
8. Midnight
9. Seance
10. 31-13
11. The Dark
12. Halloween Night
13. Midnight at the Funhouse
14. Endless Nightmare
15. Ghost House (Fettdog remix)
16. Scarecrows (Cheekyboy Dub)
17. Witching Hour
18. Spirit Box

Welcome to the Horror Show, the second album from Sam Haynes, is a collection of tracks that were created to be used in Halloween haunts and on horror movie soundtracks. There are sixteen individual pieces, plus two remixes; Fettdog's more aggressive remix of Ghost House and Cheekyboy's darker take on Scarecrows.

The album is very atmospheric throughout and tracks such as Ghost House, Spirit Box, Doll House, Midnight and 31-13 are particularly ominous and would be perfect for haunts and horror movies. There are, however, some more up tempo, danceable and almost "cute" tracks like Zombie, Halloween Night, Ghost Train, and Witching Hour, which would be great for Halloween parties and spooky fairgrounds.

While the influences of 70's, 80's and 90's horror soundtracks - everything from John Carpenter's Halloween and Christine scores to the Phantasm and Suspiria soundtracks by Fred Myrow/Malcolm Seagrave and Goblin respectively -  are overt, Sam Haynes manage to mix in their own brand of creepy to Welcome to the Horror Show as well. Many of the tracks have a familiar feel to them, but are simultaneously unique. 

Overall, Welcome to the Horror Show is an enjoyable and creepy album, with a great balance between horror-influenced scares and mischievous fun. It's definitely one for those with a love for movie scores and Halloween haunts.

Sam Haynes are giving away 5 free digital copies of Welcome to the Horror Show and all you have to do to win one is head over to their Facebook page and hit the "Like" button! Winners will be chosen at random on August 13th, 2013.

Websites:

• Haunt Music (Sam Haynes website) 
• Facebook
• Twitter
• iTunes

Music & Reviews: Vacant Tombs & Full Moons by Tommy Creep

Track Listing:

1. Death Beach
2. More Zombie Than Zombie
3. Pull The Switch!
4. Electronic Voice Phenomena
5. The Gravediggers
6. Haunted House Party
7. The Cemetery (Creepy VIP)
8. Castle Dracula
9. The Cemetery (Original Mix, with Ghoulshow)
10. More Zombie Than Zombie (VIP)
11. Stiff Wagon

Label: Graveyard Calling

Release Date: 29th July, 2013

Vacant Tombs and Full Moons is the new album by Tommy Creep, being released through UK-based label Graveyard Calling Horror Records on July 29th, both in digital formats (via BandCamp) and on limited edition cassette tapes. The release consists of 11 horror EDM (electronic dance music) tracks, including The Cemetery (Original Mix), a collaboration with fellow Graveyard Calling artist, Ghoulshow. 

The album opens with the up-tempo EDM track Death Beach, which features samples from 1960's b-movie The Beach Girls and the Monster for vocals. The song - much like the movie it samples - has a fun, somewhat comical feel, with a spooky electronic organ being used to create a 60's beach vibe. 

From there, the album takes a darker tone with great use of samples from classic horrors and sci fis, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, Atom-Age Vampire, The Corpse Vanishes and The Body Snatcher, among others. Sometimes the samples can be a little too long, and there are sometimes too many within one track. However, the samples create some interestingly creepy music; especially when intertwined with the glockenspiel, harpsichord and theremin synth melodies, and set to bass saws, occasional screams, squelches, evil laughs and all sorts of other horror sound effects.

If you're a fan of classic horror/sci-fi b-movies and EDM, you'll love this album and even if you don't, give Vacant Tombs and Full Moons a listen -  you might just change your mind!

Websites:

• Bandcamp
• Twitter
• Facebook

Music & Reviews: Tales from the Netherworld by Ghoulshow

Track Listing:

1. Spookhouse
2. Monster Closet
3. Nethervator
4. Jungle Voodoo
5. The Cemetary (Ghoulish VIP)
6. All Hallows Eve (Samhain)
7. Zeta Crash Landing
8. He Who Stalks the Night
9. The Cemetery (Original Mix)
10. Spookhouse (VIP)
11. Necromancy (Dead Roam Free)

Label: Graveyard Calling

Release Date: 29th July, 2013

Tales from the Netherworld, is the new release by electronic horror artist Ghoulshow, coming from the UK-based label Graveyard Calling. The album is being released both in digital formats and on limited edition cassette tapes, which are available through the Bandcamp page. 

It's a spooky yet danceable collection of tracks, from the theremins and saw bass of Spookhouse and menacing beat and xylophone of Jungle Voodoo, to The Cemetery (Original Mix) - a classic horror movie sample-laden collaboration with Graveyard Calling label-mate, Tommy Creep. Unusual sound and genre combinations are used throughout the album, not least on the track He Who Stalks the Night. It begins with gothic horror-esque harpsichords, before transforming into dub, then picking up the tempo with some EDM and dubstep at the end. 

Two songs on the album - Nethervator and Zeta Crash Landing - have a somewhat different feel to the rest of the album. Whilst they retain the spooky vibe of the other tracks, by way of foreboding synths and minor chords, they're distinctly different. Zeta Crash Landing has spacier sound and is definitely more influenced by sci-fi than horror, while Nethervator has an appropriately mechanical sound, even incorporating elements of experimental jazz into the mix. 

Overall, Tales from the Netherworld has a creepily sinister atmosphere, without losing the synth sound or tempo of EDM (electronic dance music), dubstep and drum & bass. Even if you're not usually into this type of music, it's still an enjoyable listen for fans of classic horror film & game soundtracks.

Websites:

• Ghoulshow on BandCamp
• Facebook
• Twitter
• SoundCloud

Music & Events: The Candy Spooky Theater US Tourdates / Pandemonium Tour Vol. 1

Tainted Reality, who are the US management of horror rock band The Candy Spooky Theater, have announced that the band will be on tour in the US again this autumn as part of the Pandemonium Tour Vol. 1. DJ SiSeN, GPK, and Mighty Mike Saga will also be taking part in the tour. At this time, all information is subject to change, but the current dates are as follows:

• Sep. 27th - Bellingham, WA (TCST only)
• Oct. 2nd - Bellingham, WA (DJ SiSeN & GPK only)
• Oct. 4th - Bellingham, WA (DJ SiSeN & GPK only)
• Oct. 5th - Bellingham, WA (TCST only)
• Oct. 9th - San Francisco, CA (TBA)
• Oct. 11th - Das Bunker, Los Angeles, CA (All artists attending, performance by DJ SiSeN only)
• Oct. 12th - Complex. Los Angeles CA (All)
• Oct. 13th - Phoenix, AZ (TBA)
• Oct. 14th - San Antonio, TX (TBA)
• Oct. 16th - Boston, MA (TBA)
• Oct. 17th - New York, NY (TBA)
• Oct. 18th - Philadelphia, PA (TBA)
• Oct. 21st - Columbus, OH (TBA)
• Oct. 26th - Mexico City, MX (DJ SiSeN & GPK only)
• Oct. 27th - Mexico City, MX (DJ SiSeN & GPK only)
• Nov. 1st-3rd - Nekocon (All artists attending, performance by DJ SiSeN only)
• Nov. 4th - Norfolk, VA (TBA)

You can buy tickets for the two TCST solo shows via NeonPromotions at TicketLeap here: TICKETS

For up-to-date information, check the official TCST website or Tainted Reality's website.

A-Z Blogging: N is for (A) Nightmare on Elm Street

(A) Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 horror film by Wes Craven, and was the first in a long series of films (8 or 9...it's hard to know what counts and doesn't!). It introduces Freddy Krueger, played by Robert Englund (who had, up to that point, been most famous for V, though apparently been considered playing Han Solo in Star Wars...) as a murderer seeking revenge on those that killed him, which he does by killing people in their dreams.

It was a pretty low budget film ($1.8 million, which is low for a film ok!) but was an instant success and, like I said, spawned many many many more.

After a rushed wallpaper job, many wondered what happened to Freddy

It features lots of killings, some nice shadows and cinematography, and blood. Lots of blood. But what makes this film really, really scary isn't any of this. I'm pretty sure I can't just post such terror on the front page...

So...

After the cut (be warned! Cannot be unseen! D:)

 This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

A-Z Blogging Challenge: M is for Manticore

Manticore

- Origin: The Manticore is a creature originating in Persian mythology, known as the Martyaxwar (man-eater). The name was taken from early Middle Persian and mistranscribed / adapted into a Greek and then English pronunciation (mantichora and manticore respectively). Due to the behaviour and locality in which Manticores originated, some believe that they were actually borne from over-exaggerated tales of tigers, of which the local people of the time were terrified.

- Descrption: Manticores have the body of lion, face of a man, and a voice that sounds similar to a trumpet. They also have the tail of a scorpian or dragon, which they use to shoot spines, like arrows, long range, and can also throw the spines, like javelins, at close range. As if that wasn't deadly enough, Manticores also have three rows of shark-like teeth in their mouths. Sometimes Manticores have the body of a dragon, in addition to wings and / or horns as well.

An illustration of Geryon the Manticore, by Gustave Doré, from The Divine Comedy.

- Behaviour: Manticores hide in long grass, showing only their human faces to those who approach. They then take those who come too close by surprise and devour them whole. They leave nothing of the person they have eaten, not even clothing and possessions; it is as though their prey has simply disappeared.

More about Manticores:

• Manticore Mythology at Gods and Monsters 
• Manticore at The Medieval Bestiary
• Manticore on Wikipedia

 
 This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

A-Z Blogging Challenge: L is for La Llorona

A still from KM 31: Kilometre 31 (2006), featuring a La Llorona-like character

La Llorona, "The Weeping Woman", originates from Mexican mythology and folklore. She is said to be the spirit of a woman, dressed in white, with long, flowing hair, who roams the Earth mourning for her children, while wailing and crying. 

One version of the tale of La Llorona tells of a beautiful woman called Maria, who falls deeply in love with a man who doesn't want her. She thinks that without her children, the man may accept her and so she drowns them, in order to make her more desirable to him. However, he once again rejects her and so she drowns herself in despair. 

When she reaches the gates of Heaven, she is not permitted because of the murders of her children and, trapped on Earth as a ghost, she searches for them, crying "Oh! My children!" in sorrow. In some stories, La Llorona will also kidnap any children she finds in an attempt to replace her own children. It is also said that anyone who hears her wails will die soon after.

Other versions of the story:

• La Llorona - A Hispanic Legend
• La Llorona: One Woman, Many Stories

Some history behind the legend:

• La Llorona: A five century-old lamentation

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

A-Z Blogging Challenge: K is for Kayako

Kayako Saeki is the main antagonist in the Japanese horror film series, Ju-on, as well as the US remake The Grudge. She was played by Takako Fuji six times in feature-length and short films, and once by Aiko Horiuchi in The Grudge 3.

Backstory:

Kayako was killed by her insanely jealous husband, Takeo Saeki, after he finds a journal detailing her (unrequited) love for another man, Shunsuke Kobayashi. Takeo murders Kayako by breaking her neck and stabbing her multiple times, before then hiding her body in the attic of their house, in a trash bag. He then also kills their son Toshio, the boy's cat and the pregnant wife of Kobayashi. 

Filled with rage over her violent death, Kayako returns as a vengeful ghost (onryou in Japanese) who kills Takeo and also anyone else who ventures into the house in which she was killed. Even those who leave the house are sometimes followed and killed by Kayako. Her presence is often forewarned by the appearance of Toshio's ghost, his cat's ghost / meowing, or a distinctive croaking sound, which is the only sound Kayako can make after having her windpipe crushed.

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

A-Z Blogging Challenge: J is for Jack o' Lanterns

Jack o' Lantern by Madame Luciel

With their hollowed-out, glowing orange faces and distinctive silhouettes, Jack o' Lanterns are an instantly recognisable symbol of modern Halloween celebrations. Originally carved from turnips, beets, and other root vegetables, Jack o' Lanterns represented faries, spirits and the Will o' the Wisp phenomenon (lights / orbs that floated above marshland etc.) in Gaelic folklore and were part of the Samhain celebrations. 

Will o' the Wisp / Stingy Jack Folklore

One of the tales associated with Jack o' Lanterns is that of Stingy Jack, which comes from Ireland and Scotland and is similar to the story of Will o' the Wisp. Although there are many different variations, one version tells of a thief called Jack who is running from villagers from whom he has stolen. He meets the Devil,  who wants to take his soul, but Jack comes up with a plan in order to prolong his life for a little longer. 

Jack o' Lanterns by myself & Madame Luciel

He tells the Devil - who can take any form he pleases - to turn himself into a coin and allow himself to be found by the villagers. Then, when he makes himself disappear the villagers would begin to fight and their souls would be more susceptible to the Devil's trickery. The Devil agrees to the plan and jumps into Jack's wallet; however, he finds himself next to a cross, which has also been put there by Jack. The cross strips the Devil of his powers and he is trapped there. 

Before Jack releases the Devil, he forces him to promise never to take his soul, to which he agrees. When Jack eventually dies, his Earthly deeds mean that he is not allowed into Heaven, but because of the Devil's promise, he's not allowed into Hell either and so has nowhere to go. Jack asked how he would find his way in the dark without light and so the Devil mocked him by throwing him an ember from the fires of Hell, which would never extinguish. Jack then carved out a turnip, in which to put the light and endlessly roams the Earth, looking for a place to rest; thus he became known as Jack o' Lantern.

Modern Jack o' Lanterns

Jack o' Lanterns by Madame Luciel

Although pumpkins were never traditionally carved for Halloween, in the 19th century US, where pumpkins were harvested close to the Harvest Festival / Samhain / Halloween celebrations, they began to use these orange gourds. Their skin was much easier to carve and their size made it much easier to put candles inside of, and so the pumpkin became much more popular and synonymous with modern Halloween celebrations. 

Pumpkin Crafting

Death Jack o' Lantern by Kei of Unfortunately Oh!

Traditionally, pumpkin carving was limited to faces, but now there are a vast array of designs used by crafters; it really is an artform!

Witch Jack o' Lantern by Madame Luciel

Frankenstein's Monster Jack o' Lantern by Kei of Unfortunately Oh!

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

A-Z Blogging Challenge: I is for Isola

Isola多重人格少女(Isola Tajuu Jinkaku shojo [Multiple personality girl]) is a 2000 film by director 

Toshiyuki Mizutani based on the book 十三番目の人格 ISOLA (jyusanbanme no "perusona" Isola/The 13th persona, Isola) by Yuusuke Kishi. It is about a woman named Yukari Kamo (Yoshino Kimura) who comes to help in the relief efforts following the 1995 Kobe earthquake. What makes this woman unusual is that she has a special gift that she can read the thoughts of others, including Chihiro Moritani (Yuu Kurosawa) a girl with multiple personalities. This doesn't really sound so bad, but one of these personalities happens to be a ghost named Isola. Yukari decides to help the girl and tries to get to the bottom of who Isola is and where she came from. I can't really say much more without plot spoiling! This is not a recommend activity More screencaps after the cut!! [Possible spoilers] Isola on Imdb This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

A-Z Blogging Challenge: G is for Grendel

G is for Grendel

Grendel was a monster of the fen (marshland) featured in the epic Anglo Saxon poem Beowulf, which was written sometime between the 8th and 11th centuries A.D and set in Denmark and Sweden. Although Beowulf was a great hero from Danish mythology, Grendel appears to be an original character created within the poem only, rather than an adaptation of a creature from other Beowulf tales.

Illustration by Mary French, from A Dictionary of Monsters and
Mysterious Beasts by Carey Miller

Grendel lived with his mother in either a cave underneath the marsh or actually within the marsh, which was close to the settlement of Herot. The settlement was the stronghold of the Danish king, Hrothgar and Grendel was enraged by the noise and singing coming from its people. 

One night, Grendel left his dwelling and ventured to Herot, in order to see for himself what was causing the disruption. He arrived and found a hall full of drunken guards, who had fallen asleep after a lavish banquet. The sight apparently enraged the monster further and he pounced on the guards, devouring thirty of them. The experience was a pleasant one for him and Grendel continued to return to feast on the people of Herot for the next twelve years; King Hrothgar could not find anyone strong enough to defeat him.

Crispin Glover as Grendel in Robert Zemeckis' 2007 motion-capture film Beowulf

However, after the years passed, Beowulf's ship arrived on the shores of King Hrothgar's land and the warrior and his men agreed to help the people of Herot. He formed a plan to ambush Grendel the next time he came to the town, consisting of he and his men pretending to be asleep in the banquet hall, when in fact they would be prepared for battle. 

When the creature arrived the next night, he found the doors open and the guards seemingly asleep. Once again, the sight of them infuriated him and he ate one of them men by the door. Next he tried to consume Beowulf, but instead was engaged in a battle with the warrior, someone whose strength he had not encountered the like of before. After wounding Grendel fatally in the shoulder, Beowulf allowed him to return to his cave to die. Although this marks the end of Grendel in the poem, his mother and then the dragon that eventually kills Beowulf, also battle him later. 

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

And Monster Monday!

A-Z Blogging Challenge: F is for Frankenstein Pop-Ups

Frankenstein Pop-Ups

During last year's A-Z, I wrote about one of the Dracula pop-up books that I have; this year, I thought it only fair that I should include my Frankenstein pop-up book! As with the Dracula pop-up book, this adaptation of the famed Mary Shelley novel features the talents of Clare Bampton (story adaptation), Anthony Williams (illustrations) and David Hawcock (pop-ups), with the addition of Rob Taylor (colour), and is published by Walker Books as well.

Frankenstein is equally as visually appealing, and the panels featuring the creature are particularly emotive and well-executed. The story is shortened, surmised and details left out in order to fit the constraints of an illustrated pop-up book, which does make it feel slightly rushed in places. However, where an author might spend ten to twenty pages or more on each description of scenery, emotions, reactions etc. the illustrations and pop-ups create the scene in a page or less and the impact is much more immediate. 

Some of the paper craft creations, such as the one above, are close to half a metre high, which can't help but leave a lasting impression!

Whilst I won't pretend that this pop-up is a substitute for reading the original Frankenstein text, for horror fans who want something different after working through the novel several times, and for younger readers who aren't quite ready to tackle The Modern Prometheus yet, this is a fun and novel spin on a beautiful book.

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

A-Z Blogging Challenge: E is for Edward Gorey

Edward Gorey

A page from The Haunted Tea Cosy, by Edward Gorey

American illustrator, playwright, set and costume designer, author and artist Edward Gorey was probably best known for his unusual and charming illustrated books, which often had macabre and Victorian-esque themes / styles. Gorey described a great deal of his own work as being in the  "literary nonsense" genre, though his styles were much more varied than that. 

The Gashlycrumb Tines by Edward Gorey

After his death in 2000, his house in Cape Cod, Massachusetts was transformed into The Edward Gorey House. The House serves as a museum dedicated to Gorey's creations and "also honors Gorey's passion and concern for animals, raising awareness about local and national animal welfare issues" (About the Gorey House; The Edward Gorey House website).

The Haunted Tea-Cosy by Edward Gorey

The Epiplectic Bicycle by Edward Gorey

A page from The Epiplectic Bicycle by Edward Gorey.
Poor alligator!

A page from The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

A-Z Blogging Challenge: D is for Darkstalkers

D is for...Darkstalkers (Darkstalkers: Resurrection, 2013, artwork pictured)

Darkstalkers

Character selection screen of Darkstalkers 3, featuring Q-Bee. Screencap by Madame Luciel

Darkstalkers is a 2D game series, released by Capcom; technically, it was originally released as Vampire (with subsequent games in the series being titled things like Vampire Hunter, Vampire Savior, Vampire Resurrection, etc.) in Japan, but in Europe and the US it's known as Darkstalkers. Whilst the game play is quite similar to other games, such as Street Fighter, what makes Darkstalkers a favourite of mine are the themes: monsters, mythology & folklore. Vampires, werewolves, bee-women, ghosts, demons, mummies, zombie rockstars, yetis, and more - they're all in there! 

The above trailer is for the release Darkstalkers: Resurrection, which combines two games in the series (Night Warriors: Darkstalkers' Revenge [1995] and Darkstalkers 3 [1997]), updating the graphics to HD and including extra modes (such as online play) and new unlockables. The game was released in 2013 for PS3 and XBox 360. The video below features an online match between Jedah and Victor (the uploader was playing as Jedah). I decided to include this one because of the background, 'MONSTER!'s,  Victor being like Frankenstein's Monster, and Jedah's crazy laughing.

Links:
Capcom Offical Website (International)
Vampire: Resurrection Official Capcom Website (Japanese)
Darkstalkers on the Capcom Database
Darkstalkopedia

This post is part of the A-Z Blogging Challenge, 2013.

If you want to find out more about the characters in the series and also see pictures of them, click the cut below↓  (Screencaps from Darkstalkers 3 by Madame Luciel)