A new feature for the blog, mainly because I got some new CDs for Christmas and I thought it would be fun to review them a bit like my Book of the Month posts. I'm not sure how I'm going to format these posts so I can't promise there will be consistency in how I rate the albums if it does turn into a monthly series.
My first album of the month is Sanguivore II: Mistress of Death by Creeper.
It's an unusual concept album in an emerging genre called "horror metal". The story arc is supposed to be about a vampire rock band on tour leaving behind them a trail of victims, and hunted in turn by an avenging dark angel, the Mistress of Death (who I presume is pictured on the album cover). The band dress as vampires for their live shows.
I must admit, the first time I heard one of their songs playing on Planet Rock I thought it was a joke. The song was Blood Magick (It's a Ritual) and when the lead singer, William Von Ghould, intones "Drink the Blood!" at the end of the chorus, I burst out laughing. But then I heard the song a second time and realised this wasn't just a silly spoof. There is some real musicianship behind the speed metal riffs in that song and it was catchy. Vampire lore generally is a fine line between gory and silly and, in a way, I was impressed how much they committed to the bit.
Then Planet Rock played the title track Mistress of Death and I got the soaring chorus stuck in my head. By the time Prey for the Night was on the Planet Rock playlist, I decided to add the album to my wishlist and my sister-in-law, Abby, bought it for me for Christmas.
There is plenty of ambiguous wordplay throughout the album, reflecting how vampirism is often metaphor for sex. The gap between 'so give us head' and 'stones' in the chorus of Headstones, feels deliberate. Even more blatant is the command to "Suck" Suck! Suck!" in Parasite. The incredible chorus of The Black House includes this couplet
Come night fall, I want to hold you like a hammer in my hands
I want to nail you on the cross at your command
It might just be me hearing the double meaning of nail there, but I doubt it. I feel what shines through on this album is a group of accomplished musicians who know exactly what they are damn well doing, lyrically and musically.
This is theatrical rock metal. The story canters along, layering riff on riff before cutting away into a fuzzy lounge number (Razorwire), and a final confessional track that starts off as a mournful song of regret and climaxes with an operatic sign off for the album (Pavor Nocturnus).
Like all successful vampires, Creeper are very much playing with their audience. The tunes for all the songs are mesmeric and strangely uplifting when played at high volume. This isn't gloomy goth music, it's life-pumping bloodrush music designed to get your heart rate up and your vigour fizzing.
It's a short album too, romping through at less than 45 minutes. Which means, you can hit repeat on your favourite tracks as the album plays without extending the run time too much. I like to listen to The Black House at least twice each time it comes on.
Details
Year of release: 2025
Tracks: 12 (including a narrated introduction to the album and a short interlude at track 9)
Favourite track: The Black House
Tracks to skip: none, although I have been known to skip the narrated intro and get straight to Mistress of Death, which is the first proper song on the album.
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