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Tag Archives: terror
Terror Trax: #190 Shadow Fashion
Shadow Fashion
Members/ What instruments they play.
Patrick Fears – Vocals/Synth
Steve Salcido – Guitar
Svia Svenlava – Drums
Chuck Fears – Synth
Website
Album/Song/Tour you are excited about right now?
Really looking forward to catching The Birthday Massacre on tour right now. Huge fan and they always put on a killer live show!
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
The Misfits, Nine Inch Nails, Mike Patton (Faith No More), Guns N Roses
Who are your favorite artists today?
The Midnight, Gunship, Timecop 1983. Lots of Synthwave!!
What non-musical things inspire your music?
Dreams, nightmares, life, death, hopes and fears.
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
There’s not really a specific place I go to to because for me inspiration tends to hit at random times. When inspiration does hit I try to embrace that moment by hitting the studio as fast as I can to truly capture the vibe of what I’m feeling.
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
We’re pretty proud of the two music videos we’ve released so far and can’t wait to work on the third.
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
In 2017 we played The Lovecraft Bar in Portland, Oregon and it was sick!!! From the aesthetic of the bar to the people we met there, we just fell in love and would love to go back again someday.
What are your favorite horror movies?
I absolutely love old school horror movies especially from the 1980’s. That’s the stuff I grew up on and they really don’t make them like they used to. I love everything from the musical scoring to the make up and visual FX of that era.
What was the scariest night of your life?
Years ago we were in Laredo Texas playing a gig with our horror punk band when a riot broke out in the streets as we were standing outside. All we saw was a mob of people running and heard gunshots blasting so we all kinda just scattered and ran into abandoned buildings to escape. I for sure thought we were gonna die that night but as soon as everything settled we got the hell out of there!
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
It would be a dream to play Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig Germany and have Trash Batz open.
What are you working on now for future release?
We’re currently working a cover song that I’ve been wanting to do for awhile now. It’s a classic 90’s pop dance song which we’ll also be doing a video for. You’ll see it hopefully soon.
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners?
We really appreciate everyone who takes the time to listen to our music, read this interview or just acknowledge what we are doing here. Much love!
Terror Trax: #189 Lucifer Fulci
Lucifer Fulci
Lucifer does all the writing and playing of the bass and guitars, studio drummers.
Website
www.LuciferFulci.com
Twitter: @FulciLucifer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuciferFulci/
Instagram: lucifer.fulci
What album, tour, or song are you excited about now?
The next one, almost done for 2020.
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Testament, Black Sabbath, Celtic Frost
Who are your favorite artists today?
Burning Witches, Behemoth, The Misfits
What non-musical things inspire your music?
Horror, Halloween and the supernatural
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
Anywhere…at night.
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
Being able to inspire younger musicians.
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
I have not performed my solo work live. When I was in penis flytrap years ago, the coolest place was maybe the whiskey in Hollywood or maybe in Europe
What are your favorite horror movies?
The Witch, Hereditary, Heavy Metal, Dawn of the Dead.
What was the scariest night of your life?
One of many included a night in the haunted estate of Charlie Chapin in Los Angeles.
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
I would love to play in Europe again and play with Burning Witches. They rock!
What are you working on now for future release?
The new Lucifer record. Its a lot of good, new music with great players backing me up!
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners?
Thank you for all the support over the years. From Penis Flytrap, my solo work, Lords of October…all of it. I love you all!
Terror Trax: #188 Biomechanimal
Biomechanimal
Matthew L. Simpson (Production, Vocals),
Keith Kamholz (Electro Axe, Live Production),
Lex Liebert (Live Guitars),
Kekko Stefano (Live Drums)
Keith Kamholz (Electro Axe, Live Production),
Lex Liebert (Live Guitars),
Kekko Stefano (Live Drums)
Website
https://biomechanimal.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/biomechanimal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BiomechanimalMain/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biomechanimal/
What album, tour, or song are you excited about now?
Someone else: Swarm – Eat Me Alive EP // Us: Waves Single
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Skrillex, Rob Swire, Wednesday 13, Deathstars
Who are your favorite artists today?
In Flames
What non-musical things inspire your music?
Love of Cosmic Horror
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
Other peoples shows, or nature
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
Playing in Australia
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
Underground basement of a punk venue. No stage, just a circle of people and 3 enormous amp stacks
What are your favorite horror movies?
The VVitch, A Quiet Place, The Martyr
What was the scariest night of your life?
Car broke down in a forest in a place we didn’t know. 2 AM, no phone signal, no other cars, and the battery in the car began to go.
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
Cemetery of Fontanelle, Bring back Type O Negative while we’re at it.
What are you working on now for future release?
A Midtempo Bass music single called Haksal (학살)
Terror Trax: #187 Reality’s Despair
Reality’s Despair
DemarcatioN
Website
https://realitysdespair.bandcamp.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DespairReality
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realitysdespair/
What album, tour, or song are you excited about now?
Melancholic Disposition
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
The Cure, Joy Division, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb
Who are your favorite artists today?
Cygnosic, A Projection
What non-musical things inspire your music?
occultism
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
My inner self, the world
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
To stay a truly independent diy band
What are your favorite horror movies?
The Blair Witch
What was the scariest night of your life?
Sleeping in an old and scary house while hearing noises and seeing a white shape
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
Antwerp, opened by Cygnosic
What are you working on now for future release?
Just started work on a new album to be released early 2021
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners?
The band is a one man’s project, writing, recording, mixing and mastering is done by one person
Terror Trax: #186 The Dark Silence of Death
The Dark Silence of Death
Current lineup:
Javier “Javo” Monzon – Vocals
Miguel “Vader” Paz – Bass
Jesus “Viejo Macabro” Osuna – Guitar
Juan Carlos “JC” Delgado – Drums
Javier “Javo” Monzon – Vocals
Miguel “Vader” Paz – Bass
Jesus “Viejo Macabro” Osuna – Guitar
Juan Carlos “JC” Delgado – Drums
What album, tour, or song are you excited about now?
We’re currently working on a new album titled “The Unliving”
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, ACDC, Mecano, Hombres G and a lot of punk rock
Who are your favorite artists today?
Cannibal Corpse, Mercyful Fate, Misfits, Behemoth, Ghost, Carnifex, Rob Zombie, Venomous Maximus
What non-musical things inspire your music?
All things Horror… Stephen King, Alan Moore -Javo specifies-
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
The movies or the bar, or wherever watching movies and drinking is possible
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
Releasing our first album and combining efforts to keep a steady pace collaborating and creating
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
Opening for Phillip H Anselmo & The Illegals at Cafe Iguana here in Monterrey
What are your favorite horror movies?
El libro de piedra, Hasta el viento tiene miedo, Shadow of the Vampire, Altered, Martyrs, Inside, The Exorcist, Suspiria, Inferno, The Beyond, City of the Living Dead, Night of the Living Dead and all of Romero’s stuff, all of the Evil Dead stuff including TV series
What was the scariest night of your life?
I guess any night being a child after having seen horror movies or TV series that I wasn’t supposed to watch. My mind would play tricks on me seeing things in the dark, hearing noises outside the window… -Viejo Macabro- A nightmare once about a scientist dressed up as a nazi tortured friends and family and when he took off the doctor mask it was me -Javo Monzon-
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
We would love to do the European festival tour, Wacken, Copenhell, Hellfest, you know… About an opening band, wouldn’t know… but given the festival run fantasy, it’s more of sharing stage than who goes when… Since last year we started scratching a lot of doors to see if any of the festivals having Mercyful Fate this year would book us, lol that would be great curriculum.
What are you working on now for future release?
A new album titled “The Unliving”. I guess we’re going full Romero / Fulci on this one
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners?
Go check our Bandcamp site, our debut album is only $1USD in digital format and stay tuned for our new material coming soon!
Terror Trax: #185 Another Day Dawns
Another Day Dawns
Members/ What instruments they play.
Dakota McGeehan: vocals
Tyler Ritter: guitar
Nick McGeehan: drums
Jerome Betz: bass
Website
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnotherDayDawns/
Twitter: @an0therdaydawns
Instagram: @anotherdaydawns
Album/Song/Tour we are excited about right now.
Our next tour is gonna be with Adelitas Way from March into April, we’re really excited for that because it’s almost all new markets for us. It’s our first tour since release our new album ‘Stranger’ so it’s not just new markets, but all new material as well, so it’s almost like a fresh start for us which is exciting.
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Tyler: AC/DC, Judas Priest, and a lot of the classics are what got me on a roll with guitar and pushed me to better myself as a musician. I take a lot of different influence when it comes to songwriting though, a lot of bands like Moving Mountains, Tame Impala, Nine Inch Nails, etc., I love artists that can create huge, atmospheric songs that are bigger than just a riff or melody.
Who are your favorite artists today?
Tyler: it’s been a lot of hip-hop recently to be honest. I saw BROCKHAMPTON a few months back and it felt really eye-opening to me. I’ve always listened to a lot of music that’s vastly different from ours, but they taught me how to take inspiration from artists completely out of your field.
What non-musical things inspire your music?
Tyler: lots of video games from me. While I do take inspiration from certain soundtracks, it’s mostly the stories and ambiance that inspire me. Games like Bloodborne, Resident Evil, Dark Souls have such dark, expansive lore it feels very natural to write heavy, powerful songs about them.
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
Tyler: not specifically, I just try to adjust my surroundings to the best of my liking. Bringing my acoustic out on my roof to write never fails though.
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
I think we’re currently gaining on it right now, and it’s hitting 100K views on our new video. As an unsigned band it’ll be huge for us to organically reach that. We’re getting pretty close so give it a watch and help us get there!
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
I think the coolest place venue-wise would be The Machine Shop in Flint, MI. It’s so well run it takes away the natural stress of being on a big bill.
However we generally enjoy the West Coast a lot more, we always have a blast in LA
What are your favorite horror movies?
Tyler: The Evil Dead has to be my favorite. It might be cheating, but I wish horror-comedy was a more popular genre. It’s understandable why it isn’t big though, it’s difficult to organically get as many laughs as thrills in a movie, but it’s obvious Sam Raimi was the perfect person to make one. Other favorites recently have been Midsommar, Hereditary, and Get Out. Ari Aster and Jordan Peele are doing great things for horror.
What was the scariest night of your life?
For a little bit in high school I dated a girl who was very into the paranormal, but definitely not in a respectful way. She and her friends brought me to a graveyard one night where I found there was a grave they had already started digging up. We weren’t even there for 5 minutes before we all heard a very high-pitched, scream-like noise. Even after leaving right away plenty of strange things happened, her friend had a random panic attack later, objects were falling for seemingly no reason, and we both got nosebleeds. Needless to say that was our last “date” and I’ve remained very paranoid since.
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
I think Wembley Arena is a common dream venue for each of us. And as huge Office fanatics we’ve always made jokes about getting Kevin’s band “Scrantonicity” to open up for us.
What are you working on now for future release?
We’ve got another video in the works right now, not sure if I’m allowed to say which song it’s for though. But I think horror fans will be pleased, it’s looking to be darker than our current “Taste of Heaven” video.
Terror Trax: #184 Sharone
Sharone
Sharone – vocals, piano, synths, composition
Website
Twitter: @sharone-music
Facebook.com/sharone.official
Instagram: @sharone_official
Album/Song/Tour we are excited about right now.
I released my new album ‘Reflection’ back in December. I’m also hitting the studio once I return to track a brand new single.
Insert one YouTube Video link:
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Amy Lee / Evanescence, Lzzy Hale / Halestorm, My Chemical Romance, and P!nk.
Who are your favorite artists today?
All of the artists listed above as well as In This Moment, New Years Day, Meg Myers, and Badflower.
What non-musical things inspire your music?
My life… haha
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
Whenever I feel like writing music I have to isolate myself. I find that whenever I try writing with other people the product is rarely as genuine or personal as something I pour all of my emotion into when I’m in my own bubble.
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
2019 was my biggest year yet. I opened for five or six different nationals throughout the year, went on two tours, and released #Reflection, which is an album I am so, so proud of. I think that album alone is my greatest achievement thus far.
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
I played in Salt Lake City in March at a venue called The Underground. That was my favorite show we played outside of Colorado all year. The space was small but every band on the bill was incredible talented as well as kind, the crowd was engaged and energetic, and my bandmates slayed. I hope to go back there soon.
What are your favorite horror movies?
As far as the classics, I love Nightmare on Elm Street, The Exorcist, Psycho, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. From a more modern stance, I loved Saw, The Babadook, Halloween (2018), and Doctor Sleep.
What was the scariest night of your life?
I recently started using backing tracks for my life shows to incorporate the strings, choirs, harmonies, etc. and give myself the ability to move around and perform during certain parts of songs that require piano. The first show that I was using them at was opening for Puddle of Mudd in Golden, CO the first weekend of November. There were a good few hundred people at the show. It was a good crowd. My team and I were just figuring the whole system out and only got one smooth run through with the tracks the morning of the show. We decided to go for it anyway. We had a couple hiccups, but we still pulled it off. The show went great, but I still have never been more nervous/terrified in my life.
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
I will play at Red Rocks before I die. My opening band…I think I’d rather coheadline the show with Evanescence. That’s the ultimate dream.
What are you working on now for future release?
I’m working on a lot of new music, and I’m heading into the studio when I get back from tour in April to record a new single.
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners?
Make sure you check out my new album #Reflection. And follow me on Instagram, Spotify, Twitter, etc. to be the first to get sneak peaks of my new releases and upcoming shows!
Terror Trax: #183 Dogtablet
Martin King – Drums, Production, Programming
Roberto Soave – Bass, Production, programming
Jared Louche – Vox & Stories
Website
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDogtablet
Bandcamp: https://dogtablet.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DogTablet/
Instagram: @dogtablet2017
What album, tour, or song are you excited about now?
The Feathers & Skin remix album featuring some awesome remix friends
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Magazine, Bowie, Bauhaus, Roxy, Wire, Iggy
Who are your favorite artists today?
Muse, Scere, ACTORS, Nothing But Thieves , Skepta,
What non-musical things inspire your music?
Martin – My Life and a dark mental edge.
Jared – rusty hunks of metal. Chris Marker and La Jette. Lenny Bruce, performances and his book. Pools of semi-coagulated blood and the overturned throne. Diodes and dial tones. Mean Streets. Herbert Huncke, especially “Guilty Of Everything”. JG Ballard, everything though “High Rise” and “The Atrocity Exhibition” are the top of the list. Renaissance paintings and Dutch masters. Gaspar Noe. George Bellows’ painting “Stag Night At Sharkey’s”. Ryu (NOT Haruki) Murakami’s “Almost Transparent Blue”. You’ve got to love any author who inspires warnings from the Japanese Tourism Board any time he publishes a new book, as is the case with every RYU Murakami book, and “Almost Transparent Blue” is the acme. Dawn at the outer ring. Ink spatters. Realm Of The Senses. Broken robots that like to fuck. Acrylic paint. The poetry of Gil Scott-Heron, Bobby Seale and Amiri Baraka. Broken glass. John Singer Sargent’s paintings. Roxy and the Lido after dark. Christian Marcklay, not particularly his music, though his scratch-guitar was killer, but I love his recreated album covers and his experimental movies. The anarchitect and deconstructionist supremo Gordon Matta-Clarke. Mingus, Miles and Monk. William Gibson, most of his work though “Pattern Recog” was directionless. Teeth and tail bones and Tarkovsky. Eric Satie around lunch. Absolutely everything Francis Bacon created as well as his mythology. Caetano Veloso and Gal Costa. George Bataille is superb though “Story Of The Eye” is peerless in his oeuvre. Magazines, remember those, particularly 1970’s picture-rich editions as they’re best for collage. JK Huysmans “La Bas”. Werner Herzog, all of him, and Wim Wenders Himmel Uber Berlin and Paris Texas. Cremaster 5. Autumnal wind through skeletal trees. Marguerite Yourcenar. Ray Barretto. John Waters’ Female Trouble. ‘A Little History Of The World’ by Gombrich. Weather patterns and dusk. Night too. Queneau’s “Exercise De Style”. Laughter. Tears. The occasional dawn, and the Pearl Bailey quote heard in Cap d’Antibes at the Valpolli mansion: “Darling, until a few years ago, I never knew there was but one eight o’clock in the day”. Maya Angelou “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” though she’s consistently amazing. Monty Python. Samba. Wu-Tang, both of them. Chow Yun Fat and John Woo having sex. Berlin between ’62 and ’89. Blazing Saddles. Luniz “5 On It”. The Unknown.
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
Inside myself
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
Still being alive after so many years doing this shit.
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
Martin – I once played in a lava crater halfway up Mount Etna. We were above the clouds but above us was the glowing rim of the Volcano. Pretty damn awesome.
Jared – n the basement of an abandoned hotel in downtown Detroit. Roberto – Arenes De Frejus with The Cure standing in on bass for the absent Simon Gallup
What are your favorite horror movies?
We’re old school so that makes it Texas Chainsaw, the original. Evil Dead, of course. Jacob’s Ladder will forever hold a special grave in my heart. Polanski’s Repulsion. The original Wicker Man. Alien for the creeps, Aliens for the awesome comedy. Nicholas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now. Let The Right One In. 28 Days Later. Last House On The Left. Seven. Night Of The Hunter.
What was the scariest night of your life?
Jared – That would have to be the night Dave Brockie from GWAR and I almost died on the highway, but I think everyone knows that story by now.
Martin – Fighting skinheads behind the venue in Minneapolis after a Pigface show. They’d been chasing our support band to beat them down in homophobic rage. We won’t stand for that shit. Knives, Police, adrenaline and some scary stuff. My first experience with baton and Mace happy US cops actually. Martin Atkins saved me from being arrested. Roberto – Almost drowning in Canal D’Arles, drunk with a bicycle round my neck after one of the Cure shows in France.
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
The Hanging Gardens Of Babylon, and though I’ve seen him a number of times, I’d want to share a bill with Bowie. He wouldn’t be supporting us though. We’d be supporting him. The frustrating thing about being the headliner is that it’s a real challenge for me to be able to focus on the support bands. I’m always too tugged and distracted and fractured to be able to properly appreciate whatever’s happening before I play. This way we’d get to double-barrel the audience and then kick back with our circle and watch the man at work in one of the most glorious and deliriously l beautiful locations in the world.
What are you working on now for future release?
We’re planning a physical limited edition release of Feathers& Skin with some new tracks which will only be available on it. Working on remixes for other artists…..and somehow working out how we can tour this thing we call Dogtablet
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners?
The most important thing for us is to get our music out. So we ask you to use social media to share and spread the word. We don’t care if it’s streaming Spotify, Deezer, Fuckstream or whatever. It aint about the money……
Terror Trax: #182 Beauty in the Suffering
Beauty in the Suffering
All music/lyrics written, programmed, arranged, performed, and produced by DieTrich Thrall
Website
BeautyInTheSuffering.com
youtube.com/user/BITSuffering
IG @BITSuffering
facebook.com/BeautyInTheSuffering
beautyinthesuffering.bandcamp.com/
twitter.com/BITSuffering
Album/Song/Tour we are excited about right now.
DT: I will be filming scenes for several different films including; “COMPATIBLE,” a horror film about a new cutting edge dating app that goes awry, “IN THE WORLD OF THE LONG BREATH,” a modern vampire tale, and the CLOWN MOTEL: SPIRITS ARISE” sequel.
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
DT: Where do I start? Prince was always my biggest influence. I made a study of about a dozen of his albums back in the day when I used to do that sort of thing. I still revisit his albums frequently. David Bowie also. Motley Crue and a lot of 80’s hair metal. Iron Maiden and some metal. NIN, Ministry and some industrial. I am also a bit of a closet classical music fan so Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Chopin, Beethoven, and others will creep into my playlist. Hans Zimmer, Bear McCreary, and Craig Armstrong are some modern movie and television scorers that I also keep up with.
Who are your favorite artists today?
DT: Aimee Mann, Ghost, HIM, and Rammstein come to mind musically. Anything by Zack Snyder or Christopher Nolan, Ronald D Moore (Battlestar Galctica), J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5), Shawn Ryan (The Shield) are huge influences. Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar (Dark), Michael Petroni (Messiah) more recently.
What non-musical things inspire your music?
DT: Most recently a show called Messiah which deals with a possible Second Coming and “Dark” which delves into time travel. Dark actually reminded me of a book I used to read when I was a kid called Cave Of Time which was a Choose Your Own Adventure book. A lot of science fiction series and movies have always inspired. Some recent viewing includes Watchmen, Black Mirror, Altered Carbon, Love / Death / & Robots.
Comic books too. Some recent reads include East Of West, Jupiter’s Legacy, The Boys – I have recently been revisiting Planetary and Preacher which I was in to when they were being published.
Also and key – following up on my history studies. I am a history major still in pursuit of my Bachelor’s. My area of study is military so I’m always digging around on WW1 & 2, Civil War, American Revolution, Both European hundred years war related reading.
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
DT: Visual media that I just mentioned are a big part. A lot of times I just escape into my head and flesh out story ideas or whatever I am processing at the moment.
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
DT: Producing a handful of horror-themed music videos. 2 have been released with several in the final stages of post-production. Performing the song “Reveille” picked up by Clown Motel was cool. I rewrote and produced a Motley Crue cover of “LIVE WIRE” for my previous band MARAZENE which got the attention of rock legends Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee. I think I got an email from Motleys attorney within 5 minutes of posting the song on our social media asking if we had properly licensed the song.
Where was the coolest place to play?
DT: There’s so many different interesting venues out there. One of the more recent ones was while I was on tour in Lyon, France at a club called Rock N Eat Live. From what I understand it was a an old school prison at one point and by old school I mean several hundred years ago old school. There were multiple rooms for the bar, the stage, the merch area and then there were all these mini cells where we were told to leave some of our gear which they then locked up. So my gear was actually in prison in France for a short period of time! I noticed some people having drinks and lounging around in various cells. They had an Iron Maiden shrine in one of them. As a history major I definitely got a kick out of the place.
What are your favorite horror movies?
DT: Zombies of course. Romero’s original Dawn Of The Dead but Zack Snyder’s remake was strong as well. Skeleton Key kinda freaked me out the first time I saw it. VVitch was interesting and I really dug the old school speech that the script utilized. Hereditary more recently was the first movie in awhile that made me feel “Ahhh!”, Prince Of Darkness and Event Horizon are older faves and were the first time I had considered cosmic horror and kept me awake a few nights. Martyrs also a fresh take. The Ring too.
What was the scariest night of your life?
DT: There are several actually. One of the more odder memories I have was back when I was a teen and one of my friends and I at the time had just gotten our drivers certification. I think this is before receiving our actual drivers license. Anyways, somehow we convinced a friend of my mothers to borrow his car (!) to take it for a drive. Not five minutes into the drive a black cat darted across the street in front of us as we were driving and I was like “Yikes – how weird!” Not long after that it began to snow lightly making the roads a bit slick. My friend thought it would be a good idea to accelerate when it wasn’t needed and we spun out of control and nailed a telephone pole head-on. Somehow made it out of that with only a tooth hitting the dashboard. But the car was trashed and if we had been going any faster there could have been some window ejections. Scary stuff just getting familiar with driving – lesson learned. Beyond that there’s a solid batch of moments that I have revisited where I have come to realize if I had made one small adjustment in the direction I had moved it could have been a very seriously game-ending situation.
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
DT: Moscow in large part due to my study of Russian history during both world wars. Tokyo too as runner up. Thrall-Zilla is about due a gander.
What are you working on now for future release?
DT: I have about a dozen Beauty In The Suffering songs I am in the mixing stage and several music videos I am putting the final touches on. With everything working out I am hoping for a Fall release.
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners? Very much looking forward to seeing everyone on the new Lords Of Acid tour! Let’s party!
Terror Trax: #181 I Ya Toyah
I Ya Toyah
Ania Tarnowska: Music/Lyrics/Arrangement/Production/Vocals/Keys/Guitars/Drums/Programming
Website
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iyatoyah
Bandcamp: https://iyatoyah.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IYaToyah
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iyatoyah/
What album, tour, or song are you excited about now?
I’m excited about my own release, Code Blue Reloaded + Code Blue Revelations remix album. Other than this, I look forward to 3TEETH and Carnifex tour featuring Tim Skold and The Browning
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Iron Maiden, Opeth, Depeche Mode, Soundgarden, Audioslave, Sade, NIN, Tool, Tori Amos, Guano Apes.
Who are your favorite artists today?
Depeche Mode, NIN, Tool, Mortiis, The Midnight, 3TEETH, Health
What non-musical things inspire your music?
Every day observations
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
My own head seems to be a perfect hub for ridiculous ideas turned music.
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
Code Blue album release, Code Blue Reloaded drop, then touring with Pigface, and going on the road with Zwaremachine….But there is more to it than those events. It is a flow, chain reaction, it is continuous 🙂
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
I loved playing Thalia Hall, Chicago. It was a sold-out show on the gloomy November night… My homecoming show from tour with Pigface. The venue is known to be haunted so it was a lot of dark fun going on that night.
What are your favorite horror movies?
I love Children of the Corn– probably equally for the plot darkness and amazing soundtrack. Something you’d bath in blood bath to 😉 Others are Strangers, Psycho, anything Hitchcock… Wrong Turn, Exorcist, It, oh, there is so many of them!
What was the scariest night of your life?
There is more than one. When I was in car accident at the age of 12….it shredded my guitar and my head was smashed, skull fractured, but all I could think of was my Dad who was in this accident with me, and my Mom and Sister who waited at home for us. I was only scared for short- I had no idea how badly injured I was. I fell into coma after this, and they didn’t know if I will ever wake up. So, pretty scary. There are more but too dark to share….
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
Dalhalla in Sweden, it is an open-air theatre located in a former limestone quarry, and it is used as a summer music venue. It is gorgeous! I’d love to open the show up there for Depeche Mode.
What are you working on now for future release?
I am prepping to write the material for the next album. Currently working on some music production parts, testing some plugins, sounds, getting inspired….
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners?
Yes. Help me spread the disease of music and infect the human race! But also, I love you. Thank you for not just hearing, but also for listening.
Terror Trax: #180 Spank the Nun
Spank the Nun
ERIC writing and production and sound…
Jeremy additional writing and sounds.
Jeremy additional writing and sounds.
Website
Twitter: @spankthenun
Bandcamp: https://spankthenun.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: @spankthenun
What album, tour, or song are you excited about now?
Our new album released on 1/28/2020 Initial Decay Control… many of the tracks or getting played in the clubs and on top playlists. We are heavily focused on promoting the new album and getting it heard. We are working on a single for Glitch and Burn and also a deluxe version is in the works. We are developing the live show now and also working on tons of new material that will be out later in the year too.
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Front Line Assembly, Front 242, Bi-God 20, Bowie, Bauhaus, Leather Strip, Wumpscut – our music oftens pulls from these particular influences… we don’t aim to copy but pull the best bits forward and pay homage to what once was and is again… fans of these bands will feel at home with our sound, even though it is different than what is out there now.
Who are your favorite artists today?
Angelspit, HARSH R, KREIGN, Isserley, Conspiracy Thief, Slighter, ESA, iVardensphere – We are big into bands that sound different and stand out within the industrial genre, especially the ones that can work well with noise and make it sonically appealing and not just covering up a lack of creativity and talent. There is so much great new music right now.
What non-musical things inspire your music?
horror movies, serial killer documentaries, sci fi horror… I (Eric) watch Event Horizon every few months and I just watch Henry A Portrait of Serial Killer for the first time in years. We are constantly looking for new films and documentaries to draw ideas from. I keep a digital notebook of ideas for songs and videos and am constantly jotting down notes when I am watching. The idea for the song came from a kids show that happened to be on and an idea I had had for a while for a song, and it all clicked when I was watching some nonsense on TV for just a minute.
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
my studio, or throw on some scifi horror or zombie horror, we keep an extensive list of ideas that we can go to, wether it is notes, loops we have made, samples that we have curated over the years… we have many things to pull from to get inspired when needed
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
getting our first album out so far and working with some of the best in the business… it was important to us that the album be different and have 12 solid tracks that any of them could be singles… we didn’t want any throw away songs on there and we want to make sure it was not over or under produced… but sounded just right. We didn’t want cover things up with noise, we want to make noise the music. For example the song SIN is all sample except for one string part played in a couple spots… the rest are all found sounds and samples.
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
Coolest place we have played in the past, is the Roxy and the Whiskey A Go-Go in Hollywood, we haven’t toured with this new music yet… but we are putting that together now so we can do a few live shows in 2020. Right now we are looking at clubs and festivals.
What are your favorite horror movies?
Event Horizon, Pandorum, Evil Dead, The Thing, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Alien, Session 9, Audition, Ravenous, Midnight Meat Train, Spiral, Splinter, Tale of Two Sisters and many more. There are some weird as Japanese Cyberpunk movies like Tetsuo and Rubber Johnny that are some of our favorites. We have actually cut songs and videos for the next album already using these influences.
What was the scariest night of your life?
Hard to choose. But getting stocked in clubs by redneck frat boys that shouldn’t be there. They would try to dance with our girls and pick a fight with us, they eventually got kicked out and then back in later and we had to fight them when they attack my girl. Security kicked them out after and they waited outside for us for hours. Luckily after we got out the gave up quickly and left… but we were paranoid heading to the next spot and all the way home. And for weeks after that.
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
That is tough. In front of the right crowd that is ready to embrace us and enjoy it to the max. There are so many bands that would be amazing but we should be opening for all of them not for us.
What are you working on now for future release?
We just released our new album in January and we are working on the next single and a possible deluxe version of the album. We have tons of remixes and tracks we didn’t use for the album. We are also working on the next album, it is very close to tracked at this point but we aren’t in a hurry to release it. We are also working with several other artists on some additional collaboration projects. There will be new SPANKTHENUN in one form of the other every other week this year… no joke. Including at least one more full-length album, maybe two more.
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners?
We are here and plan to big impression by building the name and continually putting out high-quality product. We will release a new remix or song or a remix of someone else’s every couple of weeks.
Terror Trax: #179 Her Despair
Her Despair
J – vocals / Dan – guitar / Vikki – bass / Jord – guitar / Toby – keyboards
Website
https://twitter.com/herdespairband
https://herdespair.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/herdespairband/
What album, tour, or song are you excited about now?
Our latest record “Exorcisms of Eroticism”
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Sisters of Mercy / HIM / 69 Eyes
Who are your favorite artists today?
Nick Cave / My Dying Bride / Woods of Ypres
What non-musical things inspire your music?
Religion and sex
Is there a place where you go to be inspired?
Alone in a dark room
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band?
Our most recent record “Exorcisms of Eroticism”
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most?
Darker Days Festival UK
What are your favorite horror movies?
Halloween / Night of the Living Dead / Blair Witch Project
What was the scariest night of your life?
The first night I died
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band?
M’era Luna Festival would be the dream. I think we’d be the opener, but let’s pretend the Sisters are headlining
What are you working on now for future release?
Skeletons of what will become the next record; whether a three track EP or fifteen track album. Time will tell…
Anything you want to tell the listeners?
Our hearts break for you – thank you for your undying support
Read R.L. Merrill’s review of Her Despair, here: https://horroraddicts.wordpress.com/2020/02/28/merrills-musical-musingsher-despair-and-best-of-2019/
Terror Trax: #178 Justin Symbol aka Star Daddy
Justin Symbol aka Star Daddy
Star Daddy – vocals, beats, programming, bass guitar
Ryan Lynch – guitar
DJ Swamp – beats, samples, scratching
Byron Alvarez – drums
Who writes your lyrics?
Star Daddy – I write all the lyrics, other than the one song “The Devil You Know” which was written by Ryan Lynch
Website
Album/Song/Tour we are excited about right now.
My new album – ’Candy Man’ !!!
What singers or bands inspired you growing up?
Marilyn Manson, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, The Doors, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Kanye West
Who are your favorite artists today? Tyler the Creator, Ghostemane, XXX Tentacion, Lil Peep, Ouija Macc, Gvllow, Razakel, Angel Nightmare
What non-musical things inspire your music? Surrealist art, pop art, fashion, colors
Is there a place where you go to be inspired? Traveling, walking and hiking around Los Angeles, Yoga, Exercise
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band? Opening for Ministry on tour, opening for Twiztid
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most? We always love playing Florida. Best crowds.
What are your favorite horror movies? The Exorcist, Suspiria, Silence of the Lambs, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Pink Flamingos…is that horror?!
What was the scariest night of your life? In 2018, while on tour with Ministry we were driving in the tundra across the border from Canada to the U.S. It was about 3 or 4am and the road was a pure sheet of ice! Suddenly we came across a herd of elk crossing the road in the blizzard. Each one was about 1,000 pounds and could have totaled the van, and we almost hit the whole herd! They were completely un-phased as our van ground to a halt on the ice road, and they passed silently by. Also one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen!
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band? I would love to play in Europe specifically Germany and the UK I know we’d do really well.
What are you working on now for future release? I’ve been experimenting in fashion, designing custom leather jackets and punk style DIY pants with my girlfriend, (sideshow performer) Nola Star. As far as music, I recently did a feature for Razakel and I’ll be featuring on my friend Buddy Danger’s song. Been dabbling in my own beats too but the direction for future recordings is still very much up in the air!
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners? Tune in, stream, watch, share and tell your friends! And thank you to those who’ve been listening and coming to shows! This is just the beginning!
Terror Trax: Raven Chronicles
Band Name: Raven Chronicles
Brandon Vaughn – All music
https://ravenchronicles.hearnow.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Ghost.Raven.Chronicles/
Album/Song/Tour we are excited about right now: Recent release of “A Ghost Story” debut album. Soon to release 2nd album: “The Haunting of Briarwood Manor”
What singers or bands inspired you growing up? Old progressive rock groups (Genesis, Kansas, Pink Floyd) as well as modern composers (Samuel Barber, Beethoven, Hans Zimmer).
Who are your favorite artists today? Midnight Syndicate, composers of modern horror movies (Insidious, Conjuring)
What non-musical things inspire your music? Movies, nature, paranormal investigations
Is there a place where you go to be inspired? Nature, and learning that inspiration is more about perspiration (and consistency)
What’s been the greatest achievement of your band? Releasing the first album
Where was the coolest place to play? Where did you enjoy yourselves the most? Have not played live yet, hoping to someday play live with an actual orchestra
What are your favorite horror movies? Insidious, Conjuring
What was the scariest night of your life? I once stayed in a haunted hotel in Weatherford, TX and saw lights turning on and off in various rooms.
If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be and who would be your opening band? I would play in a Greek Colosseum (like Yanni) but playing spooky, paranormal music with a full orchestra and choir. I would love for Midnight Syndicate to open for me, or Hans Zimmer.
What are you working on now for future release? I’m currently finishing the 2nd album “Haunting of Briarwood Manor” that I hope to release by this Halloween.
Final thoughts / Anything you want to tell the listeners? I would love for everyone to enjoy the music and let me know. I would love interaction on Facebook with fans of the music! Spread the word if you love the music!
PR: Massive Movie Update!
Production Set to Begin on Next Installment of Hit Found-footage Franchise
Los Angeles, CA — Pack your bags for another terrifying stay at the infernal Abaddon Hotel. HELL HOUSE LLC III: LAKE OF FIRE, the third installment in the hit found-footage horror franchise, has started production as of May 1 and will premiere exclusively on Shudder later this year.
Writer/director Stephen Cognetti and producer Joe Bandelli have returned for the new installment, along with many of the original Hell House LLC cast. The following castmates will reprise their roles: Ryan Jennifer Jones (Sara), Danny Bellini (Alex), Gore Abrams (Paul), Adam Schneider (Mac), Theodore Bouloukos (Robert) and Jared Hacker (Tony). They are joined by returning Hell House LLC II cast members Joy Shatz (Molly), Jillian Geurts (Jessica) and Brian David Tracy as the demonic former Abaddon Hotel owner Andrew Tully.
Shudder manager Craig Engler has talked about the franchise, recently. Engler said of the films: “the Hell House LLC franchise on Shudder has been hugely popular, and our worldwide premiere of Hell House LLC 2 last year was one of our most watched films ever.” Engler also said of the film’s debut: “we couldn’t be more thrilled to premiere the final chapter of this epically terrifying series exclusively on Shudder!”
West Hollywood, CA – Shed of the Dead is a zombie thriller, from director Drew Cullingham (Umbrage). One part Shaun of the Dead and one part 28 Days Later, the film follows two slackers, who whittle their days away playing Dungeons & Dragons and painting figurines. As life pressures build up for Trevor (Spencer Brown) and Graham (Ewen MacIntosh), events take an unexpected turn, when the undead turn up in their little gardening spot. Now, it is a fight for survival, in a real zombie apocalypse – this May!
Shed of the Dead is bringing some of the most fearsome horror icons to the screen. Kane Hodder of Friday the 13th fame, along with Bill Moseley (3 From Hell) and Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, 1977) will be part of the action – some in undead form. As well, all three actors will be at: Shriekfest and Monsterpalooza to talk about this re-animated film.
This zombierific title will began a theatrical launch this May, through Indican Pictures. The first showing of the film will take place in North Hollywood, at the Laemmle Theatre, this May 17th. Another showing, across the pond, will begin this May 18th, in London (Sci-fi London). After a theatrical release, which will take place in at least four countries, Shed of the Dead will be available on DVD and Digital platforms this June 6th! There will be lots of opportunities for film fans to see this horror comedy shamble on both big and little screens, this Spring and Summer.
The official trailer for Shed of the Dead: https://vimeo.com/327153102
West Hollywood, CA – The Drag Queen horror film Killer Unicorn has just been acquired by distribution house Indican Pictures, at the Cannes Film Festival. Part comedy and all party, Killer Unicorn is the latest film from long time director Drew Bolton and writer Jose D. Alvarez. Set in the underground dance scene of Brooklyn, New York, this film brings a serial killer into the mix. As the local Drag Queens are targeted, survivors must use their special, very unique skills to save themselves and track down this stalker. Killer Unicorn will be in theatres this month, across the United States.
Writer Alvarez has talked about the film at several major magazines. At Billboard, Alvarez described the film as: “like John Waters topping John Carpenter, so equal parts scary, campy and queer.” This are two filmmaking icons that are hard to best. The writer also mentions that there are hidden references in the film: “so you will get some I Know What You Did Last Summer, Scream and Halloween.” All of these films will combine with a colourful Brooklyn nightlife, this June 14th.
On this date, Indican Pictures will show the film from coast-to-coast. The initial theatrical release will take place in: New York City, Houston and Los Angeles. This first showing will be followed by other cities, with Killer Unicorn to show on DVD and Digital platforms July 9th. For now, horror fans can view some of many over-the-top characters from the film, including Lady Havok, Isis Vermouth and Latrice Royale, before the film’s wide release, next week!
The official trailer for Killer Unicorn: https://vimeo.com/269006196
Los Angeles, CA TERROR FILMS has acquired worldwide rights to the chilling ride-share feature film END TRIP.
Aaron Jay Rome wears multiple hats in his critically acclaimed horror-thriller. Rome not only wrote, directed and produced the film, he also stars in the film as Brandon, a ride-share driver working for URYDE. On an otherwise quiet night, Brandon picks up Judd (Dean West). But unlike the usual pick-up and drop-off scenario, Judd explains that he recently went through a messy breakup and asks Brandon if he’d mind just driving around the city while they talk. Brandon agrees, offering an empathetic ear to Judd. As they continue to drive into the night Brandon and Judd appear to be forging a new found friendship. However beneath it all there is more to this ride-share than meets the eye and for one of them – this ride will be their last.
END TRIP has a large cast. The co-stars include: Ashley Lenz, Jaren Mitchell and Michelle West. Dean, who also produced the film with Rome, will next be seen co-starring in the Blumhouse & Universal horror film The Hunt.
TERROR FILMS has set the release date for Friday, June 21st, 2019. The film will roll out in North America on Prime Video and Vudu, initially. This release will be followed by another in the coming months, across multiple platforms such as Google Play, Vudu, TUBI TV, Roku and many more. International platforms iFlix and Horrify will also show the release, at a future date. A DVD release will take place later this year. For now, film fans can check out the official poster and trailer, courtesy of TERROR FILMS and be sure to watch END TRIP when it hits platforms on June 21st. It may change your mind about using a ride share service.
The official trailer for END TRIP: https://youtu.be/rEpIMvVeV7g
Logbook of Terror: Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Assylm
Trans-Alleghany Lunatic Asylum, WV
Despite my loathsome misgivings toward any address with the words “lunatic” and “asylum” in its name or description, I agreed to visit this dreaded famed and supposedly “haunted” locale to investigate. I may sound like a cynic, a non-believer, but the truth is that I believe too strongly and that is why I despise such a place as this.
I know beyond any doubt that it is indeed cursed, that even its bricks and mortar waver in an unearthly trance –caught between worlds- and that I chance becoming infected with the lunacy myself. For madness lingers, defying death, living on past the mind in which it once dwelt. It is in the walls, in the decomposing rot that lines the ceilings, and surely in the lonely apparitions who wander the dank, cob-webbed corridors of this derelict monument to insanity.
I could feel the terror building in my chest even as I approached the massive gothic structure, its peaks looming high above me in the West Virginia sky, looking down with a mocking sneer. Yet, even with the horror filling my bones, I entered this grand monolith to the wreckage of malformed minds. I simply could not help myself, for I had to know what lies behind the veil of sanity, and the tickets to the overnight ghost tour for which I had registered were apparently non-refundable.
An hour after my entry into the asylum, I found myself on the fourth floor. Dusk had traversed the bridge into night. My senses had registered to the gloom which surrounded and enveloped me and I let the shadows wrap around me like a comforting blanket. Thankfully, I was in the company of a small group of fellow believers, the “tour group”, who walked the halls with me in a shared reverential fear. We whispered among each other as we listened for the moans of the trapped souls, staying close together, hoping for a glimpse of the otherworldly; even as we dreaded its presence.
We took watchful steps along the corridor. Our eyes darted nervously back and forth. Even in the dank cold, sweat pricked my skin. The gloom thickened. A lonely laugh echoed down the hall. We halted, our small group frozen where we stood. Again, seconds later, the laugh, high and thin, filled with bleak mirth. Another laugh darted out behind us. Heads spun in different directions. Then, a moan, a dirge of confused sorrow and fear, rang out of the last room on the left.
Photo by Amanda Norman
My hands trembled. A cold breeze cut through me. I saw my own breath. It formed a ghastly image near my face, a visage with a demonic smile which hovered within arm’s reach. The image grinned at me, and, as it faded, whispered my name. I twirled and screamed, and I saw that I was suddenly, utterly, alone.
I called out for my fellow paranormal seekers. Answers in the form of moans and giggles from the rooms lining the hall were the only answers I received. I stumbled backward. Pale figures in glowing white gowns shuffled out of the rooms, through thin doorways, turning toward me, their faces fluid, contorting, their expressions waxing and waning between grimaces and grins. They held their arms out to me, beckoning me to them. Closer and closer, the spirits floated and whispered my name. How did they know me? Was I once one of them in another life? Their contorting mouths opened wide. The ghouls screeched in unison. Black, horrid clouds of insanity poured forth, filling the air, surrounding me, pressing in, holding me close.
I fell to the floor, calling out for help with the dark pouring down on me and the dead whispering my name, over and over, picking at my mind, slicing at my soul. The dark, the madness, the whispers, the laughter, the cries –make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop!! I wailed in the bleak and the black and the dank and the dark.
Hands on my shoulders shook me awake. Or was I ever asleep? I opened my eyes. I was in the center of the fourth-floor hallway. The odor of urine and disinfectant drifted over me. A fly buzzed over my cheek. Harsh fluorescent lights beamed down on me. The faces of two nurses filled my vision. I slid back on the slick, tile floor, retreating in horrified confusion.
One of the nurses smiled at me. “Now, how’d you get out here again? You know you aren’t supposed to be in the hallway.”
I mumbled, attempting to explain. Somehow, my words scrambled and didn’t come out right. Why can’t I speak?! I shouted something unintelligible. My eyes watered with horror.
“Now, now, don’t you be afraid,” the other nurse says. “Let’s get you back to your room.”
I cried out as the two asylum nurses hoisted me from the floor. My legs went limp and they dragged me through the corridor, all the way to the last room on the left. I groaned in protest, attempting to explain. Why couldn’t they understand that I wasn’t a patient? Why weren’t they listening to me?
***
That was last week or maybe last month or last year, I can’t be sure. But I am sure that I must find a way out of this godforsaken abode. Every day more patients arrive. I now share my room with five others. The nurses rarely walk our hall and whenever I see one I plead my case for release, telling them in the plainest of terms that I was never meant to be in this place, I was just a visitor! In my earnestness I often grab at their arms, hoping to impart my sincerity and the dire nature of my situation upon them. They look at me with disgust in their eyes and yell at me to leave them be and to “stop yammering.”
This written communique may be my last hope. I was able to smuggle it into yesterday’s mail, addressed to our San Francisco headquarters, and it is my most sincere prayer that a fellow staff member will read my account and take immediate action, for I know not in which dimension I now reside, but I believe with all my heart that the skills and imaginations and divinations of the ones in our organization will once again rescue me from certain peril. Godspeed you addicts! You are my only hope!
1960’s Books
The first book I want to talk about is Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, it was first published in 1962. Ray Bradbury was the first author that I ever took an interest in. Though he is thought of mainly as a Science Fiction author, much of his work can easily fit into the horror genre as well. The story follows two 13 year old boys named Jim Nightshade and William Holloway who have just discovered that a traveling carnival has come to town. They sneak into the carnival late at night and find that it isn’t a normal carnival. It’s run by a Mr. Dark who offers people their wildest dreams in exchange for their souls. This isn’t a particularly scary book but it has a great story about good versus evil and being careful what you wish for. There was also a movie based on the novel made in 1983.
The other books from the sixties that I found are all from Corgi Books in the United Kingdom. I couldn’t find a lot of information on this company but I did read that they were a division of Random House and published horror novels in the UK in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. One thing that drew me to the horror novels from this company was their cover art which looks amazing. Looking at the covers for the books for the 60’s, I immediately wanted to start collecting them. Not sure how easy they are to find but they would be a nice addition to any horror lover’s collection. If you would like to see some pictures of Corgi’s 1960’s horror novels check out vaultofevil.proboards.com and see for yourself.
The the first Corgi book I want to mention was written 1n 1964, called The Coming of Strangers by John Lymington. This one is about giant crabs that come out of the sea late in the evening and tears off the heads of their helpless victims. I couldn’t find much more detail on this one, but the idea of crabs snapping heads off of innocent beach goers had me sold.
Another horror novel written in 1962 is Terror by Robert Bloch. This book was published by Corgi in the UK and by Belmont in the US . The story follows a young orphan who gets involved with an East Indian death cult in order to find out why his aunt’s murder ties in with a stolen statue. This book combines mystery and horror and is very well researched.
If your going to mention Robert Bloch you have to mention Psycho which was written in 1959 and was turned into a movie by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960. The movie follows the book pretty closely but the book has a lot more dialog between Norman and his mother and does a lot more character development on Norman’s victims. Its been several years since I read Psycho but I do remember thinking it was better then the movie which was also great.
Though Robert Bloch only wrote one horror novel in the sixties it is worth mentioning that he came out with several short horror story collections in the sixties. Among them are Horror 7 (1963), The Skull of Marquis De Sade (1965), Chamber of Horrors (1966) and one collection with Ray Bradbury written in 1969 called Whispers From Beyond.
When Terror Takes Hold – Laurel Anne Hill
Nothing squeezes my gut worse than facing big-time adversity beyond any hope of my control. I’ve dangled forty feet in the air from the broken cross-bar of a rotten clothes-line pole, and sixty feet up while clinging to a busted ladder on the side of a building. On one SCUBA diving adventure, my air supply malfunctioned thirty feet beneath the ocean’s surface. And white-water rapids once sucked me under and pinned me against a boulder. Yet in all of these situations, I focused on survival and took action. Terror never had a chance to catch me and take hold.
Photo by Amanda Norman
Thus, one of my scariest experiences occurred before my “take action” survival response had yet developed. I was young, perhaps only eight or nine years old.
My childhood home was a third floor rental flat in San Francisco, one of those units with a long hallway leading to the bedrooms and bath. Railroad flats, they’re sometimes called. An enclosed service porch, containing our wringer washer, laundry tubs, a work table and a closet full of home-canned fruits and vegetables stood adjacent to the kitchen. Mother kept the back door to the flat locked, but the business end of a skeleton key often resided in the keyhole. A fire safety measure. The door led to a wooden staircase, the staircase to an alleyway between buildings. One end of the alleyway opened into the back yard. At the opposite end was a door to Fourteenth Street.
The street-side alleyway door was never locked.
Three generations lived in our two-bedroom flat. You do the math. I had no room of my own for a haven. Sometimes I liked to stand on the porch at night and feel the darkness enfold me.
Even in those days, I “wrote” stories in my head or jotted them on paper. The ambiance of a lightless or shadowy room stirred my imagination. Still, I had not yet acquired the skills to translate emotions into sentences. The best stories lived inside of my mind.
One night, my mother and older sister were reading in the living room. My father was away on a business trip. Grandma and Grandpa had retired to bed. My baby brother slept. I stood on the porch by the washing machine, doors to both kitchen and outside stairs shut. Moonlight glowed through a side window.
An inner voice told me I shouldn’t be there.
But the voice was only my conscience, wasn’t it? I should return to the living room, lie on the rug in front of our little gas heater or curl up on the overstuffed rose sofa with a book. I should share time with my family.
I heard a noise from outside. A creaking of wood.
The first feeling to stir within me was not one of alarm, but the warmth of embarrassment. I was here, successfully becoming lost in imagination, and Mother wanted my company. We had no television and took pleasure in the presence of each other at day’s end.
Another creak followed, and another. Those were footsteps. Slow, heavy footsteps.
No one ever climbed our back stairs at night.
The footsteps now reached from beyond my imagination. I’d learned to separate reality from fantasy. Whoever approached my back door was real.
If the intruder heard me, he or she might break down the door and grab me. Maybe I should remain quiet. But Mother needed to know so she could call the police. No matter. Neither my arms nor legs would have obeyed any command to move. I could barely even breathe.
The doorknob rattled.
What if Mother had forgotten to lock the door? Or if the person at the door–surely a man–knew how to probe the keyhole with wire and make the skeleton key turn? I ought to get Mother. Why couldn’t I move?
The doorknob turned.
All warmth left me. My heart thudded faster and faster. Yet the terror provided a certain perverse pleasure, something to tuck away inside of my mind for future recollection.
The door didn’t open. A wooden board creaked. Footsteps receded. Whoever had stood on the other side of the barrier had retreated down the stairs.
I remained immobile for at least five minutes. The intruder did not return. My world was safe again.
How wonderful to open the door leading into the kitchen, to see Grandma’s stove with its big, black pipe in the shadowy room. I headed to the living room and told my mother and older sister what had happened. They laughed.
Neither one believed me, that is, until I repeated my story to them many years later.
As for the terror I experienced, I keep the memory tucked inside my brain. I draw upon the details when giving characters in my stories a frightful time. The memory also spurs me to be sure I’ve locked my doors and activated the alarm system before bedtime.
With or without a skeleton key, I prefer to stay in control.
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LAUREL ANNE HILL grew up in San Francisco, with more dreams of adventure than good sense or money. Her close brushes with death, love of family, respect for honor and belief in a higher power continue to influence her writing and her life. ForeWord Magazine selected Laurel�s debut parable, Heroes Arise, for a Book of the Year Award for 2007 (bronze, science fiction category). Laurel�s shorter works span the genres of science fiction, fantasy, horror and creative nonfiction. http://www.laurelannehill.com |
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