This is music made for any moonlit graveyard party.
Life of Agony drummer and co-founder of Type O Negative, Sal Abruscato, put aside his drum set to take lead vocals and guitar with this band, and carry on in the spirit of the late founder member Pete Steele. The result is a second album of tortured dreams and twisted thoughts put to song with striking results.
So many bands lay claim to the dark path musically, but rarely deliver. A Pale Horse Named Death offers a morbid sense of authenticity that explores new territory. Opening track 'Shallow Grave' rumbles along like a hearse on a cobblestone path to the graveyard. Thudding bass lines and a sense of unease in Sal's vocals will have every vampire chomping at the bit. Screaming like a night terror is the only way to describe 'The Needle In You'. The lyrics are direct and to the point, evoking images of a drug induced existence – certainly not for the faint hearted! The tragic tale of a broken romance is wrapped up in a wall of guitars and dense vocals with 'In The Sleeping Death'. Despite the funereal pace of the delivery, it loses none of its effect. 'Killer By Night' by contrast takes influences from Monster Magnet in its more rock and roll style of delivery. The chorus is a huge slab of retro rock that goes off like a rocket.
The theme of age is touched upon with 'Growing Old'. Complete with church organ and gloomy lyrics about the ever aging and decaying human body, the music gives off a feeling of desolation. If you ever wondered about the realities of the music business, then take a long hard listen to the heavy guitar vibes of 'Devil Came With A Smile'. You may never want to sign that recording contract! Things take off into a flawless hum of keyboards and buzz saw guitars on 'DMSLT'. You can almost imagine black crows circling and storm clouds hovering ominously with the mood of this track.
The songs on offer are delivered with conviction and at times, jaw dropping doom. This is music made for any moonlit graveyard party.
Ray Paul
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