Billy Idol, Glenn Danzig, The Sisters of Mercy, Ghost and a huge offering of 80’s goth, punk and B-Movie horror. These things on their own are (mostly) great, so what happens when you mix them all together? You get The Necromancers Union!

The brainchild of former Glass Apple Bonzai member Daniel and the label Petichor, “Flesh Of The Dead” is the full length recording of Daniel’s previous EP’s with an extra track to give us a decent length offering of revivalist horror inspired goth rock with plenty of charisma and theatrics. So grab whatever weapon is nearest and get ready for an onslaught of musical monsters and madness.

The first major thing of note about this album is just how well it all fits together. From the theatrical vocal delivery which has a solid narrative quality to the simple but hook-laden music. Opening track “Flesh Of The Dead” is loaded with samples and references to the undead hordes craving human flesh and the energetic pacing of the track once it kicks in helps drive the sense of urgency. The catchy descending synth line over the chunky power chords catches you straight away and the big sing along chorus vibe has that Misfits quality to it: simple but memorable and highly effective. “The Ghosts Inside” has a grizzly description of how to deal with the prospect of reanimation in the beginning before it kicks into a very bass-driven verse. The dramatic vocal stylings have that theatrical air of Ghost and The Sisters Of Mercy. It’s not quite Floodland-esque but it has that type of feel to it. The groove is tight and the vocal lines all fit well, accenting the parts which need that little hook to have a dramatic effect. Two tracks in and so far so good!

“Into Darkness” plays more on the doom vibes described in the press release. The ominous and lingering Iommi inspired chords and bass thumps give way to a fast punk edge which has both guitar and bass buzzing away over a steady drum beat. Here is where you might catch some of the Billy Idol vibes with the energetic pacing and big vocal spots towards the chorus, and the following track “The Undead” mirrors this to an extent. Instead of the faster pacing, it opts for a slower and more melodic main hook but it has the vocal dynamics which add that extra edge to the delivery, augmenting the fills which punctuate the verses before the big choruses.

“Crossing The Line” is another energetic track. Despite the dark and moody vibes, it has a bright quality to the progression and the synths really help carry the atmosphere, setting up for a massive chorus which explodes with plenty of Idol styled sneer and power. It’s a catchy number much like the opening track of the release and as the second half of the album sets in, it keeps the momentum going well. “Clowns Of Death” is a fast, punky number. It’s wailing atmospheric synths over the pounding groove has that horror film vibe all over it and the chorus had me laughing, conjuring mental images of that Simpsons episode where Bart is terrified to sleep because of his demonic clown bed! Theme aside, it’s just an energetic horror-punk number which works well and sets up the penultimate track rather well.

“Shadows” is the best track on the release and the one I kept finding myself drawn to as I listened to it. The choir synths and clap along driving bassline which pushes this track on is solid and a great way to introduce the track. The dramatic spoken-sing hybrid vocals over the simple bouncy main guitar riff is the main hook and when it all clicks together, from the chunky muted bouncing chords in the verse to the big sing along chorus with its call and response sections and bouncy brighter melodic riffs and fills… It is classic radio-rock friendly single material which manages to capture the Danzig and Billy Idol vibes to perfection. Closing the release is “Pit and Pendulum” and it certainly goes more for the atmospheric impact than the hooks like the previous track. The haunting samples into the ringing clean arpeggios and slow and pounding bass/drums with lingering synths in the background just keeps things on edge. The moodier vocal aspects bring back that Sisters Of Mercy vibe, really throwing in the dramatics and the way the track builds an air of suspense, having you expect something big to crash in, only for it to stay tightly controlled is a good nod to the classic suspenseful nature of older horror films, almost like it is the musical equivalent of that thing you thought you saw out of the corner of your eye, or the sensation that someone is watching you… It just teases and keeps the atmosphere of moodiness and darkness at the right level to round the album off.

In all, “Flesh Of the Dead” is a damn enjoyable release. It has the right blend of influences to personal touch to feel familiar yet be unique. Blending horror, doom, post-punk and catchy rock, it creates a sound you’d expect to hear on a TV Series as a theme song, or something in a B-Movie. It has the right amount of catchy hooks to be accessible to all, but at the same time has something for those who prefer the broodier and moodier sides of music. Not to mention, it’s got some great compositional work across the board, showcasing an excellent awareness of how to combine simple sequences to get a massive payoff.

(7/10 Fraggle)

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https://thenecromancersunion.bandcamp.com/album/flesh-of-the-dead