THE LURKING CORPSES
THE LURKING CORPSES “Lurking After Midnight”
By Dr. Abner Mality
Although the phenomena of bands dressing up like monsters has become a really tired one, at least THE LURKING CORPSES have been at it since the 90’s. These over the top freaks would be great on a tour with GWAR and GHOUL! Be warned, though…even though they are on the more underground than a salt mine Hell’s Headbangers label, they aren’t the sort of gruesome death or black metal you generally find on the label. No, these CORPSES obviously grew up grooving on DANZIG and SAMHAIN.
Lots of sub-DANZIG evil Elvis crooning on “Lurking After Midnight”, sometimes even with “whoa-oh” accompaniment. Although all manner of necrophilia and Satanic debauchery can be found in the lyrics here, the tunes are generally upbeat and even cheerful. These are ghouls into the happier side of dismemberment. The guitar tone is thicker and grittier than most MISFITS inspired bands, but the only true death metal tracks here would be the furious “Boglin Lips” (anybody else remember the cool Boglin toys from years ago?), the morose “Funeral Home” and grinding “The Begotten”. But even these are not in the vein of CANNIBAL CORPSE or INCANTATION.
I gotta admit, the Danzig crooning got old for me after awhile and while the MISFITS type rockers like “Burned Alive”, “Lost In Shadows” and “Baby Hold On” are fun, they are kinda in one ear and out the other, if you know what I mean. I’ve seen the CORPSES live (and I use that term loosely) and they come across heavier there. So if you like hooded and masked fiends with names like Lord Vladimir von Ghoul and Pharaoh Formaldehyde and cartoony horrorpunk metal, add extra points to “Lurking After Midnight”. Just be aware of what you’re getting into…