Das Ghoul – Trip The Light Phantasmic

Oxford is famous for many things; its world renowned University, being the city of spires and also has a rich musical history as the birthplace of Radiohead, Supergrass, Foals and Ride amongst others. As far as I’m aware it certainly wouldn’t rank at the top of any lists as a hotbed of horrorpunk, but that means little to theatrical punks Das Ghoul. The quartet have been kicking out their own take on gothic horror punk n’ roll since 2016 and their latest offering is a self released 6 track EP titled Trip the Light Phantasmic which dropped back in February 2021.

The EP kicks off with Ghost Train, a frenetic garage rock anthem that doesn’t break any musical boundaries, but sets the tone nicely for what’s to come. Twisted throws some 80’s synth to the mix and with a vocal that echoes horrorpunk contemporary Nim Vind in all the right ways. Twisted  wouldn’t sound out of place on the soundtrack to 80’s horror film Trick or Treat (for my money, one of the best).

If Only I could Remember is a slight misstep, slowing the pace and adding a piano melody – which doesn’t make it a bad song, but it feels so out of place here. Roses are Dead, Violets are Black and Dresden Bats feel a little like throwaways and are surprisingly short, but in some ways that is a good thing as it gets us quickly to the EP’s closer Scissors, a gory tale of a barbershop like no other. This is an absolute gem, expertly channeling the punk in horrorpunk and is easily the standout here. Any band who can take lyrics like;

“At least a hundred (blank) faces, each one fashioned with a rose,

 Jam jars containing fingers, a charm box full of toes.

Ornamental severes ears hang from a landshade made of teeth.

It’s a butcher not a barbers for an acquired taste in meat”

…sound so much fun deserve their place in the ranks outside the realm of “Me-Too Misfits” bands littering the genre.

Das Ghoul‘s Trip The Light Phantasmic out now and available via their bandcamp