Dead Pleasures – A Symphony Of Horrors

A couple of years back Telford, UK horror punkers Dead Pleasures tried their hand in the studio with their debut EP, A Chorus Of Corpses.  It was a promising start ultimately hampered by weak production values.  Still, the band had the melodic Mister Monster meets Blitzkid formula down, and it wasn’t hard to hear that the band was sitting capably on a bed of potential.

Two years later and they’re back with A Symphony Of Horror. I’m pleased to report that the band has taken their criticism to heart and created an altogether tighter package.  Vocals come across clearer, lyrics are better thought out, and the trio simply sounds fuller and more complete.  Right from opener “Deadly Passion’s” initial choral hooks, a background of chanting “woahs” elevate the songs to memory.  Overall melodies are pretty steady, and thanks to a punchier bass (notably early on during “Plague Of Rage”) make for some playful rhythms.  “Moonlight/Nocturnal Love” even launches into a good old 50’s doo-wop intro complete with vintage needle popping and twangy guitars reminiscent of some of The Creepshow’s likeminded moments.

Lyrical themes should come as no surprise, with the band playing homage to many horror movie classics and campy b-list greats.  “Nightmare” offers a melody for all those Freddy Krueger fanatics, while “Damnation” finds Dead Pleasures joining their peers in the holy grail of zombie flicks Night Of The Living Dead (although the movie sound clips go on longer than necessary), and of course Texas Chainsaw Massacre in “Leatherface Doo-Wop.”  Sure, it’s all been done before (heck, former label mates B Movie Monsters are completely committed to the subject), but they keep their songs short (usually under two minutes) and pace themselves along with a few rouge guitar solos that prevent them from overstaying their welcome.

But as with their first effort Dead Pleasures still have plenty of room for growth.  While their group cohesion certainly synthesizes strongly, vocalists “D Zombie” and “Psycho Billeth” could still put themselves out there a little more.  At times, they almost sound as if they’re talking rather than singing with the punkish croon they aim for – I want to hear him spill his guts completely, like in Nim Vind or Horrorwood Ending.  Their best performance surfaces during “The Lost Boys” where their dark demeanor achieves a sinister quality.  Really, all they need is a little extra “oomph” to send them over the edge.

Dead Pleasures has come a long way since their first EP, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their work cut out for them.  Their melodies are tighter than ever but they’re still a tad shy of where they’d like to end up.  If their current trajectory is any indication horror fans will be anticipating their eventual follow-up (keeping with the music theme, I suggest A Morgue Of Melodies).  In the mean time, A Symphony Of Horror gives horror fans thirteen reasons to submit to the Dead Pleasures.