EP Review: Das Ghoul – Video Nasty

The recent release of ‘The Video Nasty EP’ by Oxford’s Das Ghoul follows last Halloween’s album release of ‘Noise Das Noire’. The quartet describe their music as “sharp, fast paced, dark humour horrorpunkrock’n’roll laced with a gothic feel.” And they have a fetish for masks. Over the past couple of months the band has received airplay on underground radio such as ‘Alyx Plays Punk’ and ‘Not The Punk Rock Show’.

The EP itself opens with ‘Behind the Cobweb Veil’ an atmospheric, gothic showcase for the delicate, twinkling keywork of Octavia Von Wakeman. It acts only as an introduction really, before the band come out in full with the revved-up riffs of ‘Video Nasty’ itself; vocalist/guitarist Craig The Plague summons imagery of a “basement shrine”, a “lock of your hair” and “the bloodstained-silver screen” – if visuals are needed, the video is available HERE. ‘Formaldehyde Girl’ gallops along on slashed-at chords and an incessant beat; the tale of a preserved paramour is over in just over a minute. Closing track ‘Porcelain’ ramps up the theatrics with substantial strut and piercing keys, more of which can be found on the ‘Noise Das Noire’ album, which also gives the band more scope to display their bleak eccentricities both musically and lyrically.

Like speedy, metal-tinged rock with a blackly comic, but also eerie, overtones? Both the ‘Video Nasty EP’ and ‘Noise Das Noire’ album are available to purchase through Das Ghoul’s Bandcamp page, with demo material also offered as ‘name your price’. You can also follow the band’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more fiendishness.