The Casket Creatures New Video "Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb."

There was a time when I thought I was never meant to actually see The Casket Creatures play.  Since the demise of The Spectremen, there had been a ghoul rock void in Atlanta.  When I heard that there was a new horror punk band on the block carrying the banner, I knew I needed to see them.  Fate kept stepping in the damn way though.  The first time I tried to see them, I had to leave the show before they went on.  The second time, they went on early and I got there just as they left the stage.  The third time…um, I was too drunk to remember why I missed them that time.  Then, one glorious night at the equally glorious Clermont Lounge, I finally caught their set.  Since then, I’ve seen the ghouls from Gainesville quite a few times, both headlining and opening for horror rock heavyweights like Wednesday 13 and Michale Graves, and they’ve quickly become one of my favorite Atlanta bands.

There are really only two kinds of horror punk bands out there; those who are influenced by The Misfits and those who rip off The Misfits.  After all, they did create the genre.  While the Casket Creatures definitely wear their Misfits influence on their sleeve, often covering Halloween and/or Vampira, they are  not a straight rip off…not that there’s anything wrong with that.  They’re more spiritual kin with some of the modern horror bands that add more of an aggressive tone and an  “epic” spin to the traditional formula.  Bands like The Other, The Crimson Ghosts, or Blitzkid.

Listening to the Creatures play, you can pick out distinctive elements and styles that make up their sound.  The dual guitar attack, with Jamie Robertson riffing like a hybrid beast of punk intensity and metal power and Derek Obscura bringing the glam rock sleaze factor, makes for a potent jolt of adrenaline.  Ryan Howard is an old school horror punk crooner, but he knows how to bring a more aggressive vocal style to the proceedings when the moment is right.  The rhythm section, comprised of Drew Chandler on melodic yet punishing bass and his brother Bradley Chandler beating the drums, and you, into submission, anchors it all.  There’s also an indescribable yet undeniable Southern flavor to their music.  It’s not so much in their playing style, it’s just that extra little swagger and raunch that only us lunatics from the sticks can muster.  Like I always say, there’s no psycho like Southern psycho.

Their first cd, Tales From The Unknown, is a hell of an album, containing live staples like Agnes, Evil Comes Home, and Bad 2 Hearse.  The band has changed since Tales’ release in 2011, however.  Only Ryan and Jamie remain from the original lineup.  Since then, the band has become a better-stitched together monstrosity…and a meaner one at that.  Their new album, Sex, Blood, and Rock n’ Roll, is due out very soon on GNO Records, and will feature the new line up.  I’ve heard a lot of the new tracks live, including my personal favorite Lizzie’s Song, and I’m intrigued to hear how those work on cd.  I have a feeling that SD&R&R will do a much better job of capturing the energy that the Creatures bring to the stage in a live environment.  You can check out a few of the band’s tunes HERE, including two (Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb and Bats, Blood, & Bitches) off of the upcoming album.  Mummy’s Tomb is also available for download HERE, along with their new T-shirt. 

The horror punk community worldwide is starting to take notice of what Atlanta audiences have known for a while now.  Last year, The Casket Creatures were invited to play the Ghoul’s Night Out festival alongside legends like Blitzkid and Mister Monster.  They recently won the Band of the Year, Best Up And Coming Band, and Most Anticipated Album awards at Horror-Punks.com.  Their new video, for the track Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, debuted last Monday and scored over 700 views on its first day.  Speaking of the video, here it is for your viewing pleasure.  Take one part Abbott and Costello, one part Scooby Doo, and one part Dig Up Her Bones, and you’ve got the idea.  It’s a fun homage to the classic horror of yesteryear.  Check it out…

 
See, I told you it was killer.  So, now that I’ve introduced you to the boys, go tell your friends.  Hell, tell your enemies too.  You can follow the exploits of The Casket Creatures at their facebook page HERE, and expect more band news here on SOC as the album’s release date shambles towards us with that bloodthirsty gleam in its one remaining eye…