Band: The Black Capes
Release House: DarkTunes Music Group
Genre: Gothic Rock
One Sentence Synopsis: Debut album from new Gothic Rockers
Series: Standalone
Single/EP/Album: Album
Release Date: June 9, 2017
Running Time: 34 min
MSRP: $10.99
Discount Link: Click Here
Website: Click Here
Music Video: Click Here
Purchase Site: Click Here
Reviewed by: Reverend Leviathan
Final Score: 4.0 Moons (Out of 5)
Formed in 2016 and hailing from Athens, The Black Capes are a new Gothic rock group brought together by the frontman, Alex S Wamp (formerly of Potergeist). Their debut album, All These Monsters, delivers a dark form of rock that has many people in the Gothic community turning their heads.
Theme
What’s a great invitation to Gothic listeners? How about an intro called “The Invite,” featuring a pipe organ and a frightened woman speaking of vampires! The album opens strong with “Sarah the Witch,” combining newer elements of rock mixed with an oldschool Sisters of Mercy influence. “Wolf Child” introduces the listener to the slower, somber style of music on the album. The keyboard accompaniment throughout the album definitely adds some necessary eeriness. The band made sure to have some changes as “New Life” and “We Will Never Die” allows us to hear some acoustic elements. The title track ends the album on a powerful note with some lyrics I can relate to this time of year (“I hate the sun and I love the color black”).
Presentation
All These Monsters delivers music that I have been longing for lately and been unable to find in new bands of the Gothic rock genre. I am a huge fan of Type O Negative, and I like the older material of The 69 Eyes; this is definitely a release that fans of those groups should check out! I wouldn’t go to the extreme of saying that Alex S Wamp sounds like Peter Steele, but I will say he has a very good, dark aggressive style of singing that Steele also carried.
The first song that really caught my attention was “Wolf Child.” I’m partly biased because I like almost anything involving lycanthropy or wolfman lore. But something inside me just clicked with the slower tempo and choir background mixed with Wamp’s vocals. The guitar work in “New Life” is just beautiful. There’s a good blending of acoustic guitars with the rhythm. The album is very bass heavy and sounds great. Lastly I will say that the choir in “All These Monsters” makes the song. I was singing along after the first chorus.
The Black Capes
Gothic Fit
The Black Capes bring a Gothic style similar to that of Type O Negative, Sisters of Mercy and The 69 Eyes. Musically you get that dark sound you’re familiar with if you’re a fan of those groups. The album contains horror elements along with a bit of dark romanticism. The mood of the songs makes me want to lie peacefully in a coffin while listening.
Closing Thoughts
Just as I started losing hope in new, (good) Gothic rock acts, The Black Capes come along and surround me with All These Monsters!
Theme: 3.0 Moons (out of 5.0)
Presentation: 4.5 Moons (out of 5.0)
Gothic Fit: 4.0 Moons (out of 5.0)
Final Score (not an average): 4.0 Moons (out of 5.0)
Trackbacks/Pingbacks