Dec 04 2012

Bad Whoremoans, SEVEN YEAR ITCH


Bad Whoremoans
Seven Year Itch
Bad Whoremoans Facebook Page
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Just like their first, eponymously titled release, Bad Whoremoans open ‘Seven Year Itch’ with “Zombie Holocaust,” which connects the third full release, ‘Seven Year Itch,’ to the band’s beginning.

Dubbed a “gravest hits,” this album re-images past Bad Whoremoans songs. Fans of the band know that this is not new. The second release, ‘Say What Again’ offered a plethora of new songs but contained new versions of ‘Surf Nazis Must Die!’, ‘Lily,’ and ‘Graveyard Girlfriend.’ Selections from ‘Say What Again’ appear on ‘Seven Year Itch,’ with an improved version of “I Flatline,” a fuzzier rendition of “Casket Co.” and a new take on the holiday chesnut, “Black Christmas.” In total, there are four completely new songs ‘Seven Year Itch, –“Within These Woods,” “Deathproof,” “Vincent Price,” “World War Z,” — with versions of “Splatterhouse,” “Deep Red” and “Dead Rising” appearing on solo releases by Paul of the Living Dead as well as the Bad Whoremoans Lost Boys E.P. With all this information, it might be easy for the obtuse listener to write off ‘Seven Year Itch’ as a rehash, until they actually listen to the songs. ‘Seven Year Itch’ does not simply ‘improve’ but revitalize this body of work.

If the listener has an educated ear, ‘Seven Year Itch’ reveals itself as a deep inspection and intimate understanding where a band’s current sense of self stands. This release is a lot more personal than what one might comprehend at first look. By comparing the songs to their earlier incarnations, you can chart the progression of Paul of the Living Dead and the crew that joins him on his trip.

This time around, Bad Whoremoans is a optimized three-piece – Paul of the Living Dead on guitar and vocals, Robby Bloodshed on bass and Serial Bill manning the drums.  The slimming down of the roster shows. Some of the songs are faster and meaner—compare “Black Christmas” to the ‘Say What Version. Others show a grander production, like the newer “Haddonfield Horror.” The album’s greatest surprise is the slower, more dramatic version of “My Dead Girlfriend” that is honestly a beautiful song.

Nor are these musicians desperate. Each new version of a song shows development, a conscious change of how to make a rendition that honors the original composition while demonstrating a new sense of audible-growth while explaining where exactly stands the music mind of both Paul and the rest of the band.

You don’t even have to compare the new to the old. ‘Seven Year Itch’ is a great by itself and is a way to introduce new fans to the band or to give loyal listeners something special to enjoy.

Dec 03 2012

The Theater Zombies, BEFORE DAYBREAK

The Theater Zombies
Before Daybreak
The Theater Zombies’ Facebook page 
 
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Theater Zombies are back with their second release, ‘Before Daybreak.’ Songs like “What We’ve Become,” with its catchy crowd-chanting chorus, and the haunting vocal ending of the album closer, ‘Too Far Gone’ are examples of why the Theater Zombies are a possible new powerhouse in the horror punk genre.  Here is the melodic hardcore punk AFI wishes they could remember how to play. This is punk. They can hold their own with hardcore bands and pop punk bands and wouldn’t stand out if they shared a bill with Teenage Bottlerocket or The Queers.

This release earns the drummer, Tommy Transylvania, some mad respect for pounding out his insanity on the drums. Robbie Farenheights Belmont puts out punk solos that complement Michael Van Buren’s gritty bass lines. The piston pounding of the drums, fired up by the fuel injected bass and guitars tear down the road, follow the vocal’s headlights as they point the way. The Theater Zombies has always been the vocals, and both Van Buren and Belmont blend their singing to form the fourth instrument in the band.

This band has a great amount of potential, and while I’m really wowed by this release (it’s really good), I’m really excited for the one that’s going to come after this. Listen to the start of “A Forgotten Promise.” Just a few notes starting song sets it apart from the rest of the high-octane music. There is the risk of homogeny with hardcore punk – songs all starting at 100mph end up sounding the same. I think ‘Beyond Daybreak’ mostly avoids this trap.  But, I consider this: ‘Beyond Daybreak’ is the band’s second release in as many years. They’re still introducing themselves to the world and I think they’re making great first and second impressions.

It’s actually surprised that a band of this talent and caliber is playing horror punk.”A Place For Me,” a non-horror themed song on the album, hints at a possible future for this group. They’re maybe two to four years and a couple releases away from headlining a stage at the Warped Tour or at big showing at FUNFUNFUNFest. The Theater Zombies aren’t just a great horror punk band; they’re a great punk band, period.

‘Before Daybreak’ is the Theater Zombies building a foundation sound and once set, they’re going to experiment. THAT is when you’re going to regret that you weren’t a fan of them from the beginning. This band might just take over the world. Even if they break up or change their name and become a straight punk band, leaving the horror business behind, you’re going to want to follow these guys and their career. You’ll be glad you did.

Nov 30 2012

Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories Volume 1

What's Bigfoot doing in a graveyard?

Readers of the 2012 Halloween countdown might remember how I briefly touched on Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories last month in my most recent installment of “Fear For Your Ears.” Said series is the result of Fangoria teaming up with the man behind The Twilight Zone radio series in 2011. Featuring narration by Malcolm McDowell and music composed by Fangoria editor in chief Chris Alexander, the series is broadcast via rotating streaming episodes on the Fangoria website and on Sirius XM. However, those options are less than ideal for those who have specific episodes they want to listen to. Thankfully, AudioGo has the series available on both CD and digital download. Not only that, but these releases feature extended versions of said episodes!

Although consumers are most commonly compared to zombies, “The Late Shift” (based on Dennis Etchison’s classic short story) opts to turn its attention to cashiers and offers a chilling explanation for their worn down demeanor. In “Reincarnal,” a party game involving hypnosis leads to a young woman named Nora experiencing a teenager’s death at the hands of a deranged killer in the 80’s. But as similar murders start happening, she starts to wonder if she’s actually the reincarnation of the girl in her vision. Now Nora has to both search for the truth and for a way to bring the murderer to justice. Have you ever heard of Cordyceps unilateralis? It’s a type of fungus that can infect ants and control their brains! These “zombie ants” behave strangely until a spore bursts out of their head. Thankfully, this fungus has no effect on human beings. “A Fungus Among Us” shows us what happens when the previously stated comforting fact no longer holds true. “Wolf” puts a new spin on the term “lady killer,” thanks to its focus on a handsome werewolf whose worldwide hunt for young flesh brings him to a lodge resort. “Living Space” finds an apartment-hunting couple trapped in a locked room with moving walls while “A Good Head on His Shoulders” deals with the connection between a killer who mutilates people in the medical profession and the mafia (along with the story’s connection to a horror classic).

Volume 1 features 6 stories spread over 4 discs, with an unfolding cardboard slipcover housing the CDs. In other words, it’s just like the packaging used for Great Classic Ghost Stories. Clocking in at a combined running time of 4 hours and 11 minutes, you’re definitely getting more than your money’s worth. Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories offers great music and effects, along with Malcolm McDowell providing excellent narration. Interestingly enough, his presence in each episode varies. Sometimes he pops into the story repeatedly to deliver exposition and background details, while he barely appears in others (like “A Good Head on His Shoulders”). Although the acting can be a mixed bag in some episodes, like “Reincarnal,” it can be absolutely flawless in others, like “Wolf.” Similarly, the foreshadowing that appears in most of the episodes ranges from subtle clues to blatantly telegraphing. But, all in all, I enjoyed the show and look forward to hearing more episodes. After all, I will be reviewing Volume 2 next month…

Special thanks to AudioGo LTD for the review copy!

Nov 30 2012

6’+ Episode 44 Is Up!

To quote the description given at the new listing:

“Let’s End November. It’s all downhill from here so there’s no reason not to throw up our arms and scream. We’ve got music from The Coffin Crawlers, The Parasites, Secular Plague, Tony Jones and the Cretin 3 and more. It’s the last stop before the holidays kick in, when you’ll really want to scream. So stop and listen to this episode. Look out for the Monstermatt Minute. And when you feel that hand on your shoulder, SCREAM! SCREAM FOR YOUR LIFE.”

Remember to email 6′+ (contact at 6ftplus.com) or leave a comment below about the show, whether you liked it or not. Tell your friends, leave a review on iTunes, but above all – enjoy.

You can find all episodes of 6′+ over at the official site as well as on iTunes and Stitcher . We’re also on Facebook and Twitter.

Nov 28 2012

Reel Evil

Nice tagline. As if the cover art wasn't a big enough clue this is a found footage movie...

When would-be filmmakers Kennedy, Cory and James land a job shooting behind-the-scenes footage for a major motion picture, they think they’ve finally gotten the opportunity they need to fund their own project. But as all the bickering on the troubled set pushes them to explore the asylum the movie is being shot at, more and more strange things keep happening.

When I reviewed Killjoy Goes To Hell awhile back, I expressed a lot of excitement over the film. The brief teaser trailer was extremely well-made and made me think it was going to be a Lost Tapes-style anthology movie comprised of several short segments involving different mysterious disappearances. Sadly, this was not the case and Reel Evil is just another cookie cutter entry in the found footage genre that features many of the clichés and flaws noted in these videos.

I wish I could say those were the only problems I had with the film, but it packs in numerous plot holes and contradictions into its 78 minute running time. Well, 72 minutes not counting the credits that is. One of the first facepalm worthy moments comes early in the film, where the characters repeatedly stress that taking a job shooting a behind-the-scenes documentary for a film is the only way they can get the money they need to make their own film. Would it really have killed them to throw in a line about several failed crowdfunding campaigns making them desperate for a source of cash. After all, the film is supposed to be taking place in 2012. I was also amused to see that you could see camera glitches long before any supernatural events entered the picture (despite the opposite happening in most found footage movies). If they absolutely had to establish a glitchy camera beforehand, why not have a character comment on their shoddy equipment or chastise someone for not “blacking” a miniDV tape ahead of time. But it’s not as if the stuff they actually say in the movie is very consistent. The movie they’re working for is alternately said to be a low budget production and a major studio project (which curiously doesn’t have any big name stars). When the trio goes off on their own to explore the abandoned asylum, any concerns about getting fired for not being where they’re supposed to is brushed off as the firing being a good opportunity to use the footage they’ve shot for their own project. However, when the script needs them to interact with the film crew, they’re suddenly concerned about getting fired and risking losing their big payday! While I give the writers credit for trying to explain why so many of the rooms have light in them, it’s pretty ridiculous to think a production company would not only leave lighting rigs (and nothing but lighting rigs) all over an abandoned building, but that they’d leave them on as well! If the electricity bills wouldn’t shut the production down, the inevitable fire sparked by dust settling on high-intensity lights sure as hell would. Oh, and I love how the lead actress in a big budget film runs off to screw a grip. Right…

Come to think of it. I’m actually surprised they used Eric Roberts in The Dead Want Women instead of this movie. His presence in this film would have made the concept of a making-of documentary for a big studio film gone awry much more believable. Hell, they could have gotten some easy viral marketing going for the film by having a fake film project of his get posted on IMDB, only to have it mysteriously get pulled after news of mysterious disappearances gets posted there. Or, failing that, they should have reedited it into a comedy prior to its release. I can just imagine an introduction where Charles Band explains how Full Moon acquired some “real” footage that they deemed too boring to be released on its own and decided to make some “improvements.” Then at least people would have an excuse to openly laugh at the film.

Why the laughter? Aside from the terrible acting, there’s a ton of painfully obvious computer generated effects (including the worst cracked lens effect I have ever seen). There’s also some hysterically awful makeup on a homeless character that the protagonists briefly encounter. I’ve seen better makeup at elementary school Halloween parties! The makeup on the non-CGI ghosts is much better, but those are few and far between for the majority of the film. Instead we get shadow people, a ghost with eyes in its hands for some reason, and some admittedly cool tendril-filled fog. Why those last two types show up is never even explained, let alone hinted at (much like most of the ghosts’ motivations). I can understand that the ghosts kill people because they were murderous lunatics when they were alive and that, since this is a horror movie taking place at an asylum in a horror movie, the head doctor was conducting unethical experiments, but nothing else makes sense. There’s also no attempt at even hinting at a reason for why the asylum features the “shifting rooms” trope that has worked itself into the haunted house genre ever since House of Leaves and Rose Red came onto the scene. There’s even a sequence where the film’s producer angrily searches for the trio and repeatedly enters various doorways in a hall, only to come out from another one further down the hall. It might have worked as a brief scene, but it happens over and over and OVER again. It comes off as a bizarre Scooby-Doo chase scene homage, only devoid of any sort of humor.

The streaming preview I saw featured a widescreen transfer and great (aside from the intentional glitches) A/V quality. I understand the DVD, which is scheduled for a December 4th release, will also include a making-of VideoZone segment as a bonus feature. Based on the past Full Moon releases I’ve reviewed here, I imagine that the DVD will also include chapter stops (but no chapter selection menu) and some trailers. It’s a shame there isn’t an “in universe” feature explaining who edited the footage together and why it was released…

UPDATE: Boy is my face red! It turns out the trope I mentioned in this review is actually much older than I said it was. It definitely appeared in the 1963 film The Haunting (but I don’t know if it appeared in the original 1959 novel) and has been included in the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland since 1969. Speaking of which, the decision to include shifting room effects was due to the ride being partially inspired by the Winchester Mystery House. It wouldn’t surprise me if this trope goes back even further!

Special thanks to Full Moon Features for the review copy!

Nov 27 2012

The Scarifyers: The Devil of Denge Marsh

Silly tentacle monster, that's not a Japanese schoolgirl!

When the secret government organization MI13 sends Professor Dunning and Inspector Lionheart to investigate the mysterious death of a minister in Whitehall, they are soon led to the Denge Marsh of Kent, England. More strange things are afoot there, which leads to their confrontation with a cult that worships none other than Shub-Niggurath! Will they be able to thwart the cult’s plans to summon the eldritch being in time? And how do the marsh’s abandoned acoustic mirrors tie into all of this?

One wouldn’t normally assume that a story that starts with a death by melting would be comedic in tone, but that’s precisely how this (and all adventures of the Scarifyers) plays out. Bafflegab Productions (formerly Cosmic Hobo Productions) has masterfully combined humor and horror in The Scarifyers: The Devil of Denge Marsh. The worshippers of Shub-Niggurath especially stick out in my mind, as they are both creepy and hilariously bizarre and this characterization never feels unbalanced or out-of-place. I also appreciated the use of real-life locations. Don’t get me wrong, I love Lovecraft’s fictional locales, like Arkham and Dunwich, but adding some reality to the mysterious events is a welcome change of pace. Setting the story in the late 30’s also helps add to the overall feel.

Lionheart and Dunning are portrayed by Nicholas Courtney and Terry Molloy, best known for their portrayals of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Davros respectively on Doctor Who. In fact, longtime readers of the site will surely remember Courtney’s performance as the Brigadier in UNIT: The Coup. Both performers, along with everyone else in the cast, give excellent performances. Although it’s the duo’s second outing together, the story can be enjoyed without having any knowledge of the previous installment. Considering how the story is a 3 part, 96 minute long serial running over the course of 2 CDs, this is a big point in its favor.

In addition to the other installments in the series, the popularity of The Scarifyers has also led to a comic book and soundtrack CDs! The series has also aired on BBC Radio 4 Extra. Sadly, Nicholas Courtney passed away in 2011 (his last appearance being 2010’s The Scarifyers: The Secret Weapon of Doom) and his character was written out of the series in the story The Scarifyers: The Magic Circle, which introduced his replacement Harry “Thumper” Crow (played by David Warner). In fact, the latest adventure featuring Crow and Dunning is the upcoming The Scarifyers: The Thirteen Hallows, which is scheduled for a December 3rd, 2012 release. If it’s anything like the subject of today’s review, then it’s a definite must-have.

Special thanks to Bafflegab Productions for the review copy!

Nov 26 2012

Donovan’s Brain

Ghoul Mourning, Maniacs !

The fine folks at Gravedigger’s Local  have enlisted me to terrorize, I mean, entertain you as we look at Don Ho ‘s Brain. Wait a second, there’s a smudge of jam here on the screen … I meant Donovan ‘s Brain. (Note to self…no more jam filled donuts near the screen.)

Donovan’s Brain is a 1942 science fiction novel by Curt Siodmak . It has been adapted for radio in 1944 and the silver screen, three times: as  The Lady and the Monster (1944), Donovan’s Brain (1953), and The Brain (1962). I want to talk about the 1953 version directed by Felix E. Feist.

Physician and aspiring scientist, Dr. Cory helps out on an accident call. The victim is a wealthy, crass, businessman, W. H. Donovan. His plane crashed and he dies. Dr. Cory “acquires” Donovan’s brain for his experiments. You know, if this took place today, he’d be commended for “thinking green” and recycling, reusing material.

Dr. Cory has a friend, Dr. Schratt, that stays with he and his wife. Dr. Schratt, is a bit of a drinker and is often sleeping off a hangover. Dr. Cory is constantly telling him things like “Come on boy! Go get a shower.”

The two doctors have the brain set up in a tank and conduct their studies on whether a brain can continue without a body. Well, most of today’s reality tv stars can survive without brains, so why not?!

Eventually, the brain and Dr. Cory connect via telepathy. The brain controls Cory’s motor skills and he writes down names in handwriting that is clearly Donovan’s . Forget “Stupid Pet Tricks” on Letterman! I want to see this! Cory starts taking on mannerisms that were Donovan’s, too. This is a cause for concern to Cory’s wife and friend.

Dr. Cory leaves for the city, really under the mental grip of the brain and unable to break it. He gets a hotel room, withdraws large amounts of cash (bribe money) from the accounts Donovan had set up and really raises suspicions of the authorities. He also visits Donovan’s lawyer and plies some extortion type pressure on him and his “Washington connection.”

Donovan’s control of the doctor increases and the brain pushes it’s abilities to other minds, like a reporter named Herbie Yocum, that is snooping around. He has multiple copies of photos and articles, describing Dr. Cory’s questionable methods of taking the brain. Donovan mentally urges the reporter to crash his vehicle while driving from Dr. Cory’s home.

Donovan’s political connection meets with Dr. Cory and the lawyer. They notice with some disgust, that Dr. Cory is imitating Donovan. Little do they know that Dr. Cory is but a puppet and not doing it to creep them out! Dr. Cory gets hit by a car and winds up in a hospital. He conducts business and Donovan’s financial dirty work, from a phone in his room. Even Donovan ‘s offspring confront Donovan/Cory and are given warnings and financial threats!

The brain is growing larger in it’s glass tank. It is pulsating and shaking, nearly indestructible and can read the thoughts of the Cory’s and their alcoholic friend, Dr. Schratt. I wonder if the brain gave up after many verses of “How Dry I Am” or “Show Me the Way to go Home” coursing through Dr. Schratt’s mind. They do, however, come up with a plot to destroy the brain, once and for all. I know what you’re thinking, “Did they force it to watch Jersey Shore?” Ahh, they didn’t have those kinds of shows back then. Besides, that would’ve been cruel and unusual punishment!

Here’s another thought…Dr.Schratt, the constantly hungover friend and Donovan’s brain had a common bond…They were both constantly TANKED !

And…

It ‘s one thing for the brain to  get forcefully moved from side to side in the tank’s liquid, or to have Dr. Schratt on a bender. Either way they’re getting SLOSHED!

Plus…

Donovan’s Brain vs. The Long Island Medium. Who would win?

Cerebral is to the brain function, as SIRIBRAWL is arguing with your iPhone’s digital assistant!

 

And with that, I bid you farewell until next time!

Monstermatt Patterson
www.monstermatt.com

Nov 22 2012

Fangsgiving Feast

Although the obscure slasher Home Sweet Home took place on Turkey Day, the best known Thanksgiving-related horror movie was a little “gem” called Blood Freak. While the holiday doesn’t play a role in the plot, its focus on a turkey-headed monster guaranteed that the film would be forever associated with it. Thanks to deadenddrivein, you can see the trailer for it below:

Maybe it’s due to the fake trailer for a Thanksgiving-themed horror movie from Grindhouse, but Thanksgiving-themed horror has started growing in recent years. In addition to the film ThanksKilling taking away the “only movie featuring a turkey monster” claim to fame from Blood Freak (although it still is the only Christian anti-drug movie to feature one), Florin Nicoara has authored a horror comedy ebook called Gobble Gobble featuring a mutant turkey beast going on a rampage on Thanksgiving! Said ebook has a free preview available in that link as well. If that isn’t enough for you, check out this episode of Traumatic Cinematic devoted to ThanksKilling (complete with an interview with one of the actors).

Finally, here’s a look back at all of my previous Thanksgiving celebrations here at Gravedigger’s Local 16:

Happy Fangsgiving!
Forget Turkey Day, it’s Turtle Day!
Night of the Thanksliving Dead

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov 16 2012

6’+ Episode 43 is up!

To quote the description given at the new listing:

“This is a weird one. This is what November does. Hear music by Monsterrat, Creepersin, The Suicide Notes, The Monterreys, Mike Trem, Mac Blackout and more. Monstermatt Patterson seems almost normal by this episode (which really isn’t that weird, but that it’s just got some strange music on it.)”

Remember to email 6′+ (contact at 6ftplus.com) or leave a comment below about the show, whether you liked it or not. Tell your friends, leave a review on iTunes, but above all – enjoy.

You can find all episodes of 6′+ over at the official site as well as on iTunes and Stitcher . We’re also on Facebook and Twitter.

Nov 12 2012

The Chzo Mythos

Faithful readers of the site should be very familiar with the humorous work of Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw. However, what they might not realize is that he has also created a lot of serious, downright scary content. Despite the humorous tone, the story in that last link loosely ties into the subject of today’s article. While he has used horror themes in games like the 1213 series and Poacher, his most famous (and most frightening) games are the “Chzo Mythos” games (originally known as the “DeFoe series”). The games in said series consist of:

5 Days a Stranger
7 Days a Skeptic
Trilby’s Notes
6 Days a Sacrifice

Despite the similarity of the names, the series has nothing to do with the Cthulhu Mythos. This works in favor of the games, as they allow players to have a chance at a fresh experience that isn’t bound by any preexisting expectations or guidelines set by Lovecraft. As cool as Cthulhu and his ilk are, the familiarity that so many horror fans have with them takes away from the scares that can only be had from dealing with the truly unknown and unexpected. While H.P. Lovecraft was never able to create a full length version of the fabled Necronomicon due to the knowledge that it could never live up to the insanity-inducing reputation he built up for it in his stories, Croshaw can reveal the complete texts of the sacred books mentioned in the games.

But what about the installments themselves? Each one is a horror adventure game that deals with a thief named Trilby and his struggle against the agents of the pain elemental Chzo. Like his supernatural enemy, Trilby makes his presence known even in games where he technically doesn’t make an appearance. Trust me, that makes more sense when you play through the games (or read all the spoilers online). The original name for the series comes from John Defoe, a masked slasher who has ties to Chzo’s Order of Blessed Agonies and is also acts as a very important recurring element in the overall plot. Think of Michael Myers and the “Curse of Thorn” done right and you’ll have a pretty good idea of the basic undercurrent of the games. The series even features an “in space” installment that actually makes the concept work! The final two installments have also been linked to the Slender Man internet meme!

In addition to the entire quadrilogy being available for free download in a variety of languages, there are also special editions to boot! In addition to their having extended endings, the special editions have extra features like interviews, creator’s commentaries for each game character profiles and much, much more. If that isn’t enough for you, there’s also a creepy short story called “The Expedition” available on Yahtzee’s website that fleshes out more about Chzo’s methods and motivations. Although not a horror game, interested parties can follow the further adventures of Trilby in the spin-off game Trilby: The Art of Theft. Speaking of Trilby, his name actually has a horror connection! You see, his name comes from the Trilby hat he wears. Said hat gained its name after being used in the first stage adaptation of George du Maurier’s novel Trilby, which is best known for introducing Svengali to the world.

It’s also worth noting that Slender Man has turned up into other free video games, like Slender: The Eight Pages (that link features another familiar face for regular readers of this site). You can learn more about that game (and its upcoming sequels) here.

As always, Gravedigger’s Local 16 is not to be held responsible for anything that may occur (be it good or bad) as a result of downloading from any links given here. Attempt at your own discretion. Blah blah blah…

Nov 03 2012

Homemade Godzilla Costumes

I’ve occasionally heard people theorize that part of the appeal Japanese monster movies have is the fact that costumes are used, with fans wishing on a subconscious level that they could be one in the cool costume crushing all those little buildings (despite the fact that doing so is much less glamorous than one would imagine). I can’t say how true or untrue that really it, but it would explain why certain fans decided to take on the task of constructing their own Godzilla costumes. Many have tried their hand at making their own, but I think you’ll agree that the one in the following video stands out above the rest:

Awesome, isn’t it? You can see more videos about the development of the costume at the creator’s Youtube channel. Sadly, no tutorials seem to be available about how to make that particular costume. On the plus side, there are some instructions online on how to make a homemade Godzilla costume suitable for your next Halloween party. There’s even a tutorial for an amazing-looking Mechagodzilla costume floating around out there as well!

But get this, that’s not the best fan-made Godzilla costume ever made! No, that honor belongs to the costume used in the 1989 fan film Ookami Otoko tai Gojira (Wolfman, The Legendary Colossal Beast vs. Godzilla). The costume used was so impressive that urban legend started among American fans that Toho actually lent an amateur filmmaker the costume from King Kong vs. Godzilla for use in the film! To learn more about the film (and to see some cool pictures), check out this informative thread over at the Classic Horror Film Board.

UPDATE: There is now a website dedicated to constructing Godzilla costumes called Becoming Godzilla!

Happy Birthday Godzilla!

Oct 31 2012

The Mission Creeps, HALLOWEEN

The Mission Creeps
Official Site
Halloween, Refractory Records 2012

Whatta mean 'Where's the haunted house?,' it's right there dummy!

For those of you who missed my first article about The Mission Creeps, I’ll explain. Although well-known for their particular brand of dark surf music, it’s not unusual for them to switch genres and styles several times over the course of a single album. Their newest release, Halloween, is no exception. It “only” has nine tracks, but I can guarantee that both the length and quality of said tracks more than make up for the relatively small number of tracks

“Halloween (Theme)” kicks things of nicely with howling wind and a distorted voice that lead us into this musical tribute to the best holiday ever. Not only that, but the catchy guitar work and wailing backing vocals kick all sorts of ass. “Witches” has a kind of a dancey, somewhat Twilight Zone-like feel to it and introduces a technique that reoccurs several times over the course of the album: the use of two distorted voices repeating a selection of creepy phrases. In fact, “Dragging the Body” demonstrates this nicely as one voice orders someone to “drag this body to my laboratory” while a robot voice says “I’m the servant” over a theremin. While other horror bands are content to only sample horror movies, the Mission Creeps set themselves apart by creatively using actual recordings from a Southern Arizona Ghost and Paranormal Society investigation of the Oliver House & Hotel in Bisbee, Arizona in the next track. “The Plum Room (with Sounds from a Real Ghost Investigation)” refers to the hotel’s infamous “Plum Room” and features some great light guitar and drum work. “Space Probed” showcases both the band’s dark surf skills and distorted versions of our two favorite spooky voices. Said voices are at their best in “The Butcher,” where the more authorative one issues commands like “Move along, America is hungry,” “Stun the animal” and “Bring me my cleaver” (to name only a few) and the secondary voice sounds like a demonic Err that adds its own comments on the matter. The sheer bizarreness makes one almost forget about the excellent guitar and drum work. Although we hear cows mooing, some of the commentary (and this Wondershowzen-esque music video) imply that humans are actually on the menu.

The final song, “Cross Over,” has a rather electronic feel to it due to the “boop boop” music that plays while the singer says “You need to cross over.” Although this is the final song, it’s not the final track. Given that the album is devoted to Halloween, it makes perfect sense to include a scary story. “Shadow: A Parable (Edgar Allan Poe: 1835)” features the spooky tale of an encounter with a ghostly being in a room being read by a deep voiced male narrator, with eerie backing music and wind effects softly playing as well. The final track is another Halloween staple: spooky sound effects! That’s right “Land of the Departed (Haunted House Soundtrack)” is a half hour soundscape full of ghostly moans, thunder, creaking doors, snakes, cats and more! It’s like an upgraded version of those spooky sounds CDs you can find everywhere this year and its running time makes it perfect for looping (especially if you play it while playing out candy tonight).

In short, this album is a must-have for fans of great music and Halloween chills. You can enjoy the music all year round while saving the other tracks for use in October. In fact, I wouldn’t mind hearing more ghost stories and soundscapes from the Mission Creeps either! You can also read more about the creation of this album by reading this article on the matter.

I have always shared a music video in every past Halloween countdown and this year is no exception. So, direct from the official Mission Creeps Youtube channel comes the group’s video for “Halloween (Theme)”:

Special thanks to The Mission Creeps for the review copy!

Happy Halloween!

Oct 31 2012

6’+ Episode 42 (The 2012 Halloween Special) Is Up!

To quote the description given at the new listing:

“Taking place in the town of Leathbridge, this episode of 6’+ centers around the GdL16 crew as they prepare for the festivities of the Gravedigger’s Local 16 Halloween Party at Union Hall.  The Intern is determined to generate a local Halloween legend, since there isn’t one specific to Leathbridge. Strange Jason just wants the party to go without a hitch, which doesn’t seem likely when foreboding notes reading IT IS COMING start to pop up everywhere. What do they mean and will everyone get out alive to see another Halloween?”

GdL16 Productions Presents: The 6ftplus 2012 Halloween Special. With Atomic Mystery Monster, Dr. Gangrene, Monstermatt Patterson, Igor, Weird Jon, Strange Jason and the GdL16 Intern.

Featuring Sarah and David of High Fructose Zombies; Dr. Brandi Sexyvoice and Evil Dave of The Inside Outcast; Miguel Rodriguez, Beth Accomando and Ramie Tateishi of Monster Island Resort; Nate, Undead Elvis, Sherlock Foxxx and Teabag of The Psychobilly Garden Party; and a cameo appearance by Tomb Dragomir.

Featuring the music of The Jimmy Psycho Experiment.

You can find all episodes of 6′+ over at the official site as well as on iTunes and Stitcher . We’re also on Facebook and Twitter.

Oct 30 2012

Music to Haunt By: Verse 13

Verse 13
Official Site
Memories from the Grave, Dark Owl Records 2012

V13 via GdL16

Like many of the artists covered in this year’s review series, Verse 13 is a relative newcomer to the world of spooky atmosphere music. Founded by Las Vegas, Nevada resident Mike Fox in 2010 with the release of Prelude to the Afterlife, Verse 13 quickly gained lots of praise. In fact, the track “The Netherworld Circus” was even used as a promotional theme for the TerrorKlowns comic book series. While Prelude to the Afterlife offered a varied selection of musical styles and was influenced by everything from Danny Elfman to 80’s horror movies, Memories from the Grave marks the first time Verse 13 has done an album where all the tracks are connected by a single storyline.

Things start off with the titular “Memories from the Grave,” whose eerie piano work goes nicely with the distorted child’s voice and knocking. “Voices in the Attic” has an intense, rockin’ feel that offers much potential for an area where costumed performers chases visitors to your haunt. “Silhouetted” makes great use of a spooky piano and faint female vocals, along with nice use of a gong while “Unfinished Business” makes use of pounding music (especially percussion) for another track that implies chasing or pursuit. The light piano work of “Residual” has a sinister feel and “Did You Hear That?” combines faint moans and slow ascending piano notes. “Hands Vermillion” utilizes pounding notes and percussion for its opening, which is then followed by a great combination of piano and organ work. If you’re looking for tracks that suit certain setups, “Cold Spot” is almost circus-like in feel (but still has spooky touches) while the creepy organ work that follows the drum buildup in “Villa Montezuma” is perfect for a phantom organist display. The mournful tone of “Cemetery Moonlight” is enhanced by its decidedly (and intentionally) “off” piano work being mixed with some great sound effects. The ringing bells that start “The Doll Maker” lead to a plinking music box and wordless female vocals that make it perfect for any scene involving spooky dolls.

The soundscape “Buried in the Walls” has plenty of digging sounds, along with some growls in distance while in “As Black As Pitch,” a combination of pipe organ, bells and drums goes together extremely well. “The Child’s Keepsake” mixes a music box and heartbeat, then adds a piano and wordless female vocals. Similar vocals appear in the pounding melody of “Crypt of Gypsies,” along with bells, organ work and creepy musical stings. “Unpleasant Dreams” is perfect for a haunted children’s room thanks to the sound of a crying child (and various scary effects) being used in harmony with a music box. The soft, slow musical build at the beginning is very effective at building a sense of unease. The melancholy tone created by the violin, bells and piano work of “Torn Asunder” are well-suited for any funeral scene in your haunt. “Blighted” offers more chase scene potential thanks to its scary, driven feel created through the use of bells, drums and string work. The slow piano work of “She Still Roams” is aided by the touches of distant conversations and breathing effects. “The Candelabra Dims” features both a children’s choir and wordless male vocals, and the bell work picks up with a violin and piano. As for “It Followed Us Home,” well, you’ll have to pick up a copy of the album in order to truly appreciate this one.

Memories from the Grave has numerous tracks that, while distinctively spooky, offer uses in a wide selection of spooky scenes and displays. In fact, I would go as far to say there’s not a single bad track on it. In addition to each track being well-suited to individual looping, it also works well played in a loop at your house on Halloween night. Here’s hoping that we won’t have to wait another two years for the next album, as I’m sure it will be amazing.

Special thanks to Verse 13 for the review copy!

Gravedigger’s Local 16 is not to be held responsible for the content on or anything that may occur (be it good or bad) as a result of visiting any links on the above sites (or constructing a project that’s detailed on them). This also applies to the suggestions made here. Attempt at your own discretion.

Oct 29 2012

Music To Haunt By: Carnival of Lost Souls

Nox Arcana
Official Site
Carnival of Lost Souls, Monolith Graphics 2006

That one spirit looks waaaay too happy to be that close to a horse's ass...

I know what many of you are thinking. “This is just going to be spooky circus music and I can skip this album without any worry since I’m not using a clown theme at my haunt.” I’ll admit it, I tend to avoid circus-themed haunt albums for the same reason. Given that I already have one such album, my tastes tend to lean towards soundtracks that can be used in a variety of haunts. That said, I should have known that Nox Arcana would be the ones to make a circus-themed album that has tracks appropriate for regular and circus-based haunted attractions.

“Ghosts of the Midway” offers an atmospheric opening with the sound of a crowd and circus music, followed by Joseph Vargo doing his tradition spoken word introduction to the album as a spooky ringmaster. If you have a fake ringmaster or loudspeaker at the entrance to your haunted circus, you’ll definitely want to have this playing in a loop. “After Hours” features eerie circus music and the occasional soft wail or giggle. The child saying things like “This way” and “Follow Me” coupled with tolling bells is a great touch which also allows the track to be used with a dark or mirror maze (or a dark hallway). The chiming music box-like feel also means that it can be used for use in a haunted playroom scene. An extremely effective piano introduction starts off “Harlequin’s Lament,” whose melancholy tone is enhanced by wails and wordless vocals from dueling choirs of both genders. “Calliope” offers subdued Merry-Go-Round music and chimes that are actually much less peppy than other takes on spooky calliope music I’ve heard. However, this is actually a positive aspect, as it further enhances the creep factor (in addition to the female vocals and giggling, singing children). The sound of coins being dropped into a slot starts the spoken word track “Madame Endora,” in which a raspy old woman’s voice bids you closer for a downbeat fortune. It’s hard to believe that she’s portrayed by the same woman who voiced the White Queen in Winter’s Eve. Although too short to loop, it would work great as audio activated by a motion sensor used with a prop designed to look like a coin-operated fortune telling machine.

“Nightmare Parade” gives a sense of pursuit or chase thanks to its pounding music coupled with very soft wailing, cracking whips and bursts of female vocals in the background. For a circus chase scene, I recommend playing this while an evil clown chases guests through a stationary vortex tunnel or fun house hallway. “Shadows Fall” has a very slow dark build whose pounding notes contrast with light piano work. It’s suitable for any spooky room, circus-related or otherwise. “Hall of Mirrors” uses somewhat peppier Merry-Go-Round music with lots of creepy laughter that, despite the name, works in any spooky clown room. But if you want to make your own hall of mirrors to play this track in, I recommend a combination of homemade funhouse mirrors and store bought novelty mirrors. A crackling phonograph player plays some impressive string work and hauntingly hollowed-voice singing in “Spellbound,” but soon the player breaks down and eerie noises start. If you play this in a circus-themed haunt, have some fake loudspeakers set up to imply that this track (and the spoken word segments) are being broadcast through the haunt, while other haunts can use this with a spooky prop record player or phonograph in a haunted parlor scene.

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Oct 29 2012

Halloween R.I.P.

For the second year in a row, Halloween has been slain (or postponed) due to bad weather in the Northeast. Sure, it’s only the 29th here, but where I am, we’ve got about seventy-two hours of doing absolutely NOTHING until this Hurricane passes by.

With trick-or-treating being likely rescheduled for this Saturday, it might be the first time that Halloween is celebrated AFTER Dia De Los Muertos. It’s a shame we couldn’t combine the two, and maybe throw in the Coney Island Mermaid parade since the hurricane is probably flooding Surf Avenue right now.

Growing up north, I’m used to crappy weather on Halloween. Costumes were usually made to incorporate some kind of warm undergarment, either a long sleeved thermal (aka long-johns) or, at worst, wearing a coat over the costume. Light snow flurries were always expected on Halloween night, and it was rare that there was a year warm enough that you could run around town with short-sleeves on. When I went dressed as the Unabomber one year (last minute costume, really just wanted the candy) I was well prepared. One year, I was pretty lazy and desperate so I threw on some clothes, an old trenchcoat and went as “homeless.” It didn’t really win over the people but, if you show up for candy in some kind of costume, you’re legally contracted to give it out.

If anyone makes my five story walk-up on Wednesday, I don’t think they’ll be looking for treats. They might be searching for higher ground. Which, I will provide under the same rules of ‘no costume, no candy.’ If you’re not in the right costume, no safe ground for you. I’m not going to let some crappy weather ruin my holiday.

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