Creeper

Sanguivore

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Genre: Alternative Rock.
Released: 13/10/2023
Via Spinefarm Records

Album Review: Creeper – Sanguivore

From Will’s Beheading at London’s Roundhouse venue to a goth, glam rock extravaganza, Creeper are making headlines in the alternative scene! Their upcoming album ‘Sanguivore’ is set to be one of the band’s most experimental records to date and that has really piqued my interest. Here’s what I thought of the new album!

What better way to kick off a new era than with a larger than life rock anthem that wouldn’t sound out of place on broadway! ‘Further Than Forever’ introduces the listener to the new sound of Creeper in a very dramatic way. A 9 minute song is a bold way to open up any record however the band do an excellent job of keeping the listener engaged with sharp twists and sudden bursts of energy throughout. As if unearthed from the 90’s glam rock era, ‘Cry To Heaven’ encourages dancing like nobody’s watching and boasts one of the more catchy choruses on the entire record. Will’s vocals seem more laid back and “slick” which adds a tonne of character to the track.

Unholy themes follow in the form of the more punk esc ’Sacred Blasphemy’. A much more punchy track that will have the pit crew going full steam ahead in a matter of minutes. It’s the first glimpse of a Creeper sound fans would be familiar with however it still has a new sinister twist to it.  Unsurprisingly ‘The Ballad Of Spook & Mercy’ is an eerie ballad. A moving yet atmospheric song that helps to really sell the darker undertones of the band’s new direction. 

Returning to a more rock-centered feel is ‘Lovers Led Astray’. The glam rock style really compliments the band’s vocal style and adds a tonne of punch which could otherwise be lost in more modern-day rock tropes. Sinister intent is what ‘Teenage Sacrifice’ has to offer. Big riffs, straight-to-the-point lyrics and a massive chorus that’s just begging for fans to echo back to the band in a live environment. Danceability seems to be a big focus point when it comes to the instrumentals on this album and I am not complaining at that one bit! For those of you who say “Creeper need to do more like their earlier material”, you’re in luck as ‘Chapel Gates’ brings the angst and attitude from the Creeper EP era and gives it a new lick of paint. Glam Punk may just be on its way up the ranks!

‘The Abyss’ offers a subtle break from the action and is an atmosphere-building track that leads into the ridiculously groovy ‘Black Heaven’. Capturing a more club-esque feeling with a simple yet catchy groove accompanied by a heavy, deep synth that drones throughout the track’s entirety, Creeper got a little more experimental with this one and I think it works well for the most part. Closing out the album is ‘More Than Death’ which is the obligatory emotional tear-jerker song that Creeper love to close their records with. Piano, clean vocals and highly impactful lyrics tie the record up in a creative bow. 

This new record is a drastic change from what many have come to love about Creeper and that may turn some people off; however, the album is wonderfully produced and arguably has some of the band’s best work to date on it. For me, I couldn’t help but feel like the style and sound were heavily inspired by Meatloaf’s ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ as the songs could easily be made into a rock opera of their own. Who knows what the future holds?