5¢ Freakshow Horror Punk Splatter Massacre Review

5¢ Freakshow

Horror Punk Splatter Massacre

Blood Freak Records

2019

If there’s a razorblade in your candy apple, rat poison in your cotton candy or wolfsbane in your funnel cake, there’s a high probability that you’re under the big top of Canada’s psychobilly outfit, 5¢ Freakshow. Clearly, this isn’t any ordinary attraction and the screams from underneath the tent only intensify your morbid curiosity. It’s only a matter of time before the cornucopia of sights and smells lure you in and once you’re in, you’re not seeing the light of day again.

Part of a 7” split with Los Lügers, ‘Horror Punk Splatter Massacre’ features the tracks “Bury You Alive” and “My Sweet Elena”. Both of those songs alone are worth the price of admission, but through their Bandcamp page, you can purchase it with the bonus acoustic version of “My Sweet Elena”, which only sweetens the deal. And if you know me, I’m a sucker for acoustic performances, especially when it comes to anything horror punk/rock related.

“Bury You Alive” starts off as a slow anthemic crawl that sees you throwing your fists into the air, but just as quickly erupts into a rousing track that plays as the soundtrack to holding your girl close in your arms as you dance before throwing her in your trunk and taking her to an unmarked grave somewhere off of Lover’s Lane. “My Sweet Elena” is so god damn good. The Nekromantix-esque bass intro grabs and hypnotizes me. The choruses live rent free in my head and I cannot stop myself from letting it take over my motor functions. The acoustic version is truly a treat and Nikky’s vocals really stand out. The emphasis on harmonizing vocals in conjunction with the slower pace make this version completely different and not just in the electric vs. acoustic mindset, but in that a slower, more methodical take makes it feel darker and more emotional.

~TJ