Preview: Haddonwood

The diary of Dracula meets a boldly resistant rhythm in the debut album of Darlington and Teesside-based punks Haddonwood. Deadcase is an enthralling ten track blend of horror and pop punk with alt-metal undertones, drawing inspiration from the sounds of The Offspring and the Koffin Kats. A collection of stories perfect for a moonlit Hallows Eve rave, each track is characterised by rapid guitar, a thrumming drumbeat and lyrics that trace the echoes of the macabre histories of humanity. Each song, however, provides a different experience – the ghostly feel of Final Girls belongs on the soundtrack of a film, whereas Rum and Blood’s infectious beat would undoubtedly cast a spell on the dancefloor. 

The tracks explore themes of vampiric tendencies, the slasher trope of the ‘final girl’ and nightmare-laced moods, whilst also referencing the classics of fear-soaked cinema – from A Nightmare on Elm Street to Christine. Notably, the album includes inventive use of sound effects, as seen in the otherworldly keys of Shake and the splattering noises that mimic the bloodshed prominent in horror films, at the end of Bleed. Eerie and unsettling: it adds a layer of brilliance to the rebellious musical arrangement. 

In honour of Deadcase’s release, on 31st October the band is playing a celebratory show at Play, Middlesbrough supporting Ghost UK. It’s certain to be a night alive with the heart of DIY music culture and seasonal spookiness.