Creeper have been on an intriguing journey over their ten year existence. The tongue-in-cheek metal aesthetics of the musicians on stage tonight at the Globe are unrecognizable, from those of the band that broke on to the scene in the mid-2010’s!
For the uninitiated, Will Gould, Hannah Greenwood and co. first emerged onto the scene with Eternity, In Your Arms - an excellent album that combined raucous punk energy and bombastic glam-rock swagger! They have always drawn from an incredibly wide array of influences from My Chemical Romance to Bowie, yet have altered their sound with each subsequent release.
For the uninitiated, Will Gould, Hannah Greenwood and co. first emerged onto the scene with Eternity, In Your Arms - an excellent album that combined raucous punk energy and bombastic glam-rock swagger! They have always drawn from an incredibly wide array of influences from My Chemical Romance to Bowie, yet have altered their sound with each subsequent release.
Creeper's relentless appeal comes from their skill as songwriters, and their ability to inject humour into deeply respectful homages to the genres they tackle! Whether you see Creeper's albums as pieces of parody, or love letters, they are always expertly crafted, and lots of fun!
This brings us to the Sangui-Tour. A series of shows drawing to a close the band's “vampire” era! The two Sanguivore albums were an ambitious feat, chronicling the history of Satan-inspired metal. Consequently, there are a wide array of sounds represented tonight from the vaudeville theatrics of Razor Wire, to the Jim Steinmen-esque ambitiousness of Further Than Forever.
This brings us to the Sangui-Tour. A series of shows drawing to a close the band's “vampire” era! The two Sanguivore albums were an ambitious feat, chronicling the history of Satan-inspired metal. Consequently, there are a wide array of sounds represented tonight from the vaudeville theatrics of Razor Wire, to the Jim Steinmen-esque ambitiousness of Further Than Forever.
This is testament to the versatility of the band's sound, and their skill as musicians. Few acts could make the folk-adjacent Ballad Of Spook And Mercy sound completely natural when placed against the raucous theatrics of anthems in the vein of Lovers Led Astray, but then few punk bands have made the leap to metal quite so convincingly!
Vital to what makes this show so enticing is the band's stage presence. Will Gould struts around the stage, as if he's in command of a ritual! Moments such as Parasite and Cry To Heaven inspire everyone in the crowd to sing the words back at our performers, whilst Chapel Gates and Headstones cause circle pits to ensue!
Vital to what makes this show so enticing is the band's stage presence. Will Gould struts around the stage, as if he's in command of a ritual! Moments such as Parasite and Cry To Heaven inspire everyone in the crowd to sing the words back at our performers, whilst Chapel Gates and Headstones cause circle pits to ensue!
Observed from my position on the balcony of The Globe, the concert seemed to become a celebration both of our vampiric performers, and of the many decades of gothic rock music that has given life to their songs!
With this era of Creeper at an end, (as inferred by the closing narration on Sanguivore II) I am curious where they progress from here. On the one hand it's tempting to say they won't be in any rush to give up the fans they have made in the metal sphere. However, it's through daring stylistic leaps that they have achieved their current level of notoriety. In that sense, whether the future for them looks familiar or distinct, shows like this will surely ensure their longevity for many years to come! 10/10
With this era of Creeper at an end, (as inferred by the closing narration on Sanguivore II) I am curious where they progress from here. On the one hand it's tempting to say they won't be in any rush to give up the fans they have made in the metal sphere. However, it's through daring stylistic leaps that they have achieved their current level of notoriety. In that sense, whether the future for them looks familiar or distinct, shows like this will surely ensure their longevity for many years to come! 10/10
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