The Horrors: Strange House

Published: 10:12 AM March 8, 2007

Updated: 10:35 PM February 22, 2021

Shirking their soft Southend roots, The Horrors truly embody their new, scary-in-a-fun-way image. But scrape away the eyeliner, black attire and personas (Coffin Joe on drums, Spider Webb on organ), and you ll find a stack of delirious garage rock, hilari

Shirking their soft Southend roots, The Horrors truly embody their new, scary-in-a-fun-way image.

But scrape away the eyeliner, black attire and personas (Coffin Joe on drums, Spider Webb on organ), and you'll find a stack of delirious garage rock, hilarious imagery and nefarious organ grinding.

Lead singer Faris Rotter growls and howls his way through 12 tracks, including the turbo-garage eeriness of excellent recent single Gloves.

Sounds like a scratchy, black and white '30s horror movie crossed with Beetlejuice, Beelzebub and the Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster.

Thankfully there are enough ideas and substance to keep Strange House from turning into a one-trick party piece.

An unhinged riot. 4/5