I kind of thought that a Canadian band that gets itself lumped into the horror rock genre might raise a smile or two and duly “Things Arn't What They Seem” – that is exactly how it is spelled on the sleeve – by Patron Saint of Plagues delivered the expected results.
A trio apparently, this band does the Misfits meets Kiss thing without taking it, or themselves I hope, too seriously. Heavyweight metal riffs are used to punctuate these songs but there is more to Patron Saint of Plagues than sheer volume. So whilst the conventions of theatrical metal are rigidly observed in the beer and blood sausage songs like “Land of the Dead”, there is also a lighter, more amusing, side with the cheesy spookiness of “Carnival of the Corrupt” being a prime example. “Graveyard Lullaby”, likewise, sneaks in a stage school style female vocal to give that unmistakeable Andrew Lloyd Webber feel before the metal axe is once again wielded upon the walls of Jericho.
13 might be the unlucky number of choice but, on reflection, the well of blood did seem to run dry well before the finish line was reached on this album. As Morticia once said to Gomez – “Where is Thing? Those dishes won’t wash themselves”.
The album is available from Bandcamp.