Out of the City of Angels comes a devilish new band with a dark twist on classic American country, bluegrass and murder balladry. The Heathen Apostles offer a sound that combines gothic and punk overtones with edgy lyrics of murderous love, outlaw crime and damnation. These heathens have been making a stir around Southern California during the past 2 years and just recently appeared at the annual Ink N Iron Festival at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.
Now, when you first gets a glimpse of the
Heathen Apostles, it is hard not to do a double take. This band casts a dark shadow over the crowd as they enter and appear more closely to funeral entertainment for a 19th century downed gunslinger versus an LA club night with twenty-something hipsters in the crowd pecking away at iPhones. However, with head-to-toe blackness, vintage Victorian-era attire, stern countenance and a wide array
of instrumentation, the shear visual of the band can be both alluring and
overwhelming. The final blow comes from the diva front woman, Mather
Louth (Radio Noir) who normally takes the stage with full funeral head vale,
jet black lipstick and pale white skin. Mather out front of this group mystifies the crowd with haunting gazes and enigmatic poses throughout the performances, which transmits both beckoning and
threatening signals at the same time.
HA may have roots in many genres, but
their combined sound is altogether their own. The band touts familiar names such as Chopper Franklin
(The Cramps) on guitar and Stevyn Grey (Christian Death, 45 Grave) on
drums, but other band members round out this musically tight and
original arrangement including Thomas Lorious (The Kings of Nuthin’)
on an upright bass, Viktor Phoenix (Dessau) on both banjo/mandolin and the talented Luis Mascaro on fiddle.
The songs of HA range all tempos and emotions. From the fast-paced, boot-clicking tunes of ‘Without A
Trace’ and ‘Forget Me Not’ down to the somber murder ballads of
‘Before You Go’ and ‘Dark Was The Night.’ The crowd is never stuck in a monotonous or monochromatic musical experience.
HA has a tight musical delivery, an
innovative dark approach and an
unforgettable stage performance that stays with you long after the performance is over. The Heathen Apostles are not your
typical night out on the town and definitely should not missed, as we might be seeing an ushering in of a new genre with possible copycat bands
soon to follow.
Heathen Apostles will be playing various shows in and around Southern California including The Hippy Killer Hoedown 2015 in Perris, CA. Visit the band’s website or follow
them on Facebook for more info.
Full length album, Boot
Hill Hymnal and 3-song EP, Without A Trace, now available at www.heathenapostles.com
No comments:
Post a Comment