Fans Of The Dark - Video
(Frontiers Music S.R.L – 2024)
(Genre: Melodic Rock)
When Fans Of The Dark entered my world via their self titled debut and sophomore album, 'Suburbia', I was enthralled and entertained by their nightmarish brand of tongue in cheek Melodic Rock. The songs fuelled my imagination with well crafted tunes that told tales of monsters and things that make you go screaming into the night. My reviews of both albums clearly highlight that they are something to get your teeth in to.
When I received ‘Video’ I was excited at the prospect of hearing more tales of ‘Zombies In My Class,’ or ‘Tales Of The Living Dead. This album has a different vibe but it doesn’t quite capture my attention in the same manner. I understand that you have to move forward as a band and as you evolve you make changes, you can’t just repeat yourself, you need a new trick or treat.
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this third outing by Fans Of The Dark, it is simply just more of the same. The title track and first single ‘Let’s Go Rent A Video’ doesn’t quite capture the excitement that we all had back in the 80’s when we went to rent a video from the likes of ‘Blockbusters’.
My review of this album has run quite late as I have given it time to bed its way into my mind, for some reason I can’t find the earworms that wriggle and burrow into my head. The songs still have that melodic feel of the 1980’s, the musicianship is still of a high class, but the hooks and choruses are not so captivating and memorable. ‘The Wall’ charges out of the speakers but ends up failing to be as dramatic as the fall of it. Keys swamp the opening of ‘Find Your Love’ as the search for it goes on, again.
The album image depicts a video store illuminated by neon lights on the corner of the street, on the rooftop is a figure that observes the surroundings, the comings and goings of the night, but no one is there, the figure is not menacing enough to frighten away the clientele, so where is everyone? Have they all found something better to do?
Finally, I think I have discovered what is missing from the previous efforts, the underlying sense of fun, of tongue in cheek, twisted dark humour that made them such insatiable listening. This is not ‘The Night Of The Living Dead’ or ‘A Rocky Horror Show’, or as Alice Cooper might say there is barely a ‘Spark In The Dark’. I’ve got to go now as it’s time to ‘Feed My Frankenstein’.
By Paul Mace