Dear Readers of DeathRat Fanzine,

Welcome to Lucky Issue 13!!!

On a less happy note, I think we are all stunned by

the shootings in Connecticut that happened this month.

So instead of a happy Christmas/New Year issue, I would

rather it be dedicated to the families celebrating the

holidays through pain and loss.

So this issue goes out to those families and the souls

lost that day.

As angry as we all are that the killer is labeled as a

goth, let’s remember that that is a small issue compared

to what he did. And instead of focusing on the murderer,

let us focus on the victims. Whatever you believe, we

can only hope they are in a better place now.

There is no justification, but maybe this small issue

of a small fanzine can at least make a difference through

remembrance.

Hannah

Cover Model- Leen Margoth

Photographer- Rebecca Raistrick

Artist Reviews

Leper- Nameless

Leper is back with another free album download of some of Skot’s favourite

tracks he has written between what we have and haven’t previously heard. It’s

basically all of Skot’s favourites and he is working on volume two. Nameless is

a great introduction to the band and, being that it’s free, you can’t go wrong in

downloading it.

Also from Grrr Records is a video featuring Skot that can be found on youtube

which is a beautiful story of how he found hope and what it means to be

different.

Lullaby & the Bats

I love any band that uses film tracks and you definitely get that with Lullaby &

the Bats. It’s funny actually, I once used the exact same moment from the

original “Dracula” in one of my songs as they use so that sold me immediately.

Deathrock? Most definitely. The Batcave influence is strong and there is no

doubt about the sound being fantastic and an amalgamation of the dark and

macabre that brings this genre to the beauty within it. “Conformist Bitch” is a

hit and will definitely stick in your head in a good way. They are the

antithesis of the mainstream and will keep your feet dancing in the dungeons

until Judgment Day.

Cheshire Cat (The Bouncing)

Minimalism at its very best, Cheshire Cat has a new sound that cannot be taken

for granted. Their vocal effects plus unique instrumentation leaves this band

to die for. If you are looking for something different you can count on this duo

to satisfy that need. These beautiful ladies combine to create beautiful music

that is lo-fi Gothic with a Patti twist. The punk influence is definitely there and

even a little bit rockabilly, but there is something truly individual about

Cheshire Cat (The Bouncing) that makes them irresistible.

Blak

Forceful guitars, dark vocals, post-modern drumming, and just enough bass makes up a

fantastic sound that we call “Blak”. My favourite Blak song is “Staring at the Sky” in which

we hear this amalgamation doing what it does best, entertaining the listener while sounding

true to themselves. Normally I am into bass and drums the most but in this act I have to say

it is the guitars that take the cake. I don’t know what that phrase means, but we are talking

about a pitch black, chocolatey vegan smothered in barbed wire kind of cake. Don’t’ get me

wrong, the vocals are amazing as well, and they cannot be denied as a hit in this band, but

the guitars seem to be the star.

Exit Strategy

The nine track album “Exit Strategy 1” is an industrial dream of matrices and guitars, metal

and goth intertwined. The nice thing about Exit Strategy is that there is something for

everyone. It has a nice hint of prog with a dark twist to create the post-metal sound. Hailing

from the UK, Exit Strategy is the brainchild of B. Waddon and his fantastic talents. If you

like something that appeals to multi-genres check him out on facebook and bandcamp.

Horror House

The Chilean project “Horror House” is a dark electronica surprise when out of the blue

comes this “ambient noise” as they describe it and I find that to be rather accurate. It is

experimental and includes all sorts of unheard of tricks and beats to make something totally

refreshing. The track “Inmobiliaria” sort of sounds like a fetal tape machine. I know,

another weird analogy but that’s what it reminds me of.

Sunset Down

The first song I heard by Sunset Down was “Crushed” which initially reminded me of A-ha…until

the vocals came in. Suddenly I was underground in a dimly lit cavern dancing with Bela in what

seemed to be a romance of beauty and death. So yes, Sunset Down definitely has my faith in their

future. They haven’t been writing and touring as much as other bands, but the songs they have out

are worth listening to. You will find something there that you may not find elsewhere in your music.

Hemophilia

In 2006, Hemophilia began making music as one unit. If Cinema Strange were from Quito, I

imagine this is what they would sound like; a Bauhaus blend of vocals and guitars with a

hint of electronics. “Happy House” is an amazing cover with an electronica twist to the post-

punk hit. I absolutely love what they’ve done with the song. And their originals are not to be

taken lightly either. Each song has its own personality and rhythm. I would be proud to be

a member of Hemophilia.

Muse Kassandra

How to describe the sound? Doom punk, perhaps? Whatever you catagorise Muse

Kassandra as, there is no doubt that they are phenomenal. The talents and musicianship

are not lost and the sound is purely awesome. Baritone vocals with metal guitars and

double bass pedals gives a description that would make you think metal, but there is a

strong flavor of post-punk creating a wonderful sound that no one can imitate.

Last Dusk

Atmospheric guitars and synths allow for a deathrock sound tilting less towards the punk

and closer to the gothic element. The lyrics are challenging and raw and the vocal dubbing

is a great way to create the sound they are driving towards. I’m very impressed by Last

Dusk and surprised I haven’t heard of them before this. Their skills are Cure-esque and as I

am always in love with a good bass-line, the track “V” is a dream come true for me. The

nationality flavor gives a hint of the roots of Last Dusk and it really sounds like they are

reaching toward the night ‘keeping alive the secret flame’.

Shriek

Young punks from Cincinnati continue into adulthood with their bad-ass

attitude and horror ridden lyrics. None of the Green Day shit of today,

Shriek reminds you of when Punk was good and “Dance with a Corpse”

really does make you wanna dance with other dead things like yourself.

There is nothing negative to say about this little band of horrors and

ghouls as their talent proceeds them in name and reputation. Their

success within the punk genre should be far beyond others and I’d like to

see them get noticed by more than just the few. “The Cthulu Song” starts

with some sort of chanting which strikes the intrigue and then the guitars

and powerful drumming kicks in. The vocals are that perfect blend of

harmonics and not caring. And “Lycanthrope” (obviously another horror

topic which brings me bliss) is a speedy kick into the world of punk rock

as it was meant to be.

Signo XIII

Signo XIII is an experimental Goth group with coldwave aspects and a

refreshing darkness that keeps them entertaining and interesting. They

are intriguing and unusual I must admit, but that is never a bad thing.

There is something very creative about them that you don’t get much

anymore.

Maria Loves Me

Electronica at its most interesting, Maria Loves Me gives us an insight into

the world of space and water, it’s very elemental actually. You almost

feel like you are listening to dolphins trying to communicate with bats. It’s

warm and comforting like a nice swig of rum. When the claps come in,

you are ready to take off in flight and find your freedom. Maria Loves Me

is the next band to lookout for in 2013.

Cauda Pavonis

The depth of their lyrics is enough to consider Cauda Pavonis a great band, but it is the

sound that captivates the listener. They lie somewhere between The Clash and The

Damned with an Adam Ant twist. I don’t know if that makes sense but it sure does create a

wonderful atmosphere of sound. The guitars aren’t your typical deathrock guitars but have

a Dream Theater technique while keeping with the goth sound. The synths are perfection

and the vocals true to form. My favourite is the bass line. The harmony of the drums and

bass blend beautifully to create the rhythm that holds together this incredible sound that

will leave you salivating. No, really, you’ll be amazed.

salvation AMP

Cinema Strange instrumentation and Bauhaus vocals make up the sound of salvation AMP,

not the new kid on the scene, but one of the originals who happen to be coming up in a big

way. Most recently heard on the new Sombrati release (free to download), salvation AMP

hit off their sounds with a Sisters of Mercy influence to create this post-punk child. Much of

their music can be heard via soundcloud or reverbnation and is downloadable for free.

However, I encourage you all to support the scene and buy some music from these hard-

working guys who artistically procreate what we’ve seen before in a whole new way.

Opium Tea

Chilled gothrock feel, easy relaxing darkness. The mix between Txarly Usher and Piebol is

Opium Tea which is simply a break from the routine of sameness and has its own sound. I

say a lot of music is unique, but in the world of goth and deathrock, this really is different.

It has a feel that everything is going to be alright even though things are hard right now.

However, I am saying this is how the music sounds. Lyrically, I have no idea what they are

talking about except for the word “Diablo” which means my interpretation of the tune

“Juala Sin Reglas” to be null and void. But I’m just telling you how it sounds to me, a dumb

American who speaks…American.

Muuy Biien

Preparing for their new album, Muuy Biien has made a name for themselves with the

multiple shows they have played and have coming up. They aren’t your stay-at-home-

wishing-you-were-touring kind of band. They actually get out there and get it done. And

they do it well. Muuy Biien reminds me of Joy Division on speed. They capture deathrock

but they aren’t limited to it. Do yourself a favour, look up Muuy Biien.

Knutz

While I have no idea how to pronounce their name, The Knutz are a phenomenal act,

brilliantly producing songs like “Ghost Dance Party” with elegance, taking you back to Max

Fleischer and dancing with Betty Boop in that dark forest. I haven’t seen them live, but I

have no doubt they would be fun to watch. The vocals are jus what I personally listen for

when searching for new music and the guitars, synths, bass and drums each have their own

voice but still work together in perfect harmony, dissonance, and dischord as it may be. I

have no complaints. Just listen.

Amoniaco

There are meant to be some punctuation marks in the name, but I am not that great with

Microsoft Word to find them. So I would first like to apologise to the band for not spelling

the name correctly!

However, Amoniaco is the epitome of Deathrock. CAER is a great video to introduce

yourself to the band and their sound. The vocals are very modern and clear but the

instrumentation gives it the flavor of the dark. You are swimming with them with beautiful

piano and fantastic sounds created by this awesome band.

The Article of Random Drunken Thoughts

This is so not professional…but it’s DeathRock

1.) Doesn’t’ it suck when your eyebrows melt?

2.) Doesn’t a spinal outline look like a penis?

3.) Hot guys can be shallow

4.) So can bitches

5.) This isn’t a blog…just a ranticle

6.) I think I’m done

7.) But maybe not

8.) Spiced rum and vodka are a nice mix

9.) Captain Morgan and Smirnoff are friends

10.) Am I shallow because I first noticed a guy by his looks?

11.) Yes, it has been that kind of a day.

12.) Tell me your secrets and I will do this anonymously for

you.

13.) Kind of a Dear Abby thing.

14.) Have you had enough? Are you bored?

15.) I am good at typing whilst under the influence.

16.) She’s a bitch.

17.) I love my job.

Best Songs of 2012

1.)You. Me. Intercourse

Les Modules Etranges

2.)Take the Pill

Emilie Autumn (hate me if you must)

3.)Grandma Got Half Eaten by a Zombie

Grave Robber

4.)Beautiful Grey Day

Leper

5.)The Early Years of Dr. Lindsay

The Deadfly Ensemble

6.)Transylvania Mania

Monster A Go-Go

7.)I Have Changed

Anne Marie Hurst

8.)When I was Dead

DrunKen C

9.)My Sad Wishlist

KatzKab

10.)Religious Cold

Madame B

11.)Bat Whispers

Lullaby & the Bats

12.)Epic Conflict

Vexing Souls

Video Reviews

Blak- Thrill Killer

Beginning down a dark corridor, Gypsy Blak and the Elegant Bastards take us through what

seems to be a murder soon to take place. The video is mostly black and white, which I love, and

showcases the song “Thrill Killer” with Gypsy’s wonderful vocals. Made on a low budget, the

crew did not sacrifice professionalism in making this video. It manages to be a spectacle to

behold and I would love to have one of my videos done by the guys who did this. The song is

great as well and goes with the video rather than being overshadowed by it.

Adam Ant- Cool Zombie

……..Um……….

The Devil’s Carnival Episode 2- Trailer

The war between Heaven and Hell seems to be getting a little bit more interesting in the

continuation of the short film inspired by Aesop’s Fables. In Episode 1, we saw three different

stories told by Lucifer to a young boy and (not to spoil the ending) when we reach Heaven, Hell

is trying to fracture the mind of the doll creator there. (Perhaps this is a representation of God?

We don’t know yet). The full trailer won’t be out until January so I shall update this wee article

upon the appearance of that.

Love in Cage

Love in Cage is a fantastic band that I have reviewed in the past. Male fronted French coldwave

at its best, they are back with a new music video. Since “The Trees” in 2009, this video from

2012 is new and inventive. “Minimal Sound” from the album “Position” is a great song with

speedy beats and post-punk guitars. The video, shot in black and white, shows the full band

during a live performance of the song. Simple though it may be, the video keeps you hooked.

It sort of reminds me of “California Dreamin’” from the ‘60s with their first ever video.

Escarlatina Obsessiva- Lightning Bug

As with all of their videos, Lightning Bug features a great band with great music. If you’ve read

all issues of DeathRat you will know that these guys were the first band I ever reviewed. You

know a band is dedicated when they not only allow, but welcome insects to crawl on them.

Shots of the band throughout the video are a great addition, especially the Siouxsie/Rosie looks

given by our beautiful and wonderful bassist and singer. The eerie darkness glows in the light

of a flashlight and makes for a truly Gothic video.

Benthic

On a simple DeviantArt profile lies “Benthic” the graphic novel about sea turtles. Well, not exactly about

sea turtles, but that is the analogy used to describe the inescapable fate of a young lady who goes

through torment but survives. It is short but not sweet. It is beautiful but not ‘entertaining’ in the

typical sense of the word. It is something that goes beyond that and it left me near tears at the depth of

meaning behind the simple concept of the life of a sea turtle. But like I said, it’s not really about sea

turtles. You will have to read this for yourself.

I’m not just reviewing this because I know the graphic artist, I’m reviewing this because we have all been

through the trauma that we simplify as ‘hard times’ and we have all had the disturbance of ‘troubles’.

So please, read “Benthic” for comfort, for love of art, for facts of sea turtle babies.

Interview with Johnny of the Killhouettes

> How long have you been interested in art?

I'd say I became interested in art the age of 3. My mom once told me a story about her waking up from a nap when I was 3 years old and discovering her legs, the walls of the home we lived in and many other things that I drew all over with tubes of lipstick she got for Christmas.

> Who have been some of your artistic inspirations?

The artist I am most influenced by is Honore Daumier. I actually own 14 original Daumier lithographs that date back to no later than 1845.

> When did you decide the style of art you wanted to create?

My whole life I have mainly been a cartoonist. In fact, I was labeled as one by Grad students when I was a Fine Art major at Arizona State University. As far as Killhouettes go, I try to be as anatomically accurate as possible.

> Have you always been into the macabre?

I'm into macabre things that involve a sense of humor or have something cute about them. For instance, I really like the art of Queenie (Pocket Full of Posiez) and Eric Pigors.

> What medium do you work with to create these images?

I make a sketch first, then I scan it. After that, I build the images via both vector and raster art programs.

> What has been the response to Killhouettes?

The general response to Killhouettes (since the first one I posted on Facebook in 2010) has been very positive.

> Why did you choose the Victorian era as the theme of your work?

I chose the Victorian era for Killhouettes because silhouettes were very popular in the 19th century.

> What (or who) is your favourite Killhouette?

At present, my favorite Killhouette is "Prudence Never liked My Smoking."

Every Day a Goth Day

gothic name: rebecca raistrick

what is your routine for choosing an outfit?: Black is the new black! I choose many different textures and

combine them so that it looks "grunge" but not "slothlike", scruffing them up too helps like cutting and

ripping them

How do you dress on a day you have to look professional?: dark trousers, rolled up blazer, messy hair,

statement shoes and a skull scarf make me look stylish and professional, whilst staying true to who I am.

What are your eating habits like?: Life is for living...you only live once! so eat what you want, when you

want (but still in moderation )

If you had a 2GB mp3 player to take on an abandoned island, what music would you load on it?:

Definitely a bit of Motionless in White for when I'm angry at being stuck on the island, Black veil brides

for when I feel low and miss home, and murderdolls and slipknot just because!

Is there anything you would like to say to our Goths out there?: Stay true to who you are! Don't let any

narrow minded people put you down for dressing different because who would want a world where we

are all the same?