Music is a creative way to tell thrilling stories and thought-provoking anecdotes, both non-fiction and fantasy satisfying the need for escapism and relatability. Taken one step further is the journey in which a concept-album can take a listener on, but the UK offers an even more extreme, authentic, and unsettlingly interactive way in which to consume music in the form of Ward XVI.
Shock-rockers and horror fiends will feel right at home with this band of freaks’ sophomore album ‘Metamorphosis.’ Drawing influence from Alice Cooper, Avatar, and Marilyn Manson, the musical and visual concoction is thrown together into a rusty blender under the light of a full moon to create a bloody cocktail of industrial riffs and psychotic narratives, the same way in which Frankenstein’s Monster was birthed.
As a prequel to their debut album 'The Art of Manipulation,' this record tells the tale of how the bands vocalist, Psychoberrie, was moulded and contorted into the blood lusting serial killer she’d become. Opening track ‘Retrogression’ sets the scene with a dialogue between our antagonist, (or more suitably protagonist, depending which side of the killing you’re on,) and a therapist within the claustrophobic walls of Whittingham Asylum.
Reminiscing over her malicious childhood, ‘The Cradle Song’ utilises hair-raising piano led lullabies and a guitar melody from Dr Von Stottenstein that’s straight out of Metallica’s ‘Nothing Else Matters,’ with the lyrics “I put my hand into your chest to find your beating heart.” Just in case you’d doubted the extent of the psychosis in question.
Interweaving catchy pop choruses on ‘Mister Babadook’ creates a head fuck of emotions, the soft and childlike vocals lulling you into a false and dangerous sense of security. Listening to ‘A Goodnight Shot’ will have you thinking you’ve accidentally stumbled across the soundtrack to a Tim Burton movie, with operatic backing vocals creating an overwhelming spiral of stress and tension that’ll leave you needing your own dose of therapy after the first listen.
The amalgamation of metal riffs, off-beat ska rhythms, and jaunty accordions creates a horror circus feeling of dread, the Arabian intro to ‘Burn the Witch’ only heightening the foreign feeling of ensuing paranoia.
The onslaught of frantic, chest-pounding bass from Wolfy Huntsman and a revolving door of drummers on ‘Catch Me If You Can’ threatens any shred of sanity left, as it pulls you into the engulfing madness. Closing track ‘Shadows’ sees Psychoberrie spared to 8 years in a mental institution for murdering her own mother.
It’s no wonder Ward XVI have already made a massive imprint on the live scene at festivals Bloodstock, Hammerfest, and Ragnarok to name a few, and with ‘Metamorphosis’ under their knife laden belts, will have us all questioning if anything we’d previously lived was ever
actually real, or if this shared nightmare is truly our new reality. Proceed with caution.
‘Metamorphosis’ is available for purchase now, and to stay up to date with touring and band information click here.
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