The DElSTROYERS - Here Come The Delstroyers

The Delstroyers

Here Come The Destroyers
​self-released; 2016

3.6 out of 5

By J Simpson

Seattle's The Delstroyers summon all that is right and unholy about spooky surf rock, while totally dodging the cheesiness and unoriginality of mime-by-numbers spookabilly and horror punk.

​How is it that certain genres/styles seem to benefit from retrophilia, while others are embarrassing to the point of spontaneous combustion?

Seattle's The Delstroyers sound thrilling and vibrant with their sterling brand of instrumental surf rock, with the occasional classic horror sample or interlude. On their EP Here Come The Delstroyers, The Delstroyers take inspiration from old Peter Lorre films, go-go dancers and Fender Reverb units - all things ghoulish and wonderful of the tripped-out, psychedelic, groovy mid-to-late '60s.

I think part of what makes certain retro genres successful is if they were under-appreciated in their time. And while surf rock has always had its proponents, it kind of fell off the radar before we started digging the crates in the late '90s, once we started having access to every era of recorded music with one mouse click.

It was around that time that I started hearing bands like The Groovie Ghoulies and the legendary Man Or Astroman? but that could also be due to becoming an adult and getting out into the wider world. It's hard to say.

Either way, music that sounds like some sort of funky go-go party in the Addams Family mansion automatically brings a smile to my fanged maw, while horror punk bands that mindlessly ape The Misfits creep me out, in all the wrong ways.

The Delstroyers will take you back to teenage pizza party sleepovers, watching bad horror movies with great friends. This is no mere nostalgia, however, or riding on someone's previous interests. They're badass musicians, particularly the guitarist, rendered in glorious hi-fi.

Do be warned, you're likely to get hooked on The Delstroyers. Like the classic pusher man trick, The Delstroyer's debut EP is painfully short at a cruel four-tracks. Before you know it, you might be pounding on their door at 3 a.m., begging for one more fix!

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