Review - We Are Horror Records - The Kids Are All Fright!!! Compilation

The Kids Are All Fright!!!

Various Artists

Released by We Are Horror Records in 2025

Review

Punk Rock is built on great compilations and the discovery of new bands. I practically had my 90s punk exposure dictated by Epitaph's 'Punk-O-Rama' series and Fat Wreck Chords 'Fat Music'; legendary 80s compilations like Dischord's 'Flex Your Head' or the 'This is Boston not LA' record expanded the spread of early hardcore punk in the states and stand as testaments for the era today, whilst 'Bullshit Detector' did the same for the anarcho-punk bands of the day. In fact it would be impossible to even try and list all the great examples that have peppered the punk scene over the decades - and if I had to list every band that I got into due to hearing them on a compilation, I'd never finish this review (although special mention to the Household Name Records comps in the early 00s which capture the punk/hc/skacore era perfectly). Horror punk is not immune to a good comp either - the 'This is HorrorPunk' records are essential and my first exposure to dozens of great proponents of the genre has come from the numerous examples available from labels both small and big. In the last few years however, it has been UK record label 'We Are Horror Records' which has put out the most noteworthy examples, packed full of great bands and with plenty of representation from these islands. It's not an understatement to say that the labels continued devotion to the genre has given me, and no doubt others, a real boost in our own love for the music with quality releases aplenty and - some would say finally - a real UK edge to the genre. The latest release from the label - just in time for Halloween! - packs in 19 songs from 19 bands (15 songs on the vinyl release), the majority of which are previously unreleased, with strong representation from UK horror punk bands, some genre-adjacent picks and some pretty awesome covers to boot... so how does it compare to other great compilations? Let's take a deep dive...

You can't have a more perfect start to the album than opening track 'It Begins...' by the undisputed royalty of UK Horror Punk, the legendary Zombina and the Skeletones. On somewhat of a roll since last years comeback album 'Call of Zombina', and with the re-release of their 'In Sinistereo' releases as an album on Halloween fast approaching, this is another great song in an ever-growing library of classics from Liverpool's horror masters. As always, this is horror punk with the bands special twist. Can't wait for the album release! (and check out the singles released recently - the b-sides are instant Zombina classics). The band can be found on Bandcamp and Instagram. 

Next up is a band I consider one of the most exciting of the current crop of horror punk, worldwide. Oxfordshire's das Ghoul deliver a brand of theatrical, goth-tinged, spooky-synth-pop-punk-horror that is compellingly delicious. I don't think the band have released a single dud song yet, and here 'D.E.A.D.?' is another great example of what they can do. I am eagerly awaiting what comes next from these be-masked spooksters. The band can be found on Bandcamp and Instagram.  

Couch Potato Massacre, from Minneapolis, were a new discovery for me - and boy, what a discovery. Geeky, pop-culture referencing pop-punk at it's finest with a really good, singalong, fun song in 'Wednesday, I'm In Love' referencing one of my very favourite movies, Addams Family Values, and just about perfectly nailing the brief. It reminds me a little of a Teenage Bottlerocket song, which is not a bad thing at all. A real gem of a song and a band I'll be keeping an eye on now. Find them on Bandcamp and Instagram. 

Next we have Freddy VS, delivering their own genre-bending take on the horror sound with 'Oceans of Time'. It's an immediately likeable pop-punk/horror rock tune from the St Louis band, who have recently signed to We Are Horror Records. They aren't a 'traditional' horror punk band but what makes WAHR a tad more interesting than some labels is not just depending on bands who take their cues from Blitzkid and The Misfits - listen to this band's 2024 EP 'The Cryptids' for instance and you get all sorts of styles (as well as the sort of love for cryptozoology that would impress Lyle Blackburn) into the mix. Looking forward to what comes next. Find them on Instagram and Spotify.  

Fellow WAHR labelmates, Arizona's Boogeyman deliver an energetic and atmospheric horror punk song with '1713', which comes from their upcoming EP 'Nightmare Begins'. The bands first two albums (2021's 'Boogeyman' and 2024's 'Rotten Leaves') told a pretty unique standalone tale over the two releases so its cool to hear some new material from the band. I absolutely adore their debut (for me one of the best genre releases of the past 5 years), and whilst their follow up wasn't quite as strong (although still a great record), this is a band who are going places in the horror punk world. Another good song for this compilation. Find the band on Instagram and Bandcamp.  

If you're playing the CD version of the compilation, next up is London's Victor and the Bully - a band that despite being from the UK I'd somehow overlooked until now. I can however assure you that I won't be making that mistake again - this is the sort of steampunk, electro-swing, genre-mashing, 'carny-core' with plenty of horror elements that really does it for me. If you like Professor Elemental, The Cog is Dead, The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing then this is definitely for you - and if you don't, well... you should, frankly. They also reminded me strongly of The Klopeks from Birmingham, a band I miss greatly (and whose carnival-Halloween-ska sound still lives in my head). The song here is 'Spooky Twist', which swings along with the sort of classic, jangling, spooky-season vibe which whilst not exactly Horror Punk will no doubt be appreciated by fans of the genre. Looks like I've got another band to sink my teeth into... The band can be found on both Spotify and Instagram. For the vinyl-lovers, it's worth picking up the CD for this song alone. 

Talking of bands from the UK who are well worth your time, Toria and the Terror are next up (on both CD and vinyl) and follow on from their highly impressive trio of singles with a frankly brutal and harrowingly brilliant cover of 'Stigmata Martyr' by Bauhaus. I loved this band already, but this shows a completely different side - like a mash-up of classic Bauhaus gothicness with the unadultarated attitude of Bikini Kill. When Toria rips into a guttural roar at around 3:40 into this song I had goosebumps. It really is that good. An absolute gem of a cover. The band can be found on Instagram and their singles can be heard on Spotify. 

It's a hell of a good start to this record, and we're only 7 tracks in! But it doesn't let up - next up is another WAHR-signed band, Pittsburgh's Rise from your Grave with 'Live Again', yet another unreleased song which rips. This is a band that combines horror punk with thrash elements, sound heavy but retain the genres signature melody - and it works beautifully. Compilations like this work best when they really showcase the individuality and uniqueness of the bands, and 'Live Again' really does capture that. Loads of great releases from the band can be checked out on their Bandcamp and give them a follow on Instagram.

The second cover on the compilation is up next with Lesbian Bed Death taking on 'Mean Green Mother from Outerspace' from 'Little Shop of Horrors'. I'm a big fan of Lesbian Bed Death and their mix of Gothic metal, horror rock and punk elements and whilst I'm not really familiar with the original song here (I don't think I've ever seen the film... sorry... ) this is another example of the bands energy and style and it sounds great. The band are on Bandcamp and Instagram. 

Taking us into the second half of the record is another WAHR signed band, Texans Tricie and The Phantom Punks with 'Date Night at the Morgue'. This is straight-up killer horror punk and the sort of tongue-in-cheek anthem that has kept the genre going for decades, the sort of stuff that owes Return of the Living Dead a debt of gratitude for its influence. It's short, punchy, endlessly fun and another excellent song on what is rapidly becoming a must-have record. The band can be found on Bandcamp and Instagram - their prior releases are just as awesome. 

Germany's We'rewolf deliver the third cover of the record, a hard hitting version of the Ramones classic 'Pet Sematary'. The Germans have delivered some awesome horror punk bands over the years and We'rewolf are right up there, with a string of singles (and an EP) covering loads of horror themes with energy and passion. The original song here is of course one of the best known 'horror punk songs by a non-horror punk band', and it's always a bit of a risk taking on such a well known song but the band do it justice here whilst ramping up the aggression significantly. Find the band on Instagram and Spotify. 

A return to UKHP and another band signed to WAHR on the next track, Leicester's own Oracular with 'Fictitious Science'. This is the first time I've heard Oracular (I think their first song released, physically or digitally? I may be wrong...) and it's impressive stuff. A mid-paced horror punk track about Mary Shelley's inspiration for writing Frankenstein with an eerie undertone which sounds great. I'm looking forward to what the band come out with next - for now you can follow them over on Instagram.   

Track 13 (12 if you're listening on vinyl) is the shortest on the comp, Grave Corps (from Cedar Falls, Iowa) delivering 43 seconds of self-deprecating hardcore-horror-punk which still sounds great. The WAHR associated band don't exactly showcase their blending of more traditional horror punk with glam and rock elements with this short blast of intensity, so make sure you give them a follow over on Instagram and check out their back catalogue of releases on Spotify. 

The second German band on the compilation is Berlin's Circus Rhapsody with the sci-fi 'Downtown is Under Fire'. A genre-defying band which mixes elements of horror punk, rock, ska, folk punk and numerous horror references into a carnivalesque assortment that works pretty damn well. The song here is a good showcase of the quirkiness of the band (although for even more check out their 2021 album 'Just Kidding') and fulfills the requirement that every horror punk album must have at least one science-fiction themed song (obviously, I've just made that up). The band are on Bandcamp and Instagram. 

Ripsnorter have been on the horror punk scene for a good few years now, and the Minneapolis band deliver the most introspective song on this compilation with 'Poisoned Lips'. It's clearly a deeply personal track and one which many people reading this will no doubt identify with. This is not your traditional horror punk song; there are no monsters here, no gore, no blood - but the genre has a long history of turning things on its head and showcasing songs of a more emotional nature alongside all of the theatrics. The band's deep library (available on Bandcamp) contains plenty for those who want something more 'spooky', but I for one think this is a great song - for entirely different reasons. Go follow the band on Instagram too.

Next up is a track only on the CD version of the comp, 'Livin' the Life' by another Minnesota band Murderus. The longest song on the release this is a more metal-influenced, slow - almost doomy - song from a band which mixes the horror punk sound and themes with heavy, thrash metal as evidenced on their debut album (2024s Designed by the Devil Powered by the Dead). It's not as catchy as some of the earlier songs on the compilation but continues in the same vibe as the preceding track and comes off like a heavy metal funeral dirge (which is a good thing). Check the bands debut album out on Bandcamp.  

Another CD only track follows with 'Night Terrors' from Sacred 20's - a song with a pronounced psychobilly influence. This New Mexico band are new to me but this is a strong song, bristling with a sense of menace and mixing that psychobilly sound with traditional horror punk. It sorta follows the last couple songs in giving the end of the CD a bit of a somber feel, but there's nothing wrong with that. Definitely a band worth checking out - on Bandcamp and on Instagram.  

Closing out the vinyl version of the release (and the penultimate song of the CD version) is 'The Ballad of Ricky' by South Wales's own Garbage Day Massacre. And it stinks. In the sense that it's meant to, and you'd expect nothing less from the worlds foremost binmen-horror-punk band. The band have put out some brilliant singles (including the recent Troma-loving 'Toxie Town') and are on course for a bright, if smelly, future. This song is a reference to 'Silent Night Deadly Night: Part 2' (apparently - for the second time in this review it's a movie I've never seen!) and is a whole lot of fun, as always. It's rather fitting that the vinyl release is bookended by both the legendary (Zombina and the Skeletones) and the new generation of UK horror punk. Follow the band on Instagram and Spotify. 

There's one more song on offer here for those with the CD version, an acoustic version of 'Mr. Phantom' (by Evelyn's Casket) by the bands frontman David Phantom. The original is an excellent song, one of many that Evelyn's Casket have put out as they have emerged as one of the strongest bands of the new breed of horror punk. This acoustic reworking gives a haunting end to the compilation - another introspective and deeply personal song that I'm sure many will identify with. Check out Evelyn's Casket on Instagram and Bandcamp. 

So there we have it. 19 (15 for the vinyl purists) songs coming together to make one great record. I have to hand it to WAHR, they know how to make a great compilation. From the artwork (incidentally drawn by Craig the Plague, vocalist of das Ghoul) to the quality of the presentation throughout, to the sound of the record itself, the compilation screams professionalism but also a deep respect and love for the genre. There are some absolute killer tracks here - stand outs for me being the selections from Couch Potato Massacre, Tricie and The Phantom Punks and the intense cover from Toria and the Terror - and there's no filler. A strong emphasis on newer horror punk bands is welcome; as is the real diversity on show here and a much needed and appreciated showcase for female/non-binary bands, and WAHR's support for the local horror punk scene is sure to pay dividends down the line as the scene grows more vibrant. There's very little to criticise - it's a shame the physical versions are limited to 250 copies each and there's no digital release (but that's a decision that is completely understandable) being just about the only thing I can say that's not overwhelmingly positive. A fantastic compilation album with some excellent bands and - always most importantly of any such release - I've already bought some releases from bands after discovering them here. 

You can buy the Vinyl and CD releases of the compilation here, and can also buy the accompanying t-shirt release from WAHR here. You can also check out more information about the compilation on the dedicated page on WAHR here. You can follow We Are Horror Records as they continue to breathe new life into the horror punk scene here on Instagram and check out their website which is full of great stuff.