"It Ain't Easy Being Scary": Devilishly Delightful Riffage From Horror Punks VAMPYRA

"It Ain't Easy Being Scary" is out now [photo: Vampyra]

Dress the skeletons, carve those pumpkins - VAMPYRA are back with a brand new spooky delight! The Kent horror punk's latest "It Ain't Easy Being Scary" not only marks their first release of the year, but also their first with their current line-up, delivering horror fueled vocals and groovy riffs sure to raise the dead.

A group vocal line kicks the track off, channeling some serious 80s hair metal, before an upbeat, groovy guitar riff takes over. There's something about this that's just incredibly feelgood, it's hard to not tap your foot or move your body.

The lyrics are suitably cheesy, balancing horror schlock with catchy melodies, and by the time the group vocals return in the chorus you're already humming along.

A breakdown towards the end sees the upbeat energy continue - I can already tell this will be a great section in a live set, the crowd shouting along, joining in with the fun.

[photo: Vampyra]

For a band still in their relative infancy, the sound is incredibly tight and refined, perfectly capturing the aesthetic and the feel of the genre. There is obvious homage, but there's no imitation, as the band still manage to deliver a fresh sound. There's plenty of 80s metal here - it wouldn't feel out of place next to early Alice Cooper or Misfits - but it still feels fresh.

"It Ain't Easy..." quickly re-establishes Vampyra as a band to watch, bringing horror filled fun to the forefront. It's also great to see a new release so soon after guitarist Danny joined the band only three months ago.

As a fan of the 80s horror greats (and the metal soundtracks synonymous with them), I'm all over this.

"It Ain't Easy Being Scary" is out NOW on streaming platforms