EP REVIEW: Come Share My Shroud – Cemetery Echo

As their name suggests, CEMETERY ECHO specialise in the gloomy and the ghoulish. The Buffalo-based four-piece draw heavy influence from 80s goth and deathrock in particular, while also mixing in a decent hint of metal for good measure. It’s an interesting proposition, and one that largely pays off on their debut EP, Come Share My Shroud. Initially released independently in May last year, it’s now getting a wider re-release via Petrichor Records. This EP is a dark record with a significant horror aesthetic, but it’s not an overly oppressive or depressing listen. Think The Lost Boys, not Midsommar, with the EP’s 16 minutes often boasting a cheesy sense of fun and theatricalism.

The band set the scene with opener Beneath The Crypts – a track whose title essentially sums up how it sounds. It’s a relatively formless piece, with distant gongs and growing noise building to create a creeping sense of atmosphere. Ultimately however, it’s kind of a non-starter. It might have made more sense had the band used it to flow straight into the next track, but as they don’t, it feels like a bit of a random addition. Perhaps that’s quite harsh, but on an EP of only four tracks, it’s a shame one of them feels wasted.

Fortunately, things get much better from there – and stay that way for the remainder of the record. The EP’s second and title track gives us a far clearer idea of what CEMETERY ECHO can do. It’s an intense, moody song, with steady driving drums and a hefty dose of 80s nostalgia. The guitars stand out here especially. They sound brilliant, with a crisp, clear tone that evokes the atmospheric lead work of a band like THE CURE. There’s even a solo around the three-minute mark that sees one of the duo of Erik Wagonblott and Jay Zgoda get a proper chance to let rip. Their playing remains a highlight throughout, with THE CURE comparisons hammered home especially on EP closer Transylvanian Moon.

Easily the most fascinating feature of this record overall is the vocal performance of Rob Palumbo. Palumbo‘s versatility is impressive, nailing pretty much everything he tries his hand at. Often, he evokes the moody gothic baritone of the legendary Peter Steele. He’s also got a hell of a harsh vocal on him, and isn’t afraid to mix things up with whispers and spoken parts. His performance on third track Youth Disease makes for a particular high, turning that song into arguably the record’s strongest.

There’s no getting away from the fact that Come Share My Shroud often feels seriously OTT. That’s definitely the point though, and if you can get on board with it you should find a lot to love here. With this record, CEMETERY ECHO provide a valuable reminder that not all horror has to be completely joyless. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and makes for quite a bit of fun as a result. This EP probably won’t scare you, and it definitely won’t depress you, but, like a good old haunted house at a funfair, it does offer a decent world of ghouls and monsters to get lost in for a little while.

Rating: 7/10

Come Share My Shroud is set for release on August 20th via Petrichor Records.

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