Gothtober : Zombina & the Skeletones : "the Call of Zombina"

This British band has been around since 98. They play a dark 50s style pop that barrows from horror-billy and spooky punk, though their lyrics are the darkest part of what they do. Their singer has a bright pop voice.  Sometimes lower gothy backup vocals surface to help the mood but they are typically sitting pretty far back in the mix. "Vampire's Kiss' is almost too upbeat to paint the picture she is creating with the lyrics though the more horror-tinged sonic elements are wrestling against her cheerful vocals. 

"Don't Kick My Coffin" is more convincing and comes closer to horror punk, with its chord progression almost mimicking the Munsters theme song. The more death rock guitar melodies of "I'm Horrified " make things work better than the poppier bounce some of the songs have flirted with. "Valley of the Shadow" has more horror-billy elements in motion, that create the needed sonic shivers to send up your spin, It goes to show it does not matter how you dress up if you do not have the needed minor-key melodies going on it is not going to fit. 

They came out before Twin Temple but the two share a great deal of common ground, These guys might be darker than Twin Temple, and vocally are more pop as she does not have the Amy Winehouse thing going. "Ghost Train 2" finds the pace picking up. The guitar delivers the needed Western flair. The song progresses through more rock-oriented breakdowns. The way it leaves room for them to jam them out lets you know this band would be fun live. The last song works really well, as this band is skilled songwriters they could be a shade darker for my tastes but this is growing on me. I will give this one a 9. 

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