The Hamiltones – Dracula Invitational, 1791 LP (Swimming Faith / Big Neck Records)

The vinyl edition comes with a plain front cover consisting of black background and a golden album title that resembles seventies vampire horror movies. However, the back cover offers entirely different aesthetics, with blood-soaked parchment paper texture as the background. The bat illustration separates the tracklist, which is written with the same golden colored font. You may also find Swimming Faith and Big Neck Records logos at the lower left and right corners, also done in a golden yellow. Perhaps the front and back are following a nearly minimalistic approach, but wait until you see the inlay. The gatefold cover unveils the detailed illustration of the gathering of all the famous/infamous vampires and classic horror beasts you could imagine. It’s an eye-peeling piece of art you will stare at for hours. The vinyl itself matches the visual identity of Dracula Invitational, 1791, with its Italian horror blood-red color. The entire packaging looks beautiful and perfectly goes with the music of The Hamiltones. Those who decided to purchase a special package deal will receive a special letter about the recording process, a special edition zine, stickers, buttons, and pins as a bonus.

For those who’re not familiar with the music of The Hamiltones, the group nurtures specific surf rock sound with additional elements of punk rock. Perhaps there are smaller chunks of rockabilly sound included along the way, but these are just minor accentuations added to spice things up a bit more. At first glance, you may expect some horror punk maneuvers like those previously seen at some renowned groups like Misfits, Samhain, Balzac, but Dracula Invitational, 1791 more resembles some spaghetti western movie soundtracks and the fifties surf rock than anything that comes near to punk rock music. This full-length recording takes this specific genre to another level. Therefore, Dracula Invitational, 1791 sounds more advanced than their previous material.

The Hamiltones explore classic horror themes through reverby surf rock’n’roll leads, chord progressions, and other sonic delicacies. Each composition carries those obscure horror harmonies, but the band also explores endless possibilities by incorporating some classic fifties surf-rock melodies. The subtle reverb effect creates that recognizable echoic ambiance that gives even more room for those themes to breathe. The guitar carries the thematic aspect of an album, and it seems that the compositions are becoming more complex as the album proceeds to an end. Every next segment seems like a logical move, but the group goes even further by bending all the rules of the genre. The unquestionably dynamic rhythm section fully supports all the guitar maneuvers with powerful rhythmic sequences and warm-sounding basslines. The entire group completely nailed to convey the retro surf rock atmosphere with Dracula Invitational, 1791, and this material will have a special place in your record collection if you’re a devoted fan of this particular genre.

Just like The Shape Of Walter, this material resonates in a special way, but it seems that Dracula Invitational, 1791, liberates even more delicate orchestrations than its predecessor. It becomes even more interesting after a couple of spins, and this is one of those records you will keep near the turntable when you crave some exceptional instrumental surf rock music. Dracula Invitational, 1791 is released between Swimming Faith and Big Neck Records. Head over to The Hamiltones Bandcamp page and preserve a copy of this gem.

Source: thoughtswordsaction.com