Everyone’s favourite masked marauders Märvel return with a spooky-themed EP just in time for Halloween. Following up their 2025 long player ‘Brain Drain Diaries’ the Swedish purveyors of action rock deliver 2 cover versions, 2 from their back catalogue and one new song sung in their native tongue for good measure.
Presumably a stopgap release between albums, ‘Sanctemonium’ is a whole lotta fun from the off. Alice Cooper’s classic 80’s single (from Friday the 13th Part IV) ‘He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)’ has been crying out for a modern rock n’ roll makeover, and Märvel have stepped up. It’s delivered in blood-splattered style, the added 70’s riffage and Paul Stanley-esque vocalising elevate this version beyond the original’s glam metal stylings, making it the song it shoulda/coulda always been. All memories of a guitar gun-toting Kane Roberts looking like Rambo are replaced with 3 masked evil henchmen sounding like classic Kiss at their best…Alice would be proud.
Next up, ‘Alla Helgons Blodiga Natt’ is the first song recorded in their native tongue. It translates as ‘The Bloody Night of All Saints’, and while I have no idea what The King is singing about, I get the gist from that title. A glorious 3-minute burst of 70’s-inspired rock with more riffage and guitar harmonies than you can shake a stick at, all delivered with a Euro Rock feel.
I’m unaware of The Poppy Family, apparently, they were a big deal in their native Canada back in the 60’s/70’s, where their song ‘Where Evil Grows’ was a top 10 smasher. Märvel give it a rock n’ roll update with rumbling bass, urgent drums and Marshall stacks. Now it sounds like an Imperial State Electric song…tidy! A good tune is a good tune, everything else is production and delivery. Right, music lovers?
‘Beautiful Corpse’ from Brain Drain Diaries is not only horror-themed, but it also happens to be one of their best, most urgent-sounding rock hits. As infectious as gonorrhoea but twice as fun, if you’ve not heard it before, you are in for a trick or treat! And finally, with all its evil intentions and dark intensity, ‘Slasher With A Broken Heart’ is a high-energy burst of action rock that embodies everything Märvel do. It just so happens to have been inspired by the story of ABBA singer Agnetha and her stalker as well.
While not an essential release compared to their expansive discography, ‘Sanctemonium’ is certainly worth a listen on your streaming platform of choice over the spooky season. If it gets a physical release, it’ll surely be on pumpkin orange vinyl. I’m now left wanting to hear more Märvel horror themed covers, how about the whole Fastway ‘Trick Or Treat’ album next year? I’d buy it.
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Author : Ben Hughes
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