Van Helsing’s Curse - Oculus Infernum (featuring narration by Dee Snider)
	Released: 2003 Label: Koch Records Cat. No.: KOC-CD-9524 Total Time: 39:39
	Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, October 2003 It is the harvest season and as the pumpkins and apples are ripe for picking, evil lurks around the corner. Halloween is near. As our society dives into the horror and macabre with laughter, celebration, and the color of the leaves fade, people will begin to turn on the orange lights and decorate their lawns. All of this seasonal fun would not be complete without a soundtrack playing somewhere in the background…I have just the thing for you this year. Remember the band Twisted Sister and the maniacal lead singer Dee Snider? Well, he’s baaack. With Van Helsing’s Curse's Oculus Infernum he sounds like the Godfather of shock rock Alice Cooper as he narrates his rock opera, which seems as though it could become a stage play or TV special if he wanted to be. I was wary at first of this CD and honestly believed that it was not going to float my boat. At the prompting of my friends at Chipster PR, I had a copy sent anyway. I am glad that I checked it out. This is a great album in concept and sound. Snider and his host of outstanding musicians, singers, and various creep night voices take you through a bone chilling story about the classic scenario of evil vs. good, ever reminding us in the end that although good can win over evil, evil always returns. Snider’s voice is perfect for this kind of recording and the music is driving hard metal-progressive orchestral rock ‘n’ roll that will surely catch many ears that enjoy this type of music and especially those out trick or treating for their candy this year. Grab your speakers and put them on the lawn or on your porch and crank this up, although if you want the kiddies to come to your house to grab all the candy you bought you may not want to play this, it's scary stuff. Ha! Ha! Ha! P.S. Listen for the Black Sabbath riffs. Rating: 4/5 More about Oculus Infernum (featuring narration by Dee Snider): Track Listing: Patience (Introduction) (0:54) / Tubular Hell (3:38) / All Fall Down (4:28) / Let Me Prey (4:17) / The Child (6:19) / The Tortured Soul (6:50) / Revenge (5:25) / War (2:26) / Let The Pain Begin (5:45) / The Curse (1:37) Musicians: Dee Snider - Narration Joe Franco - Drums & Sound Design Jake Richards - Guitars & Keyboards Mark Wood - Lead Violin & String Ensembles Greg Smith - Bass Schuyler Deale - Bass Nick Cipriano - Keyboards & Background Vocals Jane Mangini - Piano Sophia Ramos - Vocals Cheryl Smith - Background Vocals Michael Lanning - Background Vocals Tommy Farise - Background Vocals Dana Franco - Children’s Vocals Brian Grosz - Voice of the Entity Bob Brockman - Trumpet Kevin Osborne - Trombone, Baritone Trombone Paul Riggio - French Horn Barbara Hill - French Horn Contact: Website: www.vanhelsingscurse.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Oculus Infernum (featuring narration by Dee Snider) (2003)
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