Review / 200 Words Or Less
Cape Of Bats
Transylvania

Holy Terror (2012) Jon E.

Cape Of Bats – Transylvania cover artwork
Cape Of Bats – Transylvania — Holy Terror, 2012

Cape of Bats is probably the least known about band in the Holy Terror Roster. Cape has slowly been releasing songs online for free throughout the past couple years. Now one the cusp of their first physical release one may ask what are they about. Well, with as many ill founded conclusions one could come to between their name and EP title let me assure any reader that there is no silliness or twilight related stupidity to be found. Instead this is an EP based on lore of a place that one of their members live near. This lore is highlighted within the liner notes through an essay.

The music itself is a very caustic blends of first wave black metal, crust and a slight bit of old school deathrock. All of these elements are blended in such a way that each track seems to flow without sapping energy away from their attack. Opener "To Transylvania" starts with plaintive piano before delving into a nasty lurching song replete with caustic screams that eventually lead to short bursts of fury. Within this one song Cape of Bats not only introduces themselves but also shows you what they have up their sleeves musically without giving everything away. Simply put Cape of Bats deserve your notice the songs are a mix of many things without ever feeling forced and the artwork and essay are a perfect outer shell for the music that lies beneath.

8.4 / 10Jon E. • February 13, 2012

Cape Of Bats – Transylvania cover artwork
Cape Of Bats – Transylvania — Holy Terror, 2012

Recently-posted album reviews

Vial

Hellhound
Trout Hole Records (2026)

I was really into the last Vial record, a quick burst of peppy and pointed brat punk. The early singles off Hellhound lean way more grunge, so I was curious how the band had developed in the past couple of years. And while my very first impressions of "Infected" and "Scorpio Moon" had me thinking of L7 and Nirvana, by … Read more

Mauled

When Your Eyes Are Shut
Silverback Gorilla Records (2026)

Deathcore has spent the last decade mutating into increasingly technical, polished, and theatrical territory. Some bands chase symphonic grandeur. Others lean into hyper-technical brutality. The Indianapolis wrecking crew named Mauled take a different approach on When Your Eyes Are Shut. They drag the genre back toward the raw chaos of its early years. This six track EP feels deliberately rooted … Read more

DMZ

The Lost Studio Sessions-1978
Crypt Records (2026)

The Lost Studio Sessions 1978 finally sets the record straight. This is the raw, ugly power the band’s debut never touched. For years, the DMZ legacy has been misunderstood because of that Sire LP. Look, it was the first record of theirs I ever heard and I still love it—but Flo & Eddie’s production smoothed over everything that made them … Read more