Black Mass (song)

"Black Mass" is a song by English rock band Creeper. Written by the group's lead vocalist Will Gould and guitarist and backing vocalist Ian Miles, it was produced by Neil Kennedy and featured on the band's 2016 third extended play (EP) The Stranger. The song was released as the only single from the EP on 11 January 2016, and as the first of two music videos on 28 January.

"Black Mass"
Single by Creeper
from the album The Stranger
Released11 January 2016 (2016-01-11)
GenreHorror punk
Length2:21
LabelRoadrunner
Songwriter(s)
  • Will Gould
  • Ian Miles
Producer(s)Neil Kennedy
Creeper singles chronology
"The Honeymoon Suite"
(2015)		 "Black Mass"
(2016)		 "Suzanne"
(2016)

Composition and lyrics

According to Creeper's lead vocalist Will Gould, the lyrics of "Black Mass" were written "from the perspective of the character of The Stranger, the heartbroken monster who is the EP's namesake. They're partly inspired by recounts of sleep paralysis, where sufferers describe seeing a 'black matter' or 'black mass' haunting them in their rooms at night, while they lie paralysed in bed."[1] The song draws from a number of inspirations, including punk rock band Jawbreaker (on the verses), singer Elvis Presley (in the middle eight) and record producer Jim Steinman (on the chorus), all of which the band's frontman described as "on purpose and very intentional ... a pastiche, a wink and a nod to the listener".[2]

Ali Shutler of Upset magazine described "Black Mass" as one of the fastest songs released by Creeper to date, noting a "rhythmic, frantic dance" pace in the intro and "the hurried yell of, 'Hey!'" which "sees the track kick in proper".[3] In a review of the song for DIY, Tom Connick described "Black Mass" as a mix between "fist-aloft punk-rock and ballroom blitz", comparing its style to that of singer Meat Loaf and punk band Misfits.[4] Shutler continued by claiming that, despite its fast pace and short running length, the track has "plenty of room for those big band theatrics", including Gould "channeling his inner-crooner".[3]

Promotion and release

"Black Mass" was premiered on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show with Daniel P. Carter on 10 January 2016 as the day's "Rockest Record", before its single release the following day.[5][6] The music video for the track followed on 28 January.[7] Directed by Jamie Carter,[8] the video was filmed in the band's hometown of Southampton at a rehearsal space in which Gould and others used to practise.[9] Gould described the choice of location for the filming of the video as "really nice ... as it gave the video a quiet sense of continuity".[9]

The music video for "Black Mass" combines footage of the band performing with "glimpses of [The Stranger]", the titular subject of the band's 2016 EP on which the song is featured.[7] Gould outlined the concept of the video as "a dream that our EP's cover character named Madeline is experiencing. She's in the middle of an episode of sleep psychosis with the band performing to her in her dream. She awakes to find herself in her bedroom."[7] He went on to describe the band's part in the video as "performing in a dream world".[9]

Critical reception

Media response to "Black Mass" was positive. Upset magazine's Ali Shutler claimed that the song is "made for massive rooms", while still being "just as unifying, emotional and powerful as anything [the band have] put their name to yet".[3] Tom Connick of DIY magazine praised the song for showcasing The Stranger, which he claimed was the band's "most triumphant step ... yet",[4] while Rock Sound writer Andy Biddulph hailed the track as "a goth-punk dream" and "just wonderful".[10] The song was Q magazine's Track of the Day on 6 February 2016,[11] and was also featured in the Kerrang! Best Songs of 2016 So Far" feature in June 2016, with writer George Garner praising it as "a supernatural goth-punk stalker with a bassline to kill for".[12]

gollark: Or maybe some the people concerned about this are just vaguely transphobic, who knows.
gollark: I assume it's mostly just because it's a more recent issue, and possibly because it's smaller in scope and easier to deal with one than the others.
gollark: That works as a fully general counterargument for literally every problem except the worst one(s) that exist at some time.
gollark: I'm not sure how "some subgroup may end up able to shift the balance of sports rather a lot" is the same problem as "there exist many stupid people in America".
gollark: That seems like just another variation on the "other problems exist, so ignore this potential one" argument.

References
  1. Hingle, James (11 January 2016). "Creeper Reveal New Single, Black Mass". Kerrang!. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  2. Clare, Katie (29 February 2016). "Creeper: Interview". Louder Than War. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  3. Shutler, Ali (10 January 2016). "First Take: Creeper - 'Black Mass'". Upset. The Bunker Publishing. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  4. Connick, Tom (11 January 2016). "Track review: Creeper - Black Mass". DIY. Sonic Media Group. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  5. Ralph, Caitlyn (11 January 2016). "Creeper premiere new track "Black Mass" from upcoming EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  6. Shutler, Ali (11 January 2016). "Creeper premiere new track 'Black Mass'". Upset. The Bunker Publishing. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  7. Whitt, Cassie (28 January 2016). "Creeper release "Black Mass" video". Alternative Press. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  8. Carter, Jamie (18 July 2016). "Creeper - Black Mass". Vimeo. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  9. Hingle, James (8 February 2016). "Go Behind-The-Scenes Of Creeper's Black Mass". Kerrang!. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  10. Biddulph, Andy (11 January 2016). "Creeper's New Song Is A Goth-Punk Dream". Rock Sound. Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  11. "Track of the Day: Creeper - Black Mass". Q. Bauer Media Group. 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 15 May 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  12. Garner, George (1 June 2016). "Kerrang! Presents: The Best Songs Of 2016 So Far!". Kerrang!. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
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