Misfits at the Islington Academy

Buried in the dark depths of the Islington Academy, the most iconic horror-punk band on the face of the Earth make a spectacular return: Misfits are back in town.

Drawing on their impressive back catalogue of ghoulish hits (Static Age, Dig Up Her Bones, Curse Of The Mummy’s Hand), the New Jersey trio currently consists of bassist/vocalist and founding member Jerry Only, guitarist Dez Cadena and drummer Eric “Chupacabra” Arce. The Misfits proved to their ecstatic crowd that no matter how many years go by, they are still rocking with the same degree of unhinged enthusiasm, transforming every stage they set foot on into a berserk punk graveyard.

Opening acts Generation Graveyard and In Evil Hour left the heaving room revved-up and ready to rock an awful lot more. When Misfits took the stage the Academy was ecstatic, revelling in that peculiar mixture of feelings that precedes all truly great shows: anticipation of greatness blended with just a hint of fear of the unknown.

Jerry Only’s voice is at its best, ideally complemented by his prowess on bass, the combination exemplifying the Misfits sound. Comparison of the original Misfits (fronted by Glenn Danzig) and the new incarnation is neither wise nor particularly relevant. The band that formed in 1977 and shaped an entire new music genre ended its days in the mid 1980s. From that moment on Misfits were subject to a series of line-up changes, even including Marky Ramone on drums between 2001 and 2005, but this has ultimately been what makes them truly great.

They returned stronger than ever, retaining a focus on themes from horror movies and alien invasions, but with a new willingness to embrace their significance in hard-rock history. After almost 20 years of writing albums and tireless touring, they sound as great as ever. Whether performing new tracks from their latest full-length album The Devil’s Rain (standouts included Dark Shadows or Vivid Red) or reprising golden oldies such as Die, Die My Darling and I Turned into a Martian, they continue to blow minds, making us feel as though we are sharing a deranged nightmare we never want to wake up from.

Misfits have not ceased to amaze, and you may rest assured their hallucinogenic Halloween party will make you scream (whether it be with joy or fear is a far less important issue).

Verdict: ••••

Eleonora Ricotta

Photos: Krisztián Pintér

For further information about Misfits and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Dig Up Her Boneshere: