Murder By Death Told A Ghastly Tale In "Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left Of Them?"

Halloween is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to get into the spooky mood. But sometimes we need a little more than the classic Halloween tracks to get us in the spirit. Murder By Death told a ghastly tale in Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left?, an eerie album that tells a perfect ghost story for this time of year.

The story of Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left? is pretty unique. The album revolves around a small Mexican border town that is terrorized by the Devil. Intro track ‘Devil In Mexico‘ provides the context: the Devil is visiting the small town but is betrayed, and vows to get his revenge on the people of the town. With a driven, folky atmosphere and backing vocals from My Chemical Romance‘s Gerard Way, Murder By Death kick things off pretty creepily. You really get a sense of the evil within this record with songs like this, especially in ‘That Crown Don’t Make You A Prince.’

Murder By Death set out to make something unsettling and to tell a story, and they did both perfectly. Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left? is a dynamic album, and each song has its own place in the story. ‘Killbot 2000‘ sees the Devil begin his attack on this town, turning children and innocent townspeople into zombies. ‘The Desert Is On Fire‘ comes from the Devil’s point of view, his boastful and jerkish character shining through as he continues to threaten the townspeople: “I'll leave a trail of fire across this desert / Just to see the desperation in your eyes.” The album also has sonic dynamic, as well: the jagged nature of ‘Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue‘ and the more dejected ‘A Masters In Reverse Psychology‘ really tell their own story with their sound. Closing track ‘End Of The Line‘ sounds entirely like a cry, its pretty sound ending the record with the vibe of a funeral.

Murder By Death told a ghastly tale in Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left? The most remarkable thing about this record is how it tells a seemingly wild story while still being sound musically and lyrically. The backbones of this record make for the perfect campfire ghost story, so make sure you read up and remember this tale. It’s the perfect spooky record to play this year.

Favorite Track: Devil In Mexico, That Crown Don’t Make You A Prince

Least Favorite Track: A Masters In Reverse Psychology

Rating: 77 / 100

Stream or buy Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left? on Apple Music, and follow our Throwback Playlist on Spotify: