Wednesday 13, The Duke Of Spook, is back with Mid Death Crisis, a new theatrically macabre album launching only days after the 20th anniversary of his first album, Transylvania 90210. It is only fitting that the latest offering really rolls back to the glam and sleaze of those early albums.
Wednesday 13 – Mid Death Crisis
Release Date: 25 April 2025
Words: Rhys Tagg
There is always an underlying current with Wednesday 13 songs and albums, but there have been differing styles along the way. The last album, 2022’s widely acclaimed Horrifier, was drenched in heavy moods of isolation and darkness, fuelled by Covid. This album is alive, well and ready to shake you up, with blood-soaked energy.
Wednesday 13 describes the latest album as a fun, campy, “leave-your-brain-at-the-door” rager and a true return to his hard-rocking roots. Featuring music written entirely by Wednesday 13 and produced by guitarist Alex Kane, the album is one fit to terrify your mother, ignited by magnetic ’80s sleazy Metal energy.
When it comes to Wednesday 13, there is no slowing down. Fresh off celebrating 20 years of Murderdolls with a UK tour in 2024, he is now bringing the same energy to the US tour and a new record. Despite its title, Mid Death Crisis is anything but a farewell—if anything, the Duke of Spook is more relentless than ever, delivering a refreshingly powerful new chapter.
High on ’80s rock and a myriad of horror-infused sounds that would make Alice Cooper proud, he continues to redefine himself.
The album opens with the haunting intro track, There’s No Such Thing As Monsters. A ghostly voice from beyond, repeats the title in eerie ’80s synth whispers, gradually growing louder and more distinct, setting an unsettling tone.
The chaos erupts with Decease And Desist, an industrial-charged assault packed with razor-sharp riffs and blistering shredding. A relentless force, embedding itself as a gruesome new chapter in the Wednesday 13 catalogue.
The album is stacked with massive hooks and addictive sing-along choruses, perfectly showcased by its first single and video, When The Devil Commands. A playful nod to pure Satanic Panic, the track delivers chugging guitars and irresistible melodies, cementing itself as an instant sing-along classic.
Rotting Away bursts with pure goth-punk energy, packed with alluring hooks and driven by a steady drumbeat that keeps the momentum alive.
No Apologies delivers a heavy, sleazy rock swagger featuring a standout guest vocal from Faster Pussycat’s Taime Downe. The chemistry between the two singers is undeniable, each complementing the other with raw, unfiltered intensity.
Decapitation hooks you instantly with its glam-meets-gore vibe, blending punk energy and ’50s-style doo-wop and a uniquely infectious lead riff, for an unforgettable murder ballad.
The latest music video, In Misery, storms in as a heavy, raging anthem. With standout guitar work and searing solos, it dives deep into themes of toxic relationships and raw emotion, making it a powerful highlight of the album.
While the previous track slowed the pace and softened the beats, Blood Storm erupts with goth-punk energy, likely to ensnare a live audience in its grip. It will swallow the crowd whole, unleashing a maelstrom of bodies—twisting, colliding, and surrendering to the chaos.
Packing a belting beat, Xanaxtasy erupts with pure Wednesday 13 signature energy. This relentless rager surges forward, pounding through the speakers with ferocity, demanding movement. The adrenaline-fueled intensity grips you, forcing a reaction—you will not just tap along. You will thrash, stomp, and surrender to its chaotic pull.
Dropping down a few gears in tempo, the album shifts into a slower, more introspective pace with I Hurt You, a heavy and pensive ballad, and My Funeral, a brooding dirge steeped in melancholy. Where earlier tracks roared with raw energy, these songs embrace a haunting stillness.
Closing the album with a final, adrenaline-fueled blast, Sick And Violent hits like one last shot in the arm—a heavy banger that refuses to go quietly. It barrels forward with relentless energy, leaving chaos in its wake, ensuring the album ends on a vicious, unshakable high.
The Master Of Macabre strikes again with a thrilling album of campy horror, sticking to the tried-and-true formula that never fails. Mid Death Crisis is a nonstop runaway train of gory goodness, packed with fast, catchy tracks that keep the energy alive.
Reinvention is not necessary here—just a light refresh to keep things engaging, proving once more that Wednesday 13 can stay both relevant and revitalized.
Wednesday 13’s new album, Mid Death Crisis, is due 25 April 2025 via Napalm Records and can be pre-ordered from here. Tour dates and ticket info are available from the Wednesday 13 website.
