Vampire not only in name but in darkly-inclined nature, Michael “Vampire” Orlando has experienced more than his share of triumphs and tragedies. The fact that he is still here and still standing strong is a testament to his undying passion.
And the same can easily be said for his Vampires Everywhere!, who originally began making music in 2009. Alongside the likes of Black Veil Brides, Escape The Fate, and Motionless In White, Vampire and his toothy crew began to build a name for themselves in a scene that was quickly becoming oversaturated with lookalikes… and it’s no different today.
But those who were born to create music are not so easily dissuaded. Nearly two decades later, bumpy road be damned! Vampires Everywhere! has released their first full-length LP in eight years, The Devil Made Me Do It. Delivered on January 7, 2025, via Dark Kingdom Records, the 10-song album is a proud collection that wears its influences with creative pride while continuing to embrace the band’s Goth Rock roots.
Incendiary in sound, at 10 songs (two of which are alternate versions of the same cover), The Devil Made Me Do It is a succinct journey. One that admittedly feels a bit weighted by its covers that, while superb homages to the past, are still very much recycled selections.
Yet, the Vampires find a way to tenderly embrace and show great respect for Gerard McMahon’s “Cry Little Sister” (the theme song to 1987’s The Lost Boys, if you somehow didn’t know) while injecting a dose of their ravenous venom into the track. And, as we have already witnessed in 2024, “Cry Little Sister (Revamped),” featuring the legendary Tim Skold, is a phenom. (Of course, can you fail when you cast Skold as David?)
In fact, it is this offering alongside Skold that stands as one of the collection’s most memorable offerings and trods a clear path toward the band’s future: working alongside the exceptional artist again. Because, much like a certain band who were once self-proclaimed as “infamous,” Vampires Everywhere! is meant to make synth-dusted magic with the multi-talented artist and producer.
Without him, they still fare quite well. An electro-goth tribute to Billy Idol’s iconic “White Wedding” fits the group beautifully, particularly Vampire’s vocal range. But here’s the thing: Vampires Everywhere! must hunger to be known for their original music. So, there’s something extra special to be heard in moments such as the Metalcore-laden spit of “Antichrist” and the brutal “Another Funeral Song,” two offerings that shine like diamonds amid the revamped band’s growing portfolio.
In short, from the epic “Immortal Love: Resurrection,” a continuation of the 14-year-old “Immortal Love” off the Lost in the Shadows EP, to the catchy “Ghost” and balladesque “Together In Death,” The Devil Made Me Do It shows a band reborn, exploring, and beginning to find the best elements to stock in their arsenal. It’s not rocket science, only Rock-N-Roll, but Vampire and his coven members know how to craft catchy, passionate obsidian gems. This time around, those originals sit among some truly astounding covers. Next time around, we hope for a little less crying at weddings and a little more motion in black. (Horribly embarrassing pun intended.) That is why Cryptic Rock gives The Devil Made Me Do It 4 out of 5 stars.
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