Living Dead Girl formed in 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, they are unsigned to a record label and managed by one of the most well-known and most respected Rock and Metal photographers in the industry, Jeremy Saffer. The band is made up of bassist Jordan Storring, drummer Ryan Claxton, guitarist John Ellis, and vocalist Molly Rennick. Molly came up with the band name when she was 14 years old because she’d always joke around that she’s a “living dead girl,” as when she was born, she was nearly stillborn and was a purple-ish blue color, hence the name Living Dead Girl. The sound of the band is very unique, ranging from Pop Rock meets Metalcore to Deathcore style guitar breakdowns, with a Pop Punk attitude and hints of Industrial.
Living Dead Girl’s debut album, Exorcism, recorded at Cuddle Death Studios, was released in June of 2021. It was mastered by Howie Weinberg, who mastered albums for Otep, Lacuna Coil, Ke$ha, Dorothy, and even some of our most beloved Pantera albums. Exorcism was co-written and produced by Mitch Marlow, who’s worked with Butcher Babies, In This Moment, and New Years Day. Molly wrote the lyrics, Mitch wrote the Music. The album contains eleven tracks and four singles.
The opening track, Alive, is also the first single released. It starts off with some atmospheric piano, then the Music kicks in and you get some Industrial vibes with very soft vocals…The chorus is very Pop Punk with a soft Metal undertone. In a press release from Maria Ferrero over at Adrenaline PR, Molly described the song as an anthem. “It’s about letting loose, doing what makes you happy and being in control of your life. This video captures that energy perfectly. It’s fun, upbeat and captivating. I’m thrilled with how this video turned out and how it truly brought this song to life!” You can check out the video for Alive above; it was directed by Paul Maxwell! The video is of a performance while inside an abandoned brick building.
The second track on the album, sarcastically takes aim at the unreal beauty standards that society tries to get us to succumb to by becoming like all of those airbrushed and filtered photographs on social media or in magazines… Molly wanted to reassure that she has no issue with cosmetic or plastic surgery work being done, as she’s had some, however there is a line where you want too much done and then it becomes unhealthy. It is a very high energy track complete with Metalcore style screaming and fun Pop Rock & Punk vocals during the chorus. The song truly showcases an important message that everybody needs to hear about the unrealistic beauty standards there are in this world right now and how it can impact our mentality about how we need to look.
“Throw me on the table,
Put me under the knife,
What else do I have to do,
But sign away whole life?
All just to be beautiful,
BEAUTIFUL!
I’d throw away my sanity,
Lock up the fucking key,
Lose everything that makes me me,
To be beautiful,
Have I gone too far this time?
I’ve lost every part of me,
That was mine,
And now I fear that I’ve lost my mind,
Who needs a mind,
When you’re beautiful?
The next song is titled Give Up. This song has a heavy emphasis with the piano. It kicks in heavy at certain points throughout the song with a very atmospheric, encompassing sound with soft, pretty vocals. There are screaming undertones throughout the song.
The next song on the album is the title track, Exorcism. In the Music video, it begins with Molly in demonic looking makeup, which was done by Kassandra Love, being strapped to a bed by priests, followed by several demonic poses throughout the entire video that is very reminiscent of the original Horror film, The Exorcist. The song starts off very heavy, almost like you’re on a rollercoaster creeping to the very top before the moment before the dip, free falling to an uplifting Pop Punk chorus, before creeping back up to dark and heavy again and riding back into the darkness of happiness. Exorcism is one of Molly’s most favorite tracks on the album.
She praises her producer Mitch Marlow for knowing exactly the sound she wanted, which was Heavy Metal meets cheerleading vocals. In another press release via Maria Ferrero at Adrenaline PR, Molly commented on the fact Exorcism is essentially a Love song, “It’s about being in a relationship where you discover new parts of yourself and let all your ‘evil’ out. It’s a fun, sexy song, but with horror influence and biblical metaphors. The video perfectly shows both sides of that, and the combination of those two worlds IS what my world looks like.”
The next track is titled Dirty Liar, it’s one of the heaviest tracks on the album….It definitely has its soft moments, sexy moments, and fierce-confidence laced moments. The energy-packed track is perfect to jump in a moshpit to, especially when the chorus kicks in!
Molly commented in another press release that Poltergeist is very different from the first three singles, they Love the 90’s Industrial vibe of the song. It is the sixth track on the album and it’s another one that’s very soft and atmospheric with it’s very Heavy moments intertwined. “The Music video is the perfect visual to accompany the song, and I’m really in Love with how it turned out. The creepy Horror movie aesthetic combined with the choir vocals make for a video that people are telling me gives them chills; the exact reaction I hoped for!” The video for Poltergeist was directed by Brian Quintero and produced by Dead Mariachi Films.
The next track is titled Villain. It is another high energy song, with some very Heavy Metalcore moments with the vocals and guitar tones, yet it is intertwined with early 2000’s Pop Punk and a skater attitude. It makes it perfect to jump along with when you see Living Dead Girl in concert!
Escape, which is the 8th track and third single off of Exorcism, is about leaving behind a place that was holding you back. Molly elaborated, “It’s about moving on to bigger and better things, rather than staying somewhere you feel no sense of belonging and finding somewhere that you fit in to call home.”
At The Edge is the next track. It starts off with a heavy guitar riff, followed by hauntingly soft vocals with an Industrial feeling mixed in. There are some heavier screams in it as well.
Worship Me is by far the heaviest song on the album. It’s the tenth track and packs a powerful self-confidence message to anybody listening or singing along. You also feel the need to bow down to the dominatrix that is Living Dead Girl, especially live in concert!
“Everybody get down on your knees,
You’re gonna do everything that I please,
You’re gonna fucking worship me,
Shut your mouth don’t you disagree,
Haven’t you heard I’m the new bitch in town?
I’m calling the shots,
That’s why I wear this crown,
You’re gonna fucking worship me!
You know once you are under my spell,
I’m gonna make your life an irresistible hell,
A dominatrix like you’ve never seen,
Beautiful and powerful and so obscene!
The album closes with the song Stronger. It is what some would say is a ballad, or a slower, more mellow song filled with symphonic violin and piano vibes, alongside encapsulating Hard Rock tones. The lyrics are about breaking free of a toxic relationship and becoming the person you want to be, now that you’re stronger and not ashamed after dealing with the abuse for so long.
You can catch Living Dead Girl live on tour this summer, kicking off with three headline shows! Beginning on August 11th through the 19th, Living Dead Girl goes on to support headliners, Matriarch starting in Flagstaff, AZ. The tour hits several cities in Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and even Tennessee. On August 20th, they revert back to their headlining shows, performing in cities of Pensylvania and North Carolina. Check out the dates below!
You can also purchase VIP Upgrades to all of the shows! They include a keepsake hand-signed Polaroid photo taken with Molly after the show, along with a digital photo taken by their professional photographer!
August 8th: San Antonio, TX — Fitzgerald’s — $10 @ Door | VIP
August 9th: San Angelo, TX — The Deadhorse — FREE ADMISSION | VIP
August 10th: — Gallup, NM — Juggernaut Music — $15 @ Door | VIP
August 11th: Flagstaff, AZ — The Orpheum Theater — BUY TICKETS | VIP
August 12th: El Paso, TX — Ravs Club — $12 @ Door | VIP
August 14th: Houston, TX — Acadia Bar & Grill — $12 @ Door | VIP
August 15th: Haltom City, TX — Haltom Theater — $15 @ Door | VIP
August 16th: Memphis, TN — Hi Tone — BUY TICKETS | VIP
August 17th: Indianapolis, IN — The Emerson Theater — $15 @ Door | VIP
August 18th: Cincinnati, OH — Legends Bar — $15 @ Door | VIP
August 19th: Fort Wayne, IN — Piere’s — $18 @ Door | VIP
August 20th: Turtle Creek, PA — Sub Alpine Society — $10 @ Door | VIP
August 21st: Mechanicsburg, PA — Lovedraft’s Brewing Co — BUY TICKETS | VIP
August 22nd: Charlotte, NC — The Milestone Club — BUY TICKETS | VIP
Exorcism Tracklist:
Alive
Beautiful
Give Up
Exorcism
Dirty Liar
Poltergeist
Villain
Escape
At The Edge
Worship Me
Stronger
