Photo: Sean Haley
New York’s rock trio The Dionysus Effect recently dropped their latest single, “Everything the Darkness Eats,” a song inspired by the award-winning novel of the same name by horror/dark fiction author and band friend Eric LaRocca.
Talking about the track, bassist and lead vocalist Christoph Paul explains, “As a band, we are all huge fans of horror and really see horror and rock music as artistic siblings. With Eric’s novel, it took me back to being a kid reading and watching Clive Barker for the first time. Barker created such hellish memorable worlds with ‘The Damnation Game’ and ‘Hellraiser,’ and I felt Eric did something the same with Henley’s Edge in ‘Everything the Darkness Eats.’ Eric’s book tapped something deep in me with my own trauma and battles with depression and I wanted to express that—luckily I’m a songwriter.”
Formed in a dark basement with a passion for writing songs that conjure up raw energy but are still catchy af with boundary-pushing hooks, The Dionysus Effect is made up of Christoph Paul (lead vocals, bass), Sean Quinn Hanley (guitar, backup vocals), and Brett Petersen (drums).
Their music blends elements of grunge rock, darkwave indie, alt-rock, and pop into poetic expression filled with furious arena energy. The term ‘cocaine rock’ encapsulates their sound.
Capturing the impact the band has on many listeners, the name ‘The Dionysus Effect’ is when the passion overtakes you and you feel most alive with Dionysian energy. Dionysus was a Greek God, who in ancient times brought about ecstasy, insanity, and sacramental madness, echoing the spell the band casts when performing live – The Dionysus Effect.
“Everything the Darkness Eats” begins with a haunting acoustic riff, followed by the entry of Paul’s spectral tones. Then the music mousses up to thick, dirty guitars as Paul’s vocals acquire feverish timbres, seething with the force of unspoken fears.
“Nothing is left for me / The angels sing / My destiny / Darkness takes me / I keep breaking.”
Christoph Paul’s vocals range from murky melodicism to savage intensity, highlighting “Everything the Darkness Eats” with wicked ferocity.
