Cinematic Horror Meets Hard Rock in a Dark Celebration
From the very first listen, Children of the Night makes it clear that Torchlight Parade has no intention of blending into the current rock landscape. Their approach draws deeply from their lifelong love of monster movies and classic horror aesthetics, giving each track both a cinematic weight and a tongue-in-cheek theatricality. The band revels in embracing the macabre not as a gimmick but as a lens through which they explore themes of life, death, and everything in between. The result is an album that feels larger than life, a piece of theater as much as a record.
The album’s production leans into this larger-than-life quality. Every riff arrives with a sense of gravitas, the guitars cutting sharp and heavy, while the rhythm section creates a thunderous backbone. Matt Engel’s vocals, by turns commanding and dramatic, carry the narrative with a balance of grit and charisma. It’s a sound that has the weight of classic hard rock while nodding toward the darker aesthetics of metal. This duality, catchy but sinister, driving but theatrical, defines Torchlight Parade’s niche.
Torchlight Parade - Frankenstein of Death (Remastered)
Track Highlights: Monsters, Mayhem, and Macabre Storytelling
While Children of the Night works as a cohesive statement, several standout tracks showcase the band’s ability to translate their gothic vision into compelling songs. “Frankenstein of Death” opens with a lumbering riff as monstrous as its namesake, fusing crunching guitar lines with Engel’s dramatic delivery. It’s heavy, ominous, and perfectly sets the tone for the album’s embrace of classic horror tropes. “Howl’n Wolf,” by contrast, builds on primal rhythms, a driving rocker that taps into the wild energy of its title character. Both tracks highlight the band’s ability to balance thematic homage with straight-up rock firepower.
Elsewhere, “Danc’n With the Dead” captures Torchlight Parade at their most theatrical. With its upbeat tempo and infectious chorus, it feels almost like a macabre party anthem: darkly playful while retaining the band’s heavy edge. “Vampire Night” leans further into gothic melodrama, its sweeping atmosphere evoking the nocturnal world of its subject matter. Meanwhile, “I Call Her Mausoleum” stands out as one of the most intriguing tracks, weaving together mournful tones and heavier instrumentation to create a haunting ballad-like centerpiece. Together, these songs not only underline the album’s horror inspirations but also showcase the band’s range, from pounding rockers to more atmospheric, brooding pieces.
Torchlight Parade - Children of the Night
Artwork Courtesy of Pavement Entertainment
Children of the Night Track List
1. Children of the Night
2. Howl’n Wolf
3. Frankenstein of Death
4. Shadow Run
5. Vampire Night
6. Haddonfield’s Revenge
7. I’m Not Dead… Yet!
8. Morticians Never Cry
9. I Call Her Mausoleum
10. Danc’n with the Dead
1. Children of the Night
2. Howl’n Wolf
3. Frankenstein of Death
4. Shadow Run
5. Vampire Night
6. Haddonfield’s Revenge
7. I’m Not Dead… Yet!
8. Morticians Never Cry
9. I Call Her Mausoleum
10. Danc’n with the Dead
Listen to Children of the Night on all streaming platforms:
https://orcd.co/childrenofthenight
Beyond the Album: The Live Experience
Beyond the music, Torchlight Parade’s live reputation gives additional weight to Children of the Night. Their shows are less concerts and more productions: a wild spectacle complete with costumed actors, appearances from classic monsters like werewolves and Frankenstein, and theatrical flourishes like balloon drops and confetti cannons. Large kettle drums pound, lights flash, and chaos reigns. It’s no surprise that the band has become a fixture in their local scene, winning “Best Local Band” for three consecutive years and earning recognition for their charity concerts supporting causes like Toys for Tots and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Their reputation for giving back only deepens the sense that Torchlight Parade is as much a community force as they are entertainers.
A Family Business Turned Rock Theater
Torchlight Parade’s origin story reads almost like a script. Matt Engel, a licensed embalmer, and his brother Doug, a hearse driver, grew up around the rituals of mortality. Instead of shying away, they leaned into it, blending their professional lives with their artistic passion. Alongside Samuel Engel, Doug’s son, and Gavin Martin, Samuel’s best friend, the family dynamic naturally extends into the band’s cohesion, giving weight and authenticity to a project that could otherwise be mistaken for a gimmick.
But gimmick this is not. Their shows and recordings demonstrate a sincere dedication to rock craft, built on muscular guitar riffs, melodic hooks, pounding rhythm sections, and in-your-face vocals, yet infused with a theatrical dimension. Torchlight Parade does not simply play songs; they build environments. This approach recalls the spectacle of Alice Cooper and KISS, but with a distinctly mortuary twist rooted in the Engel family’s own lives. That authenticity bleeds through every note on Children of the Night, making their embrace of monsters, mortality, and the macabre feel lived-in rather than campy.
View the embedded image gallery online at:
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Torchlight Parade Live Gallery | Selected photos by Jon Fiala Photography
https://suleyera.com/music-life/rock-prog-metal/torchlight-parade-children-of-the-night.html#sigProId6a04f9b692
Final Curtain: A Celebration of Rock and Macabre
Taken as a whole, Children of the Night is an album that thrives on commitment. Torchlight Parade doesn’t do anything halfway. Their music is heavy yet accessible, theatrical yet grounded, dark yet celebratory. Each track stands on its own, but together they create an immersive atmosphere that pulls listeners into a world where rock and horror intertwine. It’s a reminder that rock’s power lies not only in entertainment but in its ability to transport and transform.
In a musical climate where many acts shy away from full-blown theatrics in favor of stripped-down authenticity, Torchlight Parade proves the two impulses can coexist. Their authenticity lies in embracing spectacle: turning life, death, and the macabre into theater, and making every performance unforgettable. Children of the Night is more than an album; it’s an invitation into a world where gothic aesthetics are celebrated and rock is both fun and fearsome.
The album is also a statement of identity. Torchlight Parade has carved a niche that embraces the macabre without veering into parody, blending theater and hard rock into something unmistakably their own. For fans of horror, classic monster movies, or high-energy rock delivered with flair, this record offers a complete experience that bridges sound and spectacle. Torchlight Parade demonstrates that sometimes the best way to keep rock alive is to embrace what makes you different and push it to its theatrical extreme.
ABOUT Torchlight Parade
Photo courtesy of Pavement Entertainment
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Family, Funerals, and Rock 'n' Roll.
Torchlight Parade is an electrifying rock band hailing from St. Louis, known for fusing heavy riffs with theatrical flair. The band’s unique journey began in a morgue with Matt Engel, an embalmer and singer, and his brother Doug Engel, a hearse driver and lead guitarist.
The Band Members / Lineup
- Doug “Dark Horse” Engel – Lead Guitars / Vocals
- Matt "Torch" Engel – Lead Vocals
- Samuel “Rattlesnake Jake” Engel – Bass Guitar
- Gavin “The Kraken” Martin – Drums
Special Guest Musicians Who Have Recorded & Played with Torchlight Parade
- Teddy "ZigZag" Andreadis – Keyboards / Harmonica / Vocals
(Guns N’ Roses, Alice Cooper, and Carole King) - Sam Bam Koltun – Lead Guitar
(Faster Pussycat, Budderside, Dorothy) - Ivar (Dylan Highley) – Vocals
Together, they’ve created a distinctive sound that has earned them the opportunity to open for rock legends. With family ties at the heart of their music and a passion for bold performances, Torchlight Parade is excited to bring their electrifying energy to new stages.
Pavement Entertainment is a rock and metal label, promoting releases by established artists, as well as, releases from state of the art new up and comers.
The company has secured distribution with the legendary Megaforce Records in cooperation with Sony-RED
