Horror punk outfit Toria and the Terror have unleashed their debut EP The Operating Table, out now digitally via We Are Horror Records.
Formed in Liverpool and now based in Tokyo, the band stitch together gothic rock, riot grrrl aggression, psychobilly swagger and horror-soaked theatrics into a confrontational first release. The EP is billed as the opening glimpse of their forthcoming full-length, Wicked Hymns.
The Operating Table gathers two originals from the upcoming album, ‘Frankenstein Girl’ and ‘The Morgue’, alongside a warped reinterpretation of Bauhaus‘ classic ‘Stigmata Martyr’. Opener ‘Frankenstein Girl’ is a fuzz-drenched riot grrrl anthem that digs into self-hatred through horror imagery, while ‘The Morgue’ channels the sleazy spirit of The Cramps across three grotesque scenes of hospital horror. The closing take on ‘Stigmata Martyr’ is louder, dirtier and more deranged than the original, equal parts seductive and unsettling.
The lineup is Toria Terror on vocals, Dan Terror on bass, Aaron Stafford on guitars and Tristan Smith on drums. Their early run of singles, ‘I Want Blood’ (2023), ‘Worms-For-Brains’ (2024) and ‘Funeral’ (2025), set the table for this first EP, and the band head to the Edo Wave International Music Festival in Tokyo on 16 May. With a sound and look this committed, we reckon they’re surely destined for festivals across the UK, bringing something different and fully owning the horror punk aesthetic and sound.
For fans of The Cramps, Bauhaus, 45 Grave and Siouxsie and the Banshees, there’s plenty here to sink your teeth into.
The Operating Table is available now across streaming platforms, with physical editions to be confirmed.
