To keep things in the holiday spirit, over the next couple days I have some singles to share with you that are as frightening in their narrative as they are in their awesomeness. Today’s selection comes from Youngstown Ohio’s Abortopotamus Rex, which has newly formed out of the ashes of OH/PA indie stalwarts You Are The War That I Want.

While paying clear homage to Nick Cave, “Murder Ballad” is rooted in a much deeper and global folk tradition, one that can be found in disparate regional sources as Scandinavia, Mexico, and Appalachia. Abortopotamus Rex’s contribution to the canon is an arduously creepy one, a first-person narrative of a psychopathic lover’s mortal revenge. Graphic and stark in its treatment not of the actual murder, but rather of the killer’s justification and utter lack of regret, “Murder Ballad” presents a cautionary tale beyond the grasp of even the most damaged and culturally ambitious Lifetime television movie producer.

After listening to this track, I think two conclusions are pretty easy to draw:

1) Ladies, if you date dudes from Youngstown, answer your phone when they call.

2) Everyone, keep an ear out for Abortopotamus Rex. There is a lot more going on than just an insane band name.

Abortopotamus Rex – Murder Ballad (Fire)