The Elusives - The Strangler: A Dark, Twisted Halloween Floor Filler

By Chris Kennedy | Published 5th Oct, 2026

Founded in 2014, The Elusives have remained something of an enigma on the Irish music scene. Built around lifelong collaborators Paul Gilligan and Joe Brady, the project has quietly evolved over the years, with the pair eventually reuniting after a decade spent exploring separate musical avenues and returning with a renewed vision for the band.

That vision continued to expand with the arrival of veteran bass player Gavin Healy, who brought with him a wealth of experience from performing with numerous Irish bands since the 1990s. In 2025, vocalist Laura Hand became the latest addition to the line-up, adding atmospheric lead vocals and rich harmonies that have brought another dimension to The Elusives' already distinctive sound.

While the band have maintained a largely underground presence, things are beginning to move towards a much bigger introduction. Their long-awaited debut album is expected to arrive in summer 2027, bringing together a sound that has been developing behind the scenes for years.

In the meantime, The Elusives have circulated a number of lo-fi home demos, designed less as polished releases and more as early teasers of what the band are creating. They offer a rough sonic profile rather than the finished article, and The Strangler is perhaps one of the most intriguing examples.

Dark New-Wave Meets the Indie Dancefloor

Opening with nostalgic synthesizers and an unmistakably dark new-wave atmosphere, The Strangler immediately feels like it has been dragged from the shadows of a late-'70s or early-'80s nightclub. Beneath the synths sits a deep, sub-heavy bassline that gives the track a menacing undercurrent before a steady four-on-the-floor beat pushes everything firmly towards the dancefloor.

There's an interesting contrast at work. The production feels dark and slightly sinister, yet the rhythm is surprisingly upbeat, giving the song an infectious indie-dance quality. It's that collision between menace and movement that gives The Strangler much of its personality, creating something that feels equally suited to a darkened club or a particularly questionable Halloween playlist.

The opening vocal performance fits perfectly into that atmosphere. Dark, low and moody, it sits comfortably against the growling bass and vintage synthesizers, adding to the sense that something slightly unsettling is developing beneath the surface.

A Dramatic Vocal Shift Changes Everything

Things change dramatically during the second half when Laura Hand's atmospheric vocal takes over. Rather than simply adding harmonies or providing a conventional backing vocal, her arrival introduces an entirely new melody and noticeably shifts the mood of the track. The contrast between the two voices almost makes The Strangler feel like two perspectives within the same story, while giving the latter half a more spacious and haunting quality.

There's plenty of guitar in the mix too, although The Elusives wisely resist the temptation to let it overpower everything else. The lead guitar breaks are restrained and highly melodic, weaving between the electronic elements rather than competing with them. Guitars and synthesizers work particularly well together, maintaining the hypnotic tension while the bass and relentless beat continue underneath.

Musically, it's difficult to put The Strangler comfortably into one particular box. There are obvious new-wave influences, alongside elements of indie rock, electronic music, post-punk and vintage club music. Yet despite pulling ideas from several different eras, there's enough personality here to prevent the track from becoming simply another exercise in '80s nostalgia.

The Twisted Story Behind The Strangler

The story behind the song is every bit as dark as the music. The Strangler is a fictional character inspired by the strange fascination surrounding notorious serial killers, some of whom have received thousands of fan letters and romantic messages from admirers.

The Elusives take that disturbing contradiction and run with it, exploring the point where fear, attraction and obsession collide. There's a twisted sense of romance to the story, made even more unsettling by pairing it with an upbeat dance groove.

It also makes The Strangler feel tailor-made for Halloween. Vintage synths provide the darkness, the growling bass brings the menace and a four-on-the-floor beat keeps it firmly on the dancefloor. Add the dramatic vocal shift and melodic guitar work, and this lo-fi demo offers an intriguing glimpse of what The Elusives are building towards.

With their debut album expected in summer 2027, The Strangler leaves enough clues to make what's coming next well worth watching.

Final Verdict | The Elusives The Strangler

The Strangler is a dark and hypnotic slice of new-wave inspired indie dance that combines nostalgic synthesizers, a growling bassline and melodic guitars with one of the more unusual stories you're likely to hear on the Irish music scene.

The dramatic vocal change during the second half gives the track an additional dimension, while its steady club rhythm provides a clever contrast to the sinister subject matter. Even in lo-fi demo form, there's a strong identity beginning to emerge from The Elusives.

The single, The Strangler, is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: The Elusives