“Since 2012, the denizens of the underground Earbud Theater Lair have been delivering strange sonic tales of monsters, aliens, and the terror that might be under your own roof. Our world is full of entertainment, but how much of it truly inspires the imagination? Earbud Theater is run by veterans of the film and television business in Hollywood who set out to show that you could stimulate minds without big budgets and eye candy. They must have been mad to try. MAD.

So dim the lights, turn up the volume. Close your eyes – unless you’re driving. If you’re driving, stop reading this now. Really. Are the drivers gone? Good. Everyone else, use the buttons above to start one of our podplays. Or take a look at the Earblog and learn a little about who we are and what we do. But not about our plans for world conquest. Oh no, you’ll never learn about those…

Let us tell you a story. And if you find yourself wondering, or worrying, or just staring at our strange world from newly un-scaled eyes, just remember – it’s all in your head…” - From Earbud Theaters home page.

 

I can't actually recall how I first stumbled on Earbud Theater but I'm glad I did, I love their work. I've listed it under horror because for the most part it is, although they have occasional episodes that fit more accurately into other genres. ('Clang' for example is as fine an example of dark comedy as you are likely to find).

 

Earbud Theater is an anthology series, so each story stands on it's own merit. If you listen closely however, you will spot references woven into some of the stories to others.

 

The sound quality, editing, scripting and acting are all of a very high standard and the majority of the tales are creepy, macabre or funny. I particularly like 'Shift' which was the first of Earbud's tales I heard and which gives me the creeps to this day. The acting in it is first class and helps the tale take you by the spine in a way any fan of audio drama should find quite exciting.
'Clang' is another favourite of mine and and strikes a perfect balance of seriousness and humour. The situation is hard not to find charmingly amusing, but the acting – much of it delivered as if the situation was actually happening and is deathly serious (as in deed it would be, if it happened to you and your family) make this a masterful example of how it should be done.

Their interpretation of Neil Gaiman's 'Shogoths Old Peculiar' is another really good episode which you shouldn't miss.

Make sure you listen to 911 as well – in fact, go listen to that right this instant, this review will still be here when you get back. Yes, it is that good.

 

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