Words by Peter Tanski
Peter Tanski grew up in the small but thriving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, fronting several bands and founding the music and literary fanzine, Exmortus. After a brief stint living in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and writing for Legends Magazine, he returned to Pennsylvania where he began to work with web based music site NEPA Rocks. He currently fronts the melodic hardcore/punk band, Heart Out and hosts The Book of Very Very Bad Things PodZine.
Absolute Tyranny, defined by Merriam-Webster as “a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler”. According to the Declaration of Independence, King George III had been exorcising just that over the colonial U.S. and the phrase was used as justification for the Revolutionary War. Absolute Tyranny is on the horizon for people in the United States, and the late stage capitalism that our leaders are foisting upon us holds no hope of financial stability, let alone freedom. The middle class is an endangered species, and the ludicrous notion of utilizing tariffs to entice corporations to return production to the U.S. is not only entirely misguided, but a misdirection. The billionaire class wants us to suffer financially. That is their entire goal. Creating a state of absolute poverty will give way to complete submission. Look at every fascist regime in history, and you will find a nation impoverished at the outset each and every time.
In an era beset by mania and duress, nothing speaks to a nation of castoffs more clearly than the music of the era. Here are some of the recordings that are serving as a soundtrack to the dystopian new world…
The folks at Summer Darling Tapes have a busy spring planned for the listening public, with a new 4 song E.P. from Pillowprince entitled “Pretty, Baby”, as well as another E.P. from Juicin called “Zig Zag”. The former is minimalist indie goth with a warmth that is uncommon for the genre and a feminine vocal register that adds a gripping depth to the sound. The latter fuses a modern Hardcore aesthetic to darkwave that, paired with mournful vocals, makes for an equally riveting experience. Both are certainly groups to keep on your radar.
Gothic supergroup Beauty In Chaos has recently released “Signs in the Heavens Reality Upside Down “ on 33.3 Music Collective. The 29 tracks of Remixes and asides pins down an all-star team of the morose with guest spots from Combichrist, to the Bellweather Syndicate, to the mighty Al Jourgensen… and speaking of Uncle Al, the reworked and modernized version of his much maligned “With Sympathy“ has come home to roost, retitled “The Squirrely Years” (Cleopatra Records) and it is quite different – but not that different, you know? The root songs remain, and the vibe is just a touch more aggressive and in the red. It’s good fun, and well worth the price of admission.
French language electronic spooksters Larsovitch add another dark dance E.P. the their growing repertoire of singles with “Normal’No”, a glitchy and ice cold slab of spastically downbeat bat rave glory.
One of my favorite bands of 2023, Plight, are back with the first single “Hole In The Sky”, off of their forthcoming new self-titled LP (A La Carte Records). This track sees the band shifting away from the Hum/Quicksand sounds that populated their first release, and leans into an early Weezer, Nerf Herder, Eels, and Abandoned Pools vibe. The sound remains guitar forward, energetic, and undeniably fun.
One of my absolute favorite bands from the 1990’s, The Julies, came back with their first full length in 2023, and it was worth the wait. Their new single “The Heartbreak Life”(Lost In Ohio) is no slouch either, keeping the same reflective and pining energy and honing it to a deadly edge.
Datura, a gritty and melodic darkwave/britpop devoted group (Sell The Heart Records) have dropped the aptly titled “Songs From A Dark House”, and it’s a near perfect album. FFO: (early)The Cult, Pulp, Gene Loves Jezebel, Bauhaus, and basically anything 4AD, Cleopatra Records, or Jungle Records in the late 80’s. Just absolutely my favorite record this month.
Finally, heirs the modern Post-Punk throne, Glass Chapel, have offered 3 bleak barn burners with “Snow”. Its icy disco beats and hefty guitars, bellowing baritone, and sadly beautiful lyrics are dead perfect for the era.
“Enjoy your apocalypse.” – Southland Tales