Celebrated gothic rock visionaries Whispers in the Shadow return with their 12th studio album: Rapture. A haunting journey through the intertwined themes of religion, love, death, and spirituality. The album explores the boundaries of faith and doubt. It’s safe to say in their 29 year of existence, Whispers in the Shadow are far from slowing down and taking it easy.
Following the critically acclaimed album Ghosts from 2023, Rapture reaffirms Whispers in the Shadow’s place as sonic storytellers in the dark alternative scene. Their unique style is characterized by the courage to break new musical ground time and again. Driven by frontman Ashley Dayour’s signature vocals and a band at their best, Rapture seamlessly blends elements of post-punk, gothic rock, and mysticism. Mixed by Martin Gutmann the musical sound is lush yet crisp – swirling between heavy and atmospheric guitars, pulsing basslines and drums shifting from tribalistic to explosive. The melancholic melodies rise into cathartic crescendos, echoing the album’s central themes of inner conflict and ecstatic release.
Check this clip: From The Mouth Of Babes - YouTube Music
Resume The Pose starts like as if it’s a punk track with heavy guitar sound and Ashley’s voice sounding almost like an angry punk. If you love bass guitars you’ll love this one! It’s a pretty raw, energized and furious track! I’m sure it will be a loved one during gigs! The Floor is lava sentence reminds me of one of the newest Implant tracks or was it meant to be about that Netflix series/game?
Zealots has a more hypnotic sound and chooses the side of spirituality versus religion. It’s a fierce examination of blind faith, extremism, and the creation of false prophets. I hear a dark sound, mixed with tribal influences and excellent guitar play. This song has for sure a Wagnerian touch in the sound.
Illusions Of Grandeur has already been launched with a clip and is a bit melancholic, with a clear gothic rock sound. Some parts remind me of the latest The Cure album (synth-minded). I even hear Ashley sing some high notes. The chop chop chop part is for sure catchy, but not the nicest phrase in this song, together with: Hurray hurray the king is dead!
Flights Of Fancy is one of the softest songs on the album. The chorus is a bit catchy, but for the rest it’s the least special song of the whole album.
Endure: driven by a thunderous beat and crowned with a soaring guitar solo, this track is a defiant ode to perseverance in the face of spiritual and emotional collapse. It’s for sure a very energetic song and one you won’t forget (I can even say with a little wing towards Neil Young during his more electric guitar minded period).
From The Mouth Of Babes: is a dynamic song that takes the listener from ethereal to driven wave rock, reflecting on loss and the beauty of life. I like the melancholic touch, the vocals and the global sound (The Cure-minded). It was a good choice to release it as a single!
Mono Cryptical is another slow one, one that almost sounds like a melancholic mantra (with some Dead Can Dance influences).
Origin Story: retakes the King is dead phrase and sounds pretty epic with a gothic rock touch. I feel this one might be a good end for a regular show.
The new album mixes according to me 2 of their best albums: The Rites of passage (mostly for the lyrics) & The Urgency Of Now (mostly for the sound), but ends a bit behind both albums. This is my personal opinion. The global sound is good: rich, well worked out and also looking for new ways of bringing music and lyrics together. It’s nice to hear the evolution and not digging in the same deep waters (to quote The Cure). The recent gigs where a blast, so that gives a good indication on how bright the future is!
Last note: the more spins you give it the better the album gets, so let it grow on you!
Check this clip: Illusions Of Grandeur
