I’m a fan since the first time I saw them on stage in Ghent (somewhere in in 1999, I think) and was DJ at their afterparty (in a placed called The Tequila, destroyed by now). With this album – based on the clips I listened so far – it sounds like a trip into their glorious past and I love it! Their last album was already their best album ever, so let’s hang on and see if it gets as good as that!
It’s only their 10th album, but each album was better than the one before, so they stepped up and worked hard! First song was already launched as the first single with clip: Forever 1985. This is a warning directed against any form of unhealthy love for the past and nostalgia out of hand. It's a mirror and I invite you to look into. The music sounds a bit like Nick Cave in 1985 (listen to the wild and chaotic sound, the piano, the drums …), with a gest of Dark Wave. The clip looks a bit like what David Bowie tried out in 1967. I adore it!
Trump is not officially beaten yet (whilst I’m writing this they are still counting the votes) or we get another punch launched right into his face (together with his lies and big ego). The music has a cool 80's guitar touch and a catchy chorus. The bass is also loud and clear. I hear a bit of an influence coming from The cure and it just sounds so great that I want the full album right now! Adrift is yet again a cool track that got me hooked!
Next single with video is Walk on The Mirror. This one turns out to be a soft song, with a violin and an acoustic guitar. The vocals and the lyrics are very important as they will take you inside of this very interesting trip!
Passion Project has those special kind of bells that I know from Nick Cave songs during the Let Love Rule period. Next to that we get a nice guitar (reminds me a bit of Red Zebra) and poignant lyrics. The Horror just sounds like the title (with a lot of special effects on the vocals). This track almost sounds like calling upon all the evil in the world and releasing it! It’s the darkest track on the album. You get a nightmare feeling, as if Trump won the elections and goes berserk! The Futurist starts with lots of strings, whilst the lyrics are not the happiest on earth. Mister doom arises (guided by an acoustic guitar and a spooky sound). Toxic Express is a mid-fast track driven by an acoustic guitar and sharp lyrics. The chorus is catchy as hell and will be a smashing hit on stage (once it’s possible to perform on stage again). A War That Never Was sounds like marching song. I hear a slice of Siglo XX in it, whilst the soldiers are marching and singing with a deep bass. The song sounds different from the other ones, but that is a great thing (also reminds me a bit of The Devil & The Universe). Straight and Narrow starts with a cool bass (genre I’m Falling Apart from Red Zebra) and percussion. Once again I notice the acoustic touch. Ashley’s voice sounds great on this one and I also adore the spooky sound in the background. I got a feeling that Halloween had a huge influence on this one, somehow. Last official track on the album is The I In The Void. It’s a slow one and has to grow slowly too. With that I mean: you need to listen to it a few times before you start to like it. It takes one deep into the darkness of one’s personal shadows.
I’m Afraid Of Americans comes as a digital bonus track and is a David Bowie cover. They kept the deep bass from the original and the poignant lead guitar. The thing that sound different are Ahsley's vocals: they sound more angry and heavier and fits this version like as if written for him. It doesn't happen much, but this time I can say it overpassed the original (and yes: I'm a David Bowie fan). I hope to hear this song one day on stage in this version! The apocalyptic feel comes back to life with this one and the band really did a great job! The song had in its origins already a political statement in it, today the message is actual & loud and clear!
I loved the album and for sure this last track! I hope It's ok I dropped so many names whilst describing the songs as it just popped up and it's not like I'm stating something with it. This album also clearly appealed to my imagination and my love for the 80's! I can say that this one is almost as good as The Urgency Of Now and that was their best album ever! Thumbs up!
