Lazerpunk - Death & Glory

(Self-release 2018)

Darksynth seems to be moving away from its roots in '80s sci-fi/horror soundtracks, and towards a sound that isn't very retro at all. To my ears, most new releases sound more like a cross between Skrillex and Napalm Death than early Perturbator or John Carpenter. For interests of disclosure, I will say that this is not my preferred sound, though I can appreciate anything that is well-made.



Death & Glory is definitely a well-made example of this aesthetic. It is a very aggressive record, with lots of abrasive sounds and a hard charging attitude. This is made clear on the opener, "Warmachine," which is a straight ahead banger until it goes into a half-time shuffle breakdown. "Speed Racer," featuring Quixotic, is another standout track. It is like outrun on steroids. Though I appreciated these tracks, the relentness nature of the album began to wear on me after a few tracks. This is exacerbated by how loud the mix is. Now, music like this is meant to be loud and doesn't really need to be as dynamic as vocal pop or dreamwave. It was still a bit overwhelming for me, though.

Thankfully, for me at least, Death & Glory also features some tracks break the mold and take risks that you don't often hear in darksynth. "Digital Demon," featuring Daniel Deluxe, slows things down to a crawl. It has fantastic atmosphere, and re-establishes the connection to '80s soundtrack music. My favorite track on the album, though, is "Black Lambo." It features a swinging bassline that reminded me of the darker side of house music. It is infectious and guaranteed to get people moving in a live setting.

Basically, this is an album that will appeal to fans of the new darksynth, as well as new converts from EDM and metal, as it is a very well-made example of that aesthetic. It also features two outstanding tracks that explore new territory. On the other hand, the bread and butter tracks on Death & Glory may be a little too much for casual listeners.

Score: 7.5