For close to twenty years now, SPECTRES have been the spirited stalwarts of the post-punk revival, charmingly blamed for their part in sparking a renaissance in the genre. In the year 2005, a time when DIY punk was more than a quaint notion, vocalist Brian Gustavson, the band’s architect, decided to stir the pot, blending in an ample amount of anarcho-punk’s independent spirit mixed with the detached, chilly cadences of 1980s post-punk and deathrock.
As time marched on, the band’s musical palette expanded to include the eclectic elements of new-wave, synth, and dream pop, yet they’ve clung tenaciously to their anarcho-punk roots like a stubborn barnacle. SPECTRES shape-shifts from airy, pop-infused dance numbers to a clarion call of ‘Wake up and smell the dystopia.’ As they ponder the existential malaise of our era, AM Gold flirts with a flicker of hope in a world that seems to be growing more unnerving by the day.
Now SPECTRES are back, and they’re cranking up the anticipation for their next album with a fresh single that’s pure ear candy. AM Gold lands with a bounce and a touch of nostalgia, making it the ideal antidote to post-holiday blues. Fans of Chameleons, The Damned, and Play Dead, take note: this track is a direct line to your sonic sweet spot. With a chorus that’s as grand as it is infectious, AM Gold showcases SPECTRES’ genius for songwriting. This single promises great things for the upcoming album, but also reaffirms the band’s place in the pantheon of post-punk power.
Listen to AM Gold and pre-order Presence here. This tune is a must-add to your playlists.
After working with several different DIY labels over their first 12 years as a band, Spectres signed with Toronto’s Artoffact records in the summer of 2018 and is looking forward to releasing another album with the label. Presence is set for worldwide release on March 15th, 2024, marking the band’s first release since 2021’s ‘Hindsight‘.
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