A Masquerade, Occult Rituals, and Hollywood Babylon in Straight Razor’s Video for “Black Smoke Rising”

Omar Doom, the mastermind behind Straight Razor, mysteriously steps forward once again with his trademark swagger in Black Smoke Rising—a hard-hitting demonic darkwave offering that pounds like a heartbeat in the witching hour of the night. In this haunting dark electronic music track, the maestro of the macabre, Doom, masterfully intertwines savage, heavy synths with his brooding vocals, conjuring an atmosphere so dark it seems to chill the very marrow. It’s a sinister fusion of pulsating rhythms and unyielding beats that grips the listener in its tenebrous embrace.

The music reverberates with the shadowy energy, forming a menacing symphony that captivates the senses. A hypnotic rhythm pulses through the song’s melody, ticking away with an eerie precision. Beneath this facade, a controlled chaos simmers, its quiet intensity reminiscent of the stillness before a storm. At the heart of it all lies Doom’s minimalist style—cold, commanding, and utterly terrifying.

“Black Smoke Rising” emerges as a track pulsating with a sinister allure, weaving intensity into a steady, relentless rhythm that ensnares the listener. Echoes of Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Ministry, and Tool subtly surface as the composition simmers and bubbles with tension, ultimately striking with precision. At its core, it embodies an industrial spirit—dark, unyielding, and fierce. Here, Doom skillfully wields the dark cinematics of Straight Razor and carves a sigel in the narrative of the night.

Lyrically, the track delves into the struggle of battling inner demons, with Doom channeling his own personal conflicts through raw intensity.

“There’s a satisfaction in knowing I’m not just surviving—I’m thriving in the chaos,” says Doom.

Black Smoke Rising slashes through with fierce, relentless energy, landing just in time for Halloween’s grim festivities. Raw and ruthless, it’s a bold leap into a world of menace and dark allure. Joe Cardamone’s chilling video wraps the track in eerie visuals, steeped in Halloween’s twisted imagery. Doom begins as a Clark Kent, all innocence and quiet, only to transform into a creature of the night as the LA underworld drags him deeper.

In the video, an unsuspecting woman is lured to a masquerade party, where the night spirals into her ritualistic sacrifice.  It’s the stuff of Hollywood legend, a neo-noir narrative previously put on surreal celluloid display by luminaries like Kubrick. It’s a sordid story teetering between mythos and reality. The track and video fuse, creating a haunting, dangerous tale that lingers like smoke in the night air—just enough to make you question what is real, which in itself is scarier than any Hammer Horror offering.

Watch the video for “Black Smoke Rising” below:

Omar Doom’s creative spark ignited in the streets of Eastern Pennsylvania, where skateboarding and music shaped his early days. With a BFA from Parsons School of Design in New York and Paris, Doom headed west to Los Angeles, launching a clothing line with his sister. It was in LA’s nightlife that fate stepped in, and a friendship with Quentin Tarantino led to standout roles in Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds. Yet, despite his cinematic turns, music was always his true pull. In 2023, Doom launched Doom Vision to fuel his project, Straight Razor. Two EPs and a remix album later, Straight Razor hit the road with VNV Nation for their 2024 North American shows.

Now, Black Smoke Rising, the third single from Casualty, promises more. Set for release on December 13, 2024, the band will celebrate with a live show at The Echo in LA on December 15. In February 2025, they take their sound worldwide, supporting VNV Nation.

Listen to Black Smoke Rising below:

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