The mind, a maze of fleeting recollections, twists through corridors of confusion, where memories cling like stubborn cobwebs. Love, fleeting as a summer shadow, once vivid, now frays at the edges, its colors bleeding into the gray. The ache of being forgotten seeps into the quiet hours, a whisper that won’t still. Lingering doubts circle like scavengers, pecking at unspoken questions, their answers forever just out of reach. What once was certainty dissolves into haze, a ghost of connection haunting the heart. Yet, even in this tangle of loss, the faint echo of that ephemeral love hums, refusing to fade.
This is the theme behind the new single and video from Crush of Souls: Cult of Two, accompanied by an intriguing neo-film noir video.
Fleeing New York’s frenetic clamour, Charles Rowell traded its restless grind for France’s rich cultural embrace, a move that marked a rebirth in 2020 with Crush of Souls. Known for his work in Crocodiles, Flowers of Evil, and Issue, Rowell channels his creative prowess into a project that melds the stark allure of new wave with the brooding depths of gothic rock. Crush of Souls is no gentle offering—it’s a commanding force, gripping tightly, demanding surrender. Its sound speaks of reinvention and raw defiance, an unrelenting call to submit not just to the music, but to its relentless spirit.
Beneath the flicker of fluorescents, Cult of Two traces a young man’s introspection, tangled in confusion and memories of a love once anchored at Brighton Pier. He wrestles with the fear of being forgotten, haunted by lingering doubts and unspoken questions. Time stands stubbornly still, yet their bond persists. Beautifully crooned in the style of Scott Walker, the track’s buoyant new wave backbeat shimmers with bright synths, nodding to Roxy Music, The The, Erasure, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
The video captures the raw energy of live performance interspersed with intimate backstage glimpses. Clandestine, drug-fueled encounters with a mysterious siren in a dimly lit bathroom dissolve into hazy recollections and the ache of heartbreak. This fusion of neon-soaked nights, pulsing rhythms, and unspoken longing shapes a bittersweet symphony of regret and redemption.
Watch the video for “Cult Of Two” below:
Returning to Catacomb Soul studios, where “(A)Void Love” had recently taken shape, Charles Rowell began charting the next chapter for Crush of Souls. Boundaries were drawn, yet new collaborators emerged, bringing fresh sorcery to the project. Longtime saxophonist Stanislas de Miscault infuses the record with his untamed flair, coloring its shadowed corners. Meanwhile, Stevan Dinet, one half of COS’s new iteration, commands martial beats and Fairlight sample pads with a steady, relentless pulse.
The album unfolds as a love letter to Paris—a city caught between splendor and decay, its romance entwined with ruin. “Lézire,” a sinister portmanteau of the French words for Lizard and Desire, sets the tone for an audacious collection of bold, bruised, and beguiling tracks. Each song strikes with force yet teems with romantic tension, capturing both the city’s beauty and the perilous allure of its undercurrents.
Listen to Cult of Two at the link below. Lézire is out on March 21st on orange vinyl and digital via Avant! Records. You can pre-order and pre-save Lézire here.
Crush of Souls will be going on a North American tour throughout the US and Mexico in March, making stops in the following cities:
- 4 March: Washington, DC at DC9
- 5 March: Pittsburgh, PA at Brillobox
- 6 March: Cincinnati, OH at MOTR
- 7 March: Chicago, IL at Beat Kitchen
- 8 March: Minneapolis, MN at Cloudland
- 9 March: St Louis, MO at The Sinkhole
- 10 March: Denver, CO at Hi Dive
- 11 March: Salt Lake City, UT at Intl Lounge
- 12 March: Oakland, CA at Stork Club
- 13 March: Tijuana MX at Black Box
- 14 March: San Diego, CA at Whistle Stop
- 15 March: Los Angeles, CA at Footsies
- 16 March: Las Vegas, NV at Red Dwarf
- 20 March: Richmond, VA at Cobra Cabana
- 21 March: Baltimore, MD at Holy Frijoles
- 22 March: New York City at Berlin
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