Death is a gift,
burning your heart like fire.
Love is a gift.
Having bid adieu to the hustle and bustle of New York, and greeted the rich culture of France with open arms, Charles Rowell, famed for his work with Crocodiles, Flowers of Evil, and Issue, set about fashioning a fresh start in 2020 with a new project, Crush of Souls. With a distinctive union of synthpop and gothic stylings, the band burst forth a darkly beguiling sound, both novel and nostalgic.
Imagine, if you will, Nick Cave’s melancholic melodies serenading Martin Rev’s minimalist electronic rhythm; it’s a sonic picture that merges the poetic gloom and industrial edginess. Think of the time when Stiv Bators, during The Lords of the New Church phase, would have found himself improvising in an unorthodox jam session with Wayne Hussey and Tony Wakeford. It’s an alluring thought, isn’t it? Crush of Souls embraces that spirit with an innovative fusion of musical influences that found harmony in their disparity.
“The Gift,” the latest single from Crush of Souls, suggests a profound contemplation of life, freedom, death, and love. The speaker sees the world as an endless flow of experiences, symbolized by blood running through history, representing the inherent freedom in our collective journey. Death, rather than being a tragic end, is perceived as a liberating gift, igniting passion within us, much like the transformative power of love.
The video for the song is a lovely stroll through a sun-drenched cemetery – but not just any graveyard. They’re meandering through the famed Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris; its mausoleums and graves each a love letter from grief-stricken loved ones. Famed artists, musicians, authors and bon vivants are laid to rest here in this hallowed ground. We see people draping themselves over tombstones, climbing the steps of tombs, and the silent statues that watch over them all, feeding upon their lingering energies.
“It is no secret that I adore and appreciate cemeteries. Now I have the chance to visit one of the most special ones everyday,” says Rowell. “This clip was filmed with the help of some wonderful Parisian artists and musicians including one Aussie named Marc “Buzz Kull” Dwyer. It’s a simple concept; call them soul sucking ghosts or blood thirsty statues, they stalk the land and feed on leather clad losers like myself. Cheers!”
Watch the video for “The Gift” below:
There’s always been a thread of electronic, goth rock and DIY noise music running through all of Rowell’s projects, but Crush of Souls determinedly pushes this sonic aesthetic further with primal Wax Trax-style beats; challenging noise passages that rattle the ghost of Genesis P. Orridge. The album will be released on September 29th.
Pre-order the album via Avant! Records here.
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