If you listen to The Sound
You’ll realize Punk is not dead
You will find all your answers in your head,
Your little empty head.
Guided by a wave of brooding daydreams and bittersweet memories, Italian ensemble God in a Black Suit unveils their introspective, self-titled debut LP. The ten-track composition echoes an indelible New Wave influence that characterizes the band’s distinct sound, intertwined with discernible elements of indie rock and shoegaze that enhance the pervasive darkwave atmosphere found throughout the album. Each song on the album is a testament to the personal journey of each member, culminating in a deeply personal and profoundly inspired aural work.
The process of creating the album began in February 2020 when bassist Annalisa Laterza, guitarist Bruno Pantone, drummer Giuanluca Natrella, vocalist Matteo Demma, and synth musician Pietro De Ruggieri started weaving together the drafts of ten unique songs. The band, hailing from Matera, had earlier captured attention with their Nails EP in 2021, led by the warm reception of their single, “You Don’t Have Time.”
A hazy mirage of Post-Punk, New Wave, and Darkwave form the core inspirations of God in a Black Suit. Yet, the murky shadows of krautrock, shoegaze, and indie rock cannot go unnoticed subtly shimmering in the corners of their art. Echoes of Depeche Mode, Pixies, Slowdive, and early Siouxsie can be discerned in their raw guitar intonations and the galloping drum beats. However, each track flourishes with its own unique theme, adorned with an array of peculiar auditory effects and intriguing vocal manoeuvres. This dazzling preview only stokes the anticipation for the impending reveal of their full-length album.
The “God in a Black Suit” debut LP is a resolute exploration of diverse sound worlds. It commences with the blistering intensity of “Advocate of Fate,” a darkwave overture steeped in grandeur and foreboding. Matteo Demma’s passionate vocals channel Dave Gahan with the raw power of Dave Vanian. Then, the mood is diffused with “Bittersweet,” a track that gleefully waltzes in a classic New Wave vein, despite Bruno Pantone’s lyrics diving into nihilism and adult paranoia.
Pulsing with an ’80s-driven heartbeat, “Little Empty Head” is a pivotal cut from God in a Black Suit’s album, embodying the band’s shadowy allure with a masterful blend of gothic and alternative rock. The song’s moody ambiance, bordering on sardonic, subverts the raw, unvarnished spirit of alt-rock into an introspective and eerily inviting soundscape. Echoing the seminal questions “Is it all in my mind?” and “Where is my mind?”—a nod to Love and Rockets and the Pixies, respectively.
With “On Your Plate,” we’re directed towards shadowy gothic territories, marked distinctly by an indie rock thumbprint. “Overcome” marks a return to the somber darkwave tones, before making way for “Not Today“, a track that hums with an alternative rock cadence. The magnum opus “No.7″ weaves together an audacious tapestry of influences into a staggering anthem. The throbbing pulse of post-punk returns in “Summer in P.A.” before “Good Intentions” opens the concluding chapter of the album with a refreshing idiosyncrasy. Culminating in the intense darkwave ballad “This Night,” the album is an audacious testament to the band’s aptitude to traverse a broad spectrum of auditory realms.
Listen below:
God in a Black Suits’ self-titled album is now available on Bandcamp and major music streaming platforms.
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