We’re all traversing the tangible terrain of our everyday existence, grappling with the glittering gauntlet of goods and the relentless racket of mindless babble. In this circus of consumerism, we’re all tightrope walkers, balancing the need to acquire with the yearning to be free. Amidst the din of digital drivel and the clutter of kitsch, we strive for a breath of liberation, a moment of peace in the material melée.
This is the spark behind the latest EP from Houston artist Christian Larson (Night Cobra, Necrofier), who has unveiled his new darkwave/goth project, Material World. Imagine pulsing, brooding tracks with dancefloor-friendly beats and a delightfully gloomy atmosphere, channeling early Sisters of Mercy, She Past Away, The Soft Moon, and Kaelan Mikla. It’s the perfect ice-cold soundtrack for a blistering summer night, sending shivers down your spine like an ill-timed dip in a frosty pool.
“Material World is about dealing with the physical world we live in, struggling to pass through material possessions and the mindless chatter and to be free,” Larson muses. “It’s an internal struggle I deal with, but the world is only getting worse, so the struggle won’t ever go away. Somber post-punk that leaves your soul wanting to be free on the physical world we are all trapped in.”
With Larson at the helm, expect your summer soirées to be shrouded in shadowy splendour and melancholic mischief.
The album kicks off with the spine-chilling, fast-paced Cursed, where ghostly angelic choir vocals dance eerily with Larson’s creepy growl—like Casper on a caffeine binge.
Next up is Salvation, Damnation, a more spectral number, with Larson menacingly whispering chants amidst eerie guitar riffs. He sounds like a demonic apparition offering dubious life advice.
The album wraps up with the sinister Time Waits For None, a plodding dirge featuring soaring synths that would make Dracula proud. Overall, the EP is a delightfully dark ride through Larson’s haunted musical playground.
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