Omar Doom, the multi-talented artist known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino’s cinematic universe, plunges deeper into the shadows with his darkwave project, Straight Razor. With the release of the single “The Curse,” Doom delivers a chilling auditory experience and an exquisite visual feast that echoes the grandiose elegance of silent cinema and noir horror. This is the first glimpse into what promises to be a haunting debut album, Casualty, set for release on December 13th, 2024—an ominous date befitting the dark atmosphere Doom conjures.
“The Curse” pulses with an icy, relentless darkwave rhythm that reverberates like a heart beating beneath the floorboards. The track’s rhythms, reminiscent of a Giallo thriller’s taut suspense, lurch forward with menacing precision, each note cutting through the mix like a razor’s edge. Doom’s spectral voice guides the listener through a landscape of dark desires and the irresistible pull of self-destruction.
In his own words, Doom explains, “I wrote The Curse about the masochistic tendencies we all possess in the pursuit of happiness. After escaping the depths of our misery, we are willing to jump right back into the fire. There’s no mercy for anyone.”
The accompanying music video, released alongside the single, is a masterclass in gothic elegance and macabre imagery. Directed with a meticulous eye for detail, the footage envelops the viewer in a world where beauty and decay are inextricably linked. Skulls and decaying flowers set the stage, casting a shadowy backdrop for the unfolding drama. Brandishing a classic Shure 55 microphone, Doom sings in the in as illuminated by moonlight, embodying a suave figure fated for peril. He is not alone—Sara Cummings, the video’s haunted ingenue, delivers a mesmerizing performance as she gazes into a mirror at a vanity table, her dark reflection as much a part of the narrative as the characters themselves.
The video, produced by American Primitive, and Directed by Joe Cardamone, escalates into a series of surreal and symbolic acts. Doom, at times blindfolded and at others tied to a funeral pyre, is both a victim and a participant in this ritualistic descent. Cummings’ character, channeling the biblical figure of Salome, eventually enacts the ultimate betrayal. In a final act of gothic theater, she decapitates Doom, echoing the fate of John the Baptist, his demise sealed by the hand of one who wishes to consume him passionately. The final scene leaves the viewer in a state of both awe and horror, a perfect complement to the song’s thematic exploration of our relentless pursuit of what ultimately destroys us.
Watch the video for “The Curse” below:
Doom’s journey to this moment is as fascinating as the art he creates. Before embracing music full-time, he was a staple in the underground art and design scenes of New York and Los Angeles, his creativity first channeled into visual mediums and later into film. His connection to Quentin Tarantino led to memorable roles in Death Proof and Inglourious Basterds, where he shared the screen with Hollywood heavyweights. Tarantino himself remarked, “He’s an offbeat dreamboat,” underscoring Doom’s unique presence both on and off the screen.
But despite his cinematic success, music was always Doom’s true calling. As he puts it, “I’ve been wanting to do a Straight Razor album with vocals and verse/chorus song structure. I spent the last year finding my sound and am now thrilled to announce my new album and share the evolution of Straight Razor with the new single The Curse.”
Straight Razor has been a slow burn, evolving from the early EPs Vol.1 in 2021 and Vol.2 in 2022 into this new, fully realized phase. The project’s sound—a blend of darkwave, techno, and EBM—reflects Doom’s varied influences and his commitment to creating something that cuts through the noise of the modern music landscape. The upcoming album, Casualty, marks the culmination of this evolution, promising a full-length exploration of the themes hinted at in “The Curse.”
Listen to “The Curse” via streaming here
In 2023, Doom launched his label, Doom Vision Records, to give Straight Razor and other projects a home. The label’s first release was STRAIGHT RAZOR – REMIXED, featuring contributions from the likes of Gost, Corvad, Moris Blak, Nightcrawler, Destryur, and ESA. This year, Doom Vision expanded its roster with the release of Destryur’s album Dimensions.
Looking ahead, Straight Razor is poised to embark on a world tour with VNV Nation, commencing on February 5th, 2025, in Germany, to showcase his highly-anticipated album “Casualty.” Preceding this, catch Doom at Dark Summer Fest at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on August 23rd, along with an assortment of talented artists, including Gost.
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