Spread your wings and fly with me
Nearly four decades after its winged shadow first stretched across vinyl, Philadelphia’s Night Sins have resurrected The Danse Society’s spectral hymn, “Angel.” With a graceful nod to post-punk’s classic gothic lineage, the Philly band has breathed fresh chill into the Barnsley outfit’s’ 1984 album track, nestled initially deep within the grooves of their second LP, Heaven Is Waiting. Night Sins’ interpretation is reverent yet restless: cavernous drum echoes haunt warehouse spaces, guitars arc like ice-bound comets, and sparse synth stabs gleam beneath layers of frosted melancholy.
Vocalist Kyle Kimball inhabits Steve Rawlings’ gloom-ridden visions with an intimacy that feels both sermon and confession. The lyrical bleakness remains potent, conjuring smoke-choked horizons and faith teetering on the brink. Yet Night Sins’ reimagining moves beyond homage, painting fresh, ghostly contours onto the original’s canvas of despair.
The Danse Society’s haunting track “Angel” emerged at a pivotal moment for the band, as they teetered on the edge of greater recognition following their signing with Arista. Navigating the tumult of major label aspirations alongside artistic uncertainty, the song’s ethereal synth lines and martial rhythms, coupled with Rawlings’ spectral vocals, crafted a captivating contrast to the band’s more aggressive works. “Angel” stands out as one of their most exquisite creations on their second album—a dark torch flickering softly amidst the chaos.
Night Sins seize upon this tension, enhancing rather than diluting it. Their cover does not simply resurrect a forgotten gem but refracts its shadows through modern lenses, sharpening its edges while preserving the original’s fragile intensity. It is a revival that feels neither nostalgic nor contrived, but genuinely haunted.
Listen to the cover of Angel below:
Follow Night Sins:
Or via: