What is goth music? And what is it supposed to do? Depending on who you ask the answers might vary. However, if we establish being dark is the most defining element, then what it does might vary with a great deal of the genre's identity hanging on being something you dress up and dance to. This band from Belarus is paving the way to the dance floor in a manner not unlike Depeche Mode at times. The guitars are a tool to summon the atmosphere and the baritone vocals and emotional texture. Thinking of them as the Eastern European take on Depeche Mode seems fitting, though they are not writing the same caliber of hooks.
The guitar plays a larger role in "Son" and it works in their favor as everything is not hanging on the shoulders of the singer or the beats being programmed. It also creates a broader range of dynamics. The more ambient electronic groove of the title track does its job though not the album's strongest song so far they did collect some cool sounds. To ask if they are as dark as Depeche Mode, then ponder what era? "Blasphemous Rumors"? No. But perhaps Depeche Mode's more middle-of-the-road stuff. Not to say these guys are poppy, the first pop-leaning song is "Ill". It is dancey and could be snuck into a 'goth nite " DJ set without clearing out the dance floor.
"Ne Vidvoem" is the most organic song so far and even then the drums are programmed. The melodic guitar works really well. The song that follows it is dramatic pop, and since they are singing in their native tongue it makes the vocals feel more like another instrument, saving them from the lyrics making things stupid. The last song has a smokier pulse that is not dark but comes from a similar urgency that is parallel to darkness. There is a sensual nature to it. Not the most original thing I've heard but this album works in a way few electronic-based projects do thanks to the effort to write songs invested in this album. I will give it a 9.
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