Spectral Darkwave were one of the many bands that really caught my eye at Bloodstock 2021 (and we had a nice chat with two of the band while the other member just scared the hell out of me). Their interesting blend of Cthulhu mythology, actual history and steampunk makes for an entertaining package, and they play it with the right amount of tongue in cheek.
The industrial influences are in full flow with the cracking introductory opening of “The Insertion”. Pure cinema it sets everything up before the bassy chugging of “731”, a song detailing Manshu Detachment 731 – a Japanese experimental bio-weapon lab active around the time of WWII. This pretty much gives you an idea of the dark, twisted depths of human depravity that Spectral Darkwave or dredging through (when they’re not channeling Shub-Niggurath in native R’lyeh anyway). Intensely heavy and appropriately harsh, there’s still a catchy little bit around the 4-minute mark that I remember from their Bloodstock show. There aren’t many death/doom bands that can do synchronised guitar posing and get away with it.
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Barring the abbreviated intro, there are ten songs on here. All of them wash through and over you like celestial jetstream, and evoke imagery that fits the lyrics. Having seen a small sample of the band live, I know the songs will translate well for on-stage performances. For such a heavy act, they manage to chuck a huge amount of variety around on the album as well. Songs range from ninety seconds to eight minutes in length. Pounding drums give way to clean acoustic guitar, harsh vocals are backed by soaring synths.
It’s this clash of darkness and theatre that hallmarks Spectral Darkwave’s output. Plenty of samples are used both as introductions and within the songs themselves. As a result every song seems more like a document or story. You just get so wrapped up in the tale being told as well as the music. The riffs are heavy enough to make R136a1 (Google it) seem positively featherweight, yet remain frustratingly earwormy.
Six years have passed since Spectral Darkwave’s first album, and from what I’ve heard on here it’s been six years well spent.
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