The new EP from queer Ipswich darkwave outfit DAMIEN hits the streets on 27 May and for lovers of industrial dance music it will no doubt be met with ironic anticipation. Ironic because it is indeed quite hard to genuinely anticipate a novella so critically introspective.
‘In Wrong Age. Wrong Race. Wrong Gender.’ DAMIEN mixes a lyrical journey of lament about society and humanity with rhythmic beats that will find you tapping while contemplating existential futility.
What is human? Am I really only a 2 out of 10? Deep down, do I really want to be a porn star? Important questions, perhaps, but in the context of the catchy beats, the listener still wants to get up and move their body.
DAMIEN explains, “The album title is a criticism of how cultures have often given preference to people based on things outside of their control, such as race, age and gender. At any given time in history there has been a (usually self-appointed) idealized group based on race or age etc and a despised group.
“My hope is that others will resonate with the feelings expressed in this album and may come to appreciate and advocate for a more equal society where we can all experience acceptance, value, love and success, irrespective of the things we have no control over'.
The release is set up perfectly by opening track; the aggressive, Nine Inch Nails-esque ‘2 Out Of 10’. Within the sonic crush of thoughtful circumspection set to electro alt-rock, a highlight was ‘Body’, reminding the listener of Depeche Mode or possibly a harder-edged Sade.
‘Love Myself’ catches the listener with another clever melody but strikes the heart with the voice of a cynic. Do I really love myself or am I just a convincing salesperson? So many questions. Part musical therapy, part existential poetry and all hard-hitting industrial-sized beats, ‘Wrong Age. Wrong Race. Wrong Gender.’ will resonate fiercely with its intended audience.
What the listener can be sure of is that DAMIEN’s EP is the perfect soundtrack to a boxing session where I can let my gloved fists beat that uncertainty out of my system, relieving that emotional tension.