The Stompcrash- Requiem Rosa

  I am always somewhat skeptical when I hear of new bands that fall somewhere under the Gothic umbrella, but when someone I regard very highly in one of my favorite bands recommended them, I had to investigate.  I am very glad that I did.  From the opening chords of  “The London Fog”, I was hooked.  With alternating male and female vocals, and this quite danceable song with gloomy organ effects.  “Like A Noise” starts as a Cure-esque sort of song then gets harder with some great post-punk guitar and Daniela’s poignant and truly captivating vocals. Play this one loud!   “Watching Me Fall” is one of my favorites, with Christian’s vocals and awesome guitar hooks that reminds me of Ikon.      Being a cat lover, anything song about Cats catches my eye, but “99 Cats” would be just as good under any other name.  A moody number, Daniela’s vocals are rather vampish in a Siouxsie sort of way.  After a break with a bit of tribal drumming, the song comes to an atmospheric close.   “Dorian” brings back Christian’s great vocals and refers to Oscar Wilde’s famous story, with ominous overtones and whispered warnings.  “Modern Slaves” has Daniela’s strident vocals, great bass lines, distant guitar and a powerful refrain that sinks into a machine-like interlude before rising again.  “I Will Kill Myself” is a moody number that could come right out of mid-‘80s New Wave.  “Moscow” is another one of my favorites, not just for the historical allusions, but for the driving post punk sound as well.     The harder   “Wake Up in a Grave” starts off rather eerily, and then launches into a great guitar-driven track accentuated by bells and other effects.    “Bloody Rain” stays in the same territory.  Echoed vocals and tribal percussion combine with a bit of buzz guitar that is also best played at optimum volumes.  “The Wind That Moves the Flowers” begins with nearly psychedelic guitar that turns out to be quite addictive. Synth and concurrent vocals create a sound that is spooky, yet somehow upbeat, sort of like watching your favorite horror movie. “Mountains of Madness” is also one of my favorites, and not just because of the nod to H.P. Lovecraft.  Christian’s fine vocals are ably complemented by Daniela’s arias, as forceful guitar weaves around atmospheric synth, windy sound effects and pounding percussion. Those who say that Goth and Post-Punk are passé need look no further than Stompcrash.  “Requiem Rosa” belongs in the collection of anyone who appreciates new underground music built on the foundations of Gothic literature and dark post-punk music. 

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