The Dead Souls
What: “Night” by The Dead Souls
Netlabel: Zorch Factory Records
The Zorch Factory website, in describing this September 2013 release, says “Any fans of The Sisters of Mercy, Rosetta Stone or any other second wave goth bands will love this.” I don’t disagree, but there are some earlier influences on display here as well; some of the heavier Pornography-period Cure as well as…well, can you guess from the band name? They not only got their name from one of the best Joy Division songs, JD influence is all over this music (especially the bass and the dramatic singing).
“Tides,” the opening track, is some short sustained keyboard drones, but then “Rituals of Dissent” kicks in and we’re off. The remaining tracks are full of Peter Hook-like bass, sepulchral vocals and the heavy, gloomy guitar – and they keep calling me…
The Dead Souls is two-member band (Kevin Shames and Etienne Goldberg) active in Burlington, Vermont by way of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Just what you would assume, right? The singing of Etienne has lots of echo effect throughout this album; at times it is almost more of a presence in the mix than a human vocal. It works well with the music. All the tracks are dense and hypnotic. After a listen it may have you eyeing that ghost on the cover suspiciously.