The Black Maria by British Darkwave pioneer group ATTRITION, is a haunting and immersive album that takes listeners on a journey through the shadows of the human experience. With a diverse range of styles, from industrial to gothic to dark ambient and a hint of nostalgia the album showcases the band’s versatility and depth. The first track “The Promise” is an atmospheric track that lyrically delves into the themes of surrender and silence with whispered vocals adding to the overall sense of foreboding expectation. “The Great Derailer” intertwines, snippets of political speech and the voices of disillusioned and concerned citizens. The juxtaposition of the dark, ambient melodies with the harsh industrial beats mirrors the conflict between hope and despair that often accompanies political discourse. Delving deep into the intricate dynamics of human relationships “The Switch“ has a hypnotic beat with seductive and provocative vocals. “Pillars II” is an enthralling track that has melodic female vocals weaving beautifully with the layered ambient acoustic panorama. The dreamlike mood and undulating soundscape of the song create a sense of introspection. “The Alibi” is a daring and unconventional musical journey that defies expectations at every turn. The song begins with a childlike, almost off-kilter rendition of "Here Comes the Bride," setting the stage for what unfolds as a cacophony of sounds and delicious chaos. The listener is swept up in a frenetic and confusing carnival-like atmosphere. The song, that is a riot of sounds, takes yet another unexpected turn, as a cacophony of vocals joins the mix, adding to the sense of chaos and confusion. The result is a wild and exhilarating musical ride that leaves the listener both exhilarated and slightly disoriented. From the moment “The Reprisal” begins you get the sense of something lurking just beyond sight, something watching and waiting. As the song unfolds, strange sounds and voices interject, adding to the sense of unease and paranoia evoking the notion of the presence of something just out of reach. The song builds creating a palpable sense of tension and suspense that is as thrilling as it is unnerving. “The Zero Hour” hauntingly blends Darkwave ambience and industrial sounds with beautiful menacing piano melodies and an enigmatic spoken soliloquy. The mysterious ambience and vocals of the song blur the lines between past, present, and future hinting at something just beyond the listener’s grasp. The title track of the album “The Black Maria” begins with chilling muffled industrial sounds creating a sense of unease and foreboding. Haunting high-pitched vocal floats eerily around the listener, creating a sense of disorientation and uncertainty. The gritty and dark male vocals seem to be giving a desolate sermon giving the sense of something lurking just beyond reach that is dark and malevolent.
The album The Black Maria sees ATTRITION founder Martin Bowes working with female vocalists including Emke from Black Nail Cabaret, Yvette from Vaselyne, Joanne Wolf and most notably the return of original ATTRITION vocalist Julia. The album also includes special guest appearances from Alia Miroshichenko (Subterranea) Annie Hogan (Marc and the Mambas etc) on Grand Piano, Vancorvid and Marietta Fox on Violins, Ian Arkley (My Silent Wake, Guillotine Dream) on Guitar, Steve Clarke (Futumche/Octogoth) on additional guitar/bass, and Kris Force on Cello.
The Black Maria is dedicated to the Memory of Kerri Bowes (1982 - 2022)
The album The Black Maria traverses the depths of the human soul and is sure to resonate with anyone who has loved, lost and found beauty in the darkness.
Links :
https://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-maria
https://open.spotify.com/album/0txU2xDGOrY8uyDcHQdPFV?si=n4uFT6PVT-iVpmh0htDNig
https://www.thecagestudios.co.uk/
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