Torture Tunes
Die So Fluid, an English power trio living in Los Angeles, California, are one of the more interesting and stylish bands that I've come across recently. They’ve been around since the turn of the century (I’ve always wanted to use that term “turn of the century” in a rock album review) and even before that if you take into consideration that they were born from the ashes of Ultraviolet (previously Feline) Grog and Drew’s punk-pop band from the mid-nineties. They possess an exquisitely unique sound. Predominantly gothic, but also the sum of several subtly blended musical genres that are probably best defined by the band themselves: “…the muscle of metal, the angular cheekbones of post-punk and the bittersweet heart of grunge.”
Their latest album as of 2014 “The Opposites of Light” has this talented trio pushing the boundaries and blurring the line between heavy gothic rock and indie pop with 16 incredible tracks. I’ll cover off on some of my favourites starting with the brooding and heavy, grunge-influenced opening number “Nightmares”. Soundgarden in particular comes to mind, but Grog’s strikingly beautiful vocals quickly dispel this comparison. Her voice soars in “Comets” adding to the uplifting cosmic flavour of this powerful song. The lyrical masterpiece “Black Blizzard” has everything you could possibly want in an epic, dark fantasy, hard rock hit. Then skipping ahead to “Crime Scene” where post-punk meets heavy metal, both poetic and unapologetic in its delivery as it hooks you in with its driving groove and compelling lyrics.
I urge you to watch their gorgeously shot video for “Violent Delights” if you haven’t already. The verses are so simple yet intoxicating, like a medieval lullaby. The tension builds towards a dramatic chorus and ultimately a powerful coda. Finally, this excellent album ends on a positive note with "Spark", a love song of sorts, which is rich in texture and reinforces Die So Fluid's genre-bending dexterity.
Whether you're a fan of grunge, goth, post-punk or just alt/indie rock, I would highly recommend you give "The Opposites Of Light" a serious listen. There's so much mood and emotion on this album and each song is cleverly constructed without ever feeling contrived. While Die So Fluid bring a plethora of musical fusion to the table they always maintain their distinct sound and style, a quality indicative of experienced and versatile musicians with a real passion for their craft. Having just recently seen them in concert I can tell you that their live performance is equally phenomenal. They're also very approachable and always happy to meet their fans. Die So Fluid are a hidden gem and they deserve even more attention than they are currently getting.
Richard Leggatt, HMS
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