A Driving and Vast Post-Punk Release from Clean Beast

A new release from Clean Beast delves into the depths of a dark edged and thematically driving post-punk soiree, and these tracks each deliver such a vastness in their undertones and intensity in their overtones that it's nearly impossible to turn away from, especially if you love the genre.

The Sympathy/Empathy EP isn't just post-punk, though. It certainly beckons a lot of classic elements of the genre, from the synths to the tones of the bass guitars, but there are all kinds of other influences at play that show face throughout the EP.

This is just one of the reasons you should be listening to this from beginning to end.

Lyrically, the record gets kind of personal but also universal at the same time because it talks about inner strength, turmoil, struggle, and can be pretty descriptive at times

This makes the record super relatable or, to me, connective.

The whole thing kicks off with the track called 'Tragedy", which speaks volumes for the rest of the EP and the band themselves, and incorporates some classic, almost new wave blended with industrial coated in that classic post-punk.

This is one of the best songs to introduce the record with, simply because it does showcase some of the staples that you're going to hear throughout the rest of the release.

One of those tables is that bass guitar. The performance on the bass guitar throughout this record is, hands down, everything.

Not only does that bass guitar drive the record, but it adds this liveliness to everything that makes certain tracks unbelievably danceable; it could bring a little extra color to the mix, and also just creates this vivacious energy that I feel like a lot of the band feeds off of.

The track is followed by 'Parasite", which delivers plenty more of that but also this unbelievable synthesizer approach. The synths and keys in this record, and the entire EP, are outstanding.

The sounds that they chose to be used, the way they create that spacious atmosphere that sounds slightly haunting and almost gothic, but still somehow invites you along for the ride, it all has to do with the synthesizers being this massive sonic presence on the record.

The vocal approach is always robust, sort of in your face, but hidden in the shadows all at the same time.

I definitely dig the approach on this because he's got a deep voice, which makes it sort of thick, and the way that it comes through tonally is like an added texture to the whole record.

I love the lyrics on this record and the way that he sings, but to me, the vocals are almost like another instrument.

Tracks like 'Darkness" deliver that sort of hauntingly graceful tonality super well.

Then we have songs like "Power", which does an amazing job of displaying the dance ability of the record, using different synths, giving you that vintage 808 drum machine sort of feel.

Songs like this are more colorful and have a bit more vivaciousness to them. There's still that hint of haunt in the underbelly, but really it's almost like a dark wave song.

All of these come together to create something that is quite an experience and an escape.

These guys are not reinventing the wheel, but they're taking these different influences and paying attention to the tones of their instruments to create something that's their own.

It's all incredibly addictive, and there are plenty of surprises around the corners of the record, but you end up getting attached to the entire theme or aesthetic of how this soundscape comes across.

Finally, we have the title track of the record, which is the EP's closer. This is a great closer for the record because it jams. That bass guitar is going nuts here; everyone is just having fun. This has a deep, danceable groove, and the energy is right there in the moment. Everything comes through with that massive presence.

This was super fun and still kept to those edgy, almost gothic, haunting, and dark tonalities so that the vibe of the record could be nailed. Which it was.

If you are a fan of classic darkwave, post-punk, or any music that's cinematically vast and edgy, this is for you.

Don't just take my word for it, though; take a deep dive into this one and do it with headphones on because it's one of the best ways to soak all of these awesome layers in.

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