When two planets collide in any solar system, the catastrophic result will most likely reduce both to dust and ash, sending warm debris hurtling through space. Yet from destruction, comes creation. So too the new and sixth record by Pharaoh Overlord - a cataclysmic clash with bewitching results. The band's current duo of Tomi Leppänen and Jussi Lehtisalo first channeled their love of krautrock-damaged monomania into synth-driven motorik soundscapes on 2019's '5' yet this new exploration is a step way beyond, into a chilly and captivating electronic panorama. Beholden to the melodies and textures of Kraftwerk yet also the cinematic austerity of EBM and the effervescent pulse of classic Italo-pop, it's further abetted by fierce and corrosive vocals from longtime collaborator and Sumac/Isis/Old Man Gloom seer Aaron Turner, which stand atop these futuristic serenades not unlike the fevered delivery of a dystopian hellfire preacher. The result arrives like a series of otherworldly epiphanies. The opening 'Path Eternal' sets it's stall out in style, marrying Moroder and Mayhem with a hint of the apocalypse manifesto of Skinny Puppy lurking in the middle distance. 'Arms Of The Butcher' is a strident anthem for a modern pandemonium, 'Blue Light Hum' meanwhile comes on like a robotic Neu! Summoning end-credits euphoria. And most audaciously of all, 'Without Song All Will Perish' takes the urbane yet decadent sound of Voulez-Vous-era ABBA and reinvents it as a venomous disco Gotterdämerrung. Aaron Turner was sent this material by Tom and Jussi and initially ask to contribute to two or three songs to a sharp deadline, but the results soon revealed themselves to be so powerful that he ended up writing lyrics for the whole album, his vicious but uplifiting vision taking inspiration from the melodic yet scabrous likes of Killing Joke, Leatherface and Kill The Thrill. Written as the pandemic began to dominate world events in 2020, the resulting emotional turmoil couldn't help but heavily affect it's lyrical slant of this record. 6 has therefore become a record based on separation - the physical distance between the band members themselves, as well as the isolation of the quarantine. Yet it's also a record concerned with finding a way forward amidst the modern cataclysms that surround - channeling negative experience into a positive change. True to form, like a brightly underlit disco dancefloor flashing out a warning of danger, the alchemical force of 6 is equal parts hedonistic rapture and dark revelation.
Release date:
July 9, 2021
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.
Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Technics SL-1500C Turntable
Features a direct-drive motor, a high-precision tonearm, and a premium MM cartridge, delivering exceptional sound quality
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Vukovi My God Has Got a Gun (Black & White)
Sharptone Records
January 24, 2025 -
Aloe Blacc Stand Together
Grand Scheme Prod.
February 28, 2025 -
Hotwax Hot Shock
Marathon Artists
March 7, 2025 -
Delivery Force Majeure
Heavenly
January 17, 2025 -
Manic Street Preachers Critical Thinking
Columbia Europe
February 7, 2025 -
Avalanche Party Der Traum Uber Alles
Amk
February 7, 2025 -
Heather Maloney Exploding Star
Signature Sounds
January 31, 2025 -
Colored Music Colored Music +1
Lawson Ent
January 31, 2025 -
Mario Glad You Came
Epic Records
February 14, 2025 -
Hangman's Chair Saddiction (Crystal Clear) [2xLP]
Nuclear Blast
February 14, 2025 -
Sports Team Boys These Days
Bright Antenna Entertainment (AWAL)
February 28, 2025 -
Linley Hamilton Ginger's Hollow
Whirlwind Recordings
January 31, 2025 -
Oversize Vital Signs (Splatter)
Sharptone Records
February 28, 2025 -
Jim White Precious Bane [2xLP]
Fluff And Gravy Records
January 31, 2025