Goth music is, by no means a secret, driven by the punk rock ethos. Part of that ethos is to be bold enough to stand up to the face of difficult political subjects. Orcus Nullify does just that on their new album, "Creatures of the Wheel". The pandemic has, despite all the terrible losses of life and divisions it has helped create in our society, has provided a canvas for many artists to channel the pain and suffering that millions experienced across its 3 year reign of terror. Tackling subjects like the anti-mask and anti-vax movements (check out the track "Freedumb"), and gun violence on the song "Thoughts and Prayers", Bruce Nullify gives voice to those who have experienced that loss, that anger, that frustration with the never ending red tape. Drawing influence from bands like Pink Turns Blue, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, and Sounds Like Winter (drummer Ant Bannister lends his musical hand to this project), and it is everything you could love and expect from a post-punk band. Jangling and fuzz driven guitars, staccato bass lines, and pounding percussion provide the foundation for Bruce Nullify to air the grievances of the world with his signature quivering bellow. "Creatures of the Wheel" is dark. It is bravely political. It is absolutely pissed off, just like so many of us. Orcus Nullify does not set out to change the genre, no; rather they set to change the world, one listener at a time.
Standout Track: "New Dark Age", if I must pick one. But really, the whole album is just phenomenal.
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