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LA synth-punk drippers Diode bubble to the surface with 2- the next level, off the rails sequel to their already unique, deeply wonky catalog of alienized post-punk. This well-seasoned troup of rockers comprise many great bands from the LA underground scene- including Advoids, Vaguess, and Seudo Youth. Diode is a supergroup of experimentally conscious and fiercely talented like-minded folks making warped, yet endlessly catchy, dystopian rock. With 2, Diode have fortified their DNA with layers of dense, radiating synthesizers, modulated guitars, freaky vocals, and tightly wound, speedy drums. Music to hack the freakin’ system to.
After the release of their debut self-titled LP in 2020 and since playing a slew of stacked West Coast shows, Diode quickly gained local and online recognition from a widespread audience. After a few months of recent silence, the group has pulled an unlicensed weapon out of their Slash-sized tophat and shattered the silence with 2. This record is an untethered journey into a diverse landscape of synth-punk excellence. Songs like “Diode” dive into jerky and aggressive progressions, while “Card Dealer” and others are less jagged, and instead, are deeply infectious and prevailing heart-melters. The substantial 14 song record is captured on a decedent and triumphant mid-fi recording- the band now sounding more concrete and dialed than ever. This record is a wild, glitchy ride inside and out and has something for everyone- humans and droids alike. Diode should not be underestimated. They are rapidly mutating, becoming more powerful, and tearing through the frequencies of reality one record at a time.
-Sims Hardin
Includes 11x17 poster
Mastered by Andrew Oswald
Our take: I thought this LA band’s first LP was killer, and so far I like 2 just as much. The lo-fi aesthetic, synths, and jittery rhythms are gonna make some people think egg punk (I notice the label’s description studiously avoids the term), but this feels like it’s part of a longer tradition of punk music with synths. Diode alternates between stiff rhythms that might make you think of early Devo or the Deadbeats and moments of pure pop that recall more mainstream 80s sounds. Now that I think about it, it’s like the mix of tones on Devo’s Freedom of Choice, which is an excellent album to model yours after. It’s not really retro, though, as “Card Dealer” and “Fear” both sound very modern, like music that couldn’t have been made before now (Powerplant gives me a similar feeling). I also like that while the first album was a short burst, Diode takes their time on 2, sitting with parts a little longer and making room for experiments like the unique-sounding intro.