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Gloom Ballet delivers twelve infectious tracks drenched in the band’s ‘80s UK post-punk (Death Cult, Killing Joke, Chameleons) and SoCal deathrock (T.S.O.L., Samhain) influences. Recorded by Puscifer guitarist/producer Mat Mitchell, Gloom Ballet was mastered at Audiosiege by Brad Boatright (From Ashes Rise, Tragedy, Alaric, Arctic Flowers) and the artwork by Rebecca Sauve. Convulsive & chaotic LA Death Rock.
Our take: We carried the demo tape from LA’s the Wraith several years ago, and now their debut LP is out on Southern Lord. Wild, huh? Anyway, if you don’t remember the Wraith, the title Gloom Ballet hits the nail on the head. The Wraith bills themselves as death rock, and the record reminds me both of vintage post-punk like Killing Joke or Chameleons and more rock-oriented dark stuff like the Cult or even the modern metal band Ghost. The production is slick and took some getting used to for me—I’m more of a basement and 4 track type of guy—but if you’re a fan of the latter two bands I mentioned, you’ll appreciate the powerful sound.