Album review: THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE – Fascination

Metropolis Records [Release date 18.02.22]

Have you ever craved the thick tones of electric guitars over synths in a dark, electronic cocktail of gothic delightfulness? The Birthday Massacre might just be the thing you are missing.

Unless of course, like their tens of thousands of loyal fans around the globe, you have been on the journey with the Canadian darkwave group for the last 20 years. At which point, you are probably well-acquainted with them. Now the wait is finally over and, following their 2020 release Diamonds, they are ready for you to hear what their new album Fascination has to offer.

The art for the album alone fits in with their past works, the purple tones and goth-inspired logo font illustrating the seamless transitions throughout their discography. This translates into their sound as well, this album being their most refined one to date.

While earlier work had the rough-and-ready appeal of a band that is finding their niche, Fascination oozes confidence and self-assurance. The songs all feature a few staple elements, chunky anthemic rock guitars punching you in the guts while synths pick you up and dust you off. There seems to be a much heavier focus on the synths in this new release, drawing a likeness to other synth-pop artists with the help of their keyboardist O-en.

This is music that finds its home in both the loudest and quietest of spaces, each member of the sextet seeming to encapsulate a whole genre. The self-titled and the single from the album also happen to be the first two tracks, “Fascination” and “Dreaming of You”. Both of these give us as listeners the perfect introduction to what we are about to experience.

We hear lead singer Chibi’s gentle voice, contrasting and complimenting the big sound that the rest of the band are creating. These songs – as well as the following, “Cold Lights” – enable us to really sink our teeth into what it means to be The Birthday Massacre in 2022. Bassist Aslan, as well as the aforementioned O-en, really get to shine throughout this whole body of work.

After this trio of songs we visit another genre, percussionist Rihm, and guitarists Rainbow and M. Falcore partly responsible for the mild shoegaze undertones of “Stars and Sattelites”.

Do not fear though, as they still stay true to their goth metal roots for the whole album with the help of the guitar. Throughout their whole discography, it is evident this is one of their signature sounds.

Having been there from the beginning, it is understandable that both Rainbow and M. Falcore would be integral parts of the band’s essence (along with Chibi and Aslan). It would be too easy to continue a blow-by-blow account of every song, with every genre that the band seem to nod to, and how every member comes into their own at various points throughout Fascination. But stealing the experience of a full album listen is cruel, so this is where the song analysis ends. With that said, the rest of the album really does carry on in this vein.

This is their most polished and considered collection of songs yet. Lessons have been learnt and strengths have been played on. Whether awaiting tour tickets to experience it live or taking 38 minutes and 39 seconds to appreciate it alone, your craving for a dose of The Birthday Massacre will be satisfied. ***1/2

Review by Caitlin Kelly

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)