Release date: 27th July 2018
Anomie, the debut album from avant-garde alt rock outfit Death & The Penguin is a bit different…but it’s a bit different in a good way. It’s certainly intriguing, and you can’t help but feel drawn into the album as it progresses.
There’s a bit of everything in Anomie; there’s fast-paced energetic proggy sections, softer and more melodic lines, tracks with a bit of funk to them, simplistic rockier numbers and more – it’s impossible to list all the different styles and approaches that Death & The Penguin utilise to create their unique sound. Yet despite this, the album doesn’t sound like it’s been patched and cobbled together – the flow is very coherent and everything blends together seamlessly.
With plenty of different tracks to sink your teeth into, it can be difficult to pinpoint tracks of particular note because they all bring something different to the table – but a personal favourite of mine is tenth track Leatherface. The song as a whole has a bit of everything, and the underlying dark vibe to the track is fantastic. The dissonant and clashing guitars in the latter half of the song are a great touch as well, and the softer melodic vocals in the middle of it all serve as a nice bit of juxtaposition between the noisier sections.
As a whole, although it may not be to everyone’s tastes, Anomie is a great bit of work. It’s a bold release that breaks the mould and is a highly enjoyable listen.
9/10
