This lil' album was a big and pleasant surprise for me in 2025, glad I found out about this band. Their excellent, moody Dark Star tape that came out a few years ago slipped my radar, and I discovered it earlier in the year and was stoked to see an LP come out on local stalwart Black Water records.
Vocalist Domino Monet possesses some seriously good pipes, and a drag-worthy name at that, while the rhythm and guitar behind them more than holds it down - a healthy mix of glam, goth, and even a bit of disco - Siouxie, Pat Benatar, Madonna, Killing Joke, Bauhaus, New Order, Bowie - they all show up here.
I like how the album starts and ends with the same song - lots of bands do this, the first one that comes to mind is Wolfbrigade's Prey to the World for some reason. It's a nice thematic introduction and bookend for an album. In this case, the album starts and ends with a dreamy, slow, reverby reminder that it's a long road to nowhere, and a long life to get there. When I first played the record, I thought I had it on the wrong speed. Eventually, as the intro fades into the first track, you're compelled to bob your head as Domino insists that you're in the arms of a dead man. The next track, Soldier of Love, has delightfully catchy guitar riffs while the chorus insists, "Any old way you use me - I don't care! Take my heart and bruse it - I don't care!" - an empowering song for anyone whose resilience has grown after heartbreak.
Nyx can slow it down a bit, or at least sexify it up with a sax - Black Glass is less of a pounding anthem, and more like a sweaty, slow burn - imagine dim lights, candles, and romance. They really paint a mood here.
There are a lot of good tracks here, but I really like Midnight Lights, because of the silly overt innuendo - "You put the man in romance" - great line that fits in an 80s vibe band. Wish this record was longer.