Ist Ist
Dagger
Kind Violence Records
Making all our electric dreams come true, Ist Ist’s fifth studio album builds on – and betters – these dark wave boys’ back catalogue. From cold gothcore classic, opener ‘I Am The Fear’ which drops a pumping disco beat, spine-chilling deep vocals and floor-filling synths, through to slow waltz, sad song finale ‘Ambition’, ‘Dagger’ is on point. It’s polished but still glows proudly with the band’s DIY ethic. The vocals haven’t been perfected to within an inch of their lyrical lives – if a note is missed by a tiny bit, so be it. And it makes ‘Dagger’ feel even more raw and heartfelt. The emotional weight which comes across in the mournful melody of ‘Warning Signs’ is almost as heavy as the bassline which pummels its way through this instant singalong-while-wiping-away-a-tear song. ‘Makes No Difference’ is nothing less than a bloodthirsty banger, the intensity of ‘The Echo’ is choking, and as for the unrelenting march of ‘Encouragement’, ooof. Ist Ist are not messing about with this album. ‘Dagger’ aims for the jugular but hits the heart.
https://www.facebook.com/ististmusic
Review by Jo Wright