By Jim Rowland
One of the most enduring and successful bands to emerge from Switzerland, The Young Gods celebrate their 40th anniversary this year with the release of their 14th studio album ‘Appear Disappear’. With their trademark fusion of raw, urgent industrial rock and powerful electronics, and with the album tackling the world’s current woes, it sees The Young Gods very much in fine form.
The album spans different moods and flavours across its ten tracks, switching between the English and French languages.
It kicks off in outstanding fashion with the up-tempo heavy industrial/electronic fusion of the title track, with ‘Mes Yeux De Tous’ and the funky groove of ‘Shine That Drone’ following similar lines. ‘Systemized’ has a darker, tribal feel, ‘Blue Me Away’ and ‘Tu En Ami Du Temp’ have hard-hitting light-and shade qualities, whilst ‘Hey Amour’, ‘Blackwater’ and the spooky atmospherics of ‘Intertidal’ sit back and groove a little more.
The twisted, dark electronic atmospherics of ‘Off the Radar’ closes the album in fine fashion.
‘Appear Disappear’ mixes together a multitude of different moods, vibes and grooves, from heavy industrial guitar and up tempo electronic grooves, to more subtle electronic atmospherics to produce a quite superb album overall, which lyrically addresses many of the burning issues the world is experiencing in this very moment.
Proof positive that The Young Gods, even after 40 years, have plenty more to offer.
- ‘Appear Disappear‘ is released today (Friday 13 June).