Through raw vocals, sparkling synths and pulsating percussion, The DSM IV firmly cemented themselves within the alt-gothic music scene, following the release of their 2023 debut album, ‘NEW AGE PARARNOIA’. The release of their newest EP, ‘NEGATIVE UTOPIA’, on January 31st, is no exception. ‘NEGATIVE UTOPIA’, released via Merseyside’s independent label 9×9 records, encapsulates unreleased demos and remixes, all of which are shrouded in an ominously dystopian sound, characteristic of The DSM IV.
From the offset, ‘NEGATIVE UTOPIA’ shrouds the listener in a cyclone of sound- a cyclone founded upon the searing guitar riff of the EP opener, ‘Pink Lady’. Probing lyrics detailing paranoia, politics, introspection and even near-apocalyptic themes are immediately unleashed by the band, all while serving to contribute to the EP’s overarching, thought-provoking questions surrounding the world’s seemingly ever-divided state.
Distorted, dystopian and even audibly overwhelming all acutely describe the second track ‘Pray Like A Fool’. The DSM IV’s cyclone of sound only intensifies during ‘Pray Like A Fool’, through a collaged, almost jagged production, which culminates in a crescendo of a chorus. Perhaps an attempt to audibly embody the overwhelming bombardment of our day-to-day life, ‘Pray Like A Fool’ is a track that suffers from simply being too frenetic. The Stranglers-esque riff, however, concludes that the track is a conquering success.
As the EP progresses, the cyclone-like intensity appears to come to a momentary lull during the third track ‘Wise Guy’. Whilst being more subdued than its predecessors, ‘Wise Guy’ takes pole position as perhaps the most ominous of all the EP’s tracks. A searing, siren-like synth mythologises the song, with the outgoing guitar riff once again a poignant highlight.
The EP’s two remixes, ‘Racist Man Rmx’ and ‘Pennywise Hologram Cowboy Rmx’ take the EP down a perhaps surprising avenue, when taken at first listen. Whilst they serve to demonstrate the electronic command of The DSM IV, the remixes fall short in matching the cacophony and the rawness of the original versions, which both serve as stalwart pillars in the band’s earlier discography.
As an album highlight, ‘Isolation’ is a song that can be aptly christened as a feat of modern new-romanticism. ‘Isolation’ with its rich harmony between the machine-made elements of synth and drum machine, and the more organic guitar and vocal partnership, crafts a distinctively prominent standout. With observable nods to new-romantic musical giants, ‘Isolation’ is a triumph in contemporary synth-pop.
It is safe to say that ‘NEGATIVE UTOPIA’ immediately and forcibly expels those January blues. A cumulative effort between layered instrumentation and foreboding vocals, The DSM IV’s newest release is a cyclonic soundtrack fit for a world which is ever more dystopian and distorted. With tickets currently on sale for the band’s 2025 headline tour, ‘NEGATIVE UTOPIA’ promises to be a release which will only bolster the band’s already cataclysmic live presence.
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