On their newest album, Brooklyn dark punk/folk tour de force CULT OF YOUTH have produced their finest work to date. Headphones are practically a must to get the full, swirling effect of the record they’ve described as a “post-industrial Pet Sounds”. Final Days marries acoustic, amplified and brass instrumentation, found sounds, field recordings, electronics and an extensive tribal rhythm section including human bones. Singer, guitarist, former member of Boston political grind powerhouse ClassAction and Heaven Street Records proprietor Sean Ragon channels the fury of personal issues including recent beatings and arrests and despair at the downward spiral that our planet and the people on it seem caught up in into one of the most impactful and original releases Sacred Bones has given us to date.
The secret weapon here is that this record sounds less like the work of one man and more like the work of a band, including the expanded lineup of bassist Jasper McGandy (formerly of Boston punk stalwarts The Vigilantes), guitarist Christian Kount (who played with McGandy in THE HUNT, another fantastic Sacred Bones band), Paige Flash on cello and drummer Cory Flannigan.
The pacing on Final Days is exquisite. Its lulls, swells, builds and plateaus are masterfully arranged. It starts by setting the mood with the subtly terrifying instrumental “Todestrieb” (or “Death Drive”). “Dragon Rouge” grounds things back in dark neofolk-influenced splendor and widescreen metaphor, piling on tribal rhythms and horns at the halfway point and building to a beautiful crescendo before the punk-as-fuck rager “Empty Faction” and the hoarse-voiced deathrock furor of “God’s Garden” bring the energy up considerably. “Down the Moon” returns the focus to the acoustic guitars and percussive elements and slows things back down a touch while retaining a deep psych rock groove. “Of Amber” gives things some time to breathe and stretch out, especially in its haunting and pastoral second half. “No Regression” brings back the almost bluesy stomp of “Down the Moon”, but angrier and more unhinged. The nine-minute “Sanctuary” synthesizes what we’ve heard in all the record’s previous tracks into a glorious (and furious) statement of intent. It is a truly phenomenal song. The final track, “Roses”, finishes things on a more uplifting and almost hopeful note.
This is an album that richly rewards deep listening, from Ragon’s epic, sweeping lyrical denunciations to the ritualistic drum work to McGandy’s rock solid backing harmonies. You’ll find something new to latch onto with each play. Cult of Youth have finally transcended the sum of their influences and released something truly special. If it does indeed document the project’s final days, they’re going out with a bang people are unlikely to soon forget.
Final Days is out now via Sacred Bones. A limited double LP run of 300 copies featuring hand-done artwork and two additional tracks is also available.
