Dark Web: a Philadelphian post-punk group that I’m surprised to have not heard of sooner. Given, it’s not like I was keeping a close eye on the place to begin with, but I seriously should’ve been gushing about this band’s stuff a long time ago, especially since the EP itself was released by Suicide Bong Tapes in mid-2016.
Everything about the band is seemingly tailored to my liking, and for the most part, falls into a section of my library that rarely sees the likes of Dark Web; with such engrossing, goth-tinged post-punk sounds such as these, that’s pretty fuckin’ unfortunate. Sharing members with Throbbing Chakra, Key Bumpz, Cool Piss, and Beth Israel, Dark Web is sure to impose a rich, powerful presence the moment the EP pivots from the opening rhythm into a dirge of squealing guitars and wholesome bellows, effectively combining elements of both gothic rock and punk alike, while also dispersing a hearty dosage of spacey, vibes into the mix in order to further obscure the band into territory I can only describe as “tastefully erratic”.
The first track, “Alien Vacation”, immediately sold me on the group, demanding that I get back to a member of the group and let them know that I’d be all-for sharing their material. I mean, it’d be difficult for me to turn a band like this down. That lead’s got SERIOUS pipes, to an extent that I originally mistook the influxes of similarly-alienlike backup vocals as some form of vocal processing – which is still oftentimes present, unsurprisingly, as to further bolster the weird, eccentric influence beyond the resonating harmonies that the vocals and guitars bring forth to the forefront.
Weave in some scathing solos and extremely memorable melodies, and maybe you can see why I’m kinda disappointed in myself for not catching wind of this four-piece anytime sooner. But what do *I*, Jimmy, personally think about Dark Web? I think they’re fuckin’ aliens, duh. Ain’t it obvious?
Words by the #1 punk connoisseur Jimmy.
https://erstetheketontraeger.bandcamp.com/album/ett-056-dark-web-clone-age-lp
