Whether you're an anarchist, just like to keep informed on politics, or are simply PISSED OFF with the way EVERYTHING is going now in the political landscape of the world, Cyph_on has the track for you in the form of a hauntingly (and intelligent) caricature! Imagine if 'spit and image' was run and directed by EBM fans..
Check out my recent review of their album Precipice HERE
Dark post punk/industrial from the depths of the UK.
Born out of a number of previous electronic, industrial and neo-gth project, the band were founded during the lockdown years with the debut gig following in September 2023.
STOP A MOMENT!
Please consider donating or fundraising for Beyond Reflections who supply an essential service to so many.
www.beyond-reflections.org.uk @BeyondReflectUK
Their support really does save lives!
---
We also support our good friends at Beat:Cancer, you can click the logo to donate and also keep up to date with their awesome music events on the B:C website!
Interview
Q. There are some intense political themes in New Age. Can you tell us about the lyrical inspiration what made you chose to sing as this
particular character that we hear in the track?
A. Written in 2024, a year of general elections, the characterisation came from seeing the rise of the snake oil salesman type politicians across the Globe. The character singing the song is hiding in plain sight; their electorate deep down know their agenda and how it isn’t honest, but are so desperate for an alternative that they will pin their hopes on anything for change. Welcome to your New Age, sort of seemed appropriate as a lyric heralding in this character, in a way you’ve asked for change,
now you’ve got it, but at what cost?
Trump is the obvious correlation and the Republican Agenda 2025, but it does relate to Farage, the AFD in Germany, the Front Nationale in France, Argentina, Austria, Hungary and so on. The rise of populism and the right wing agenda are recurring themes in the songs being written for the second album. Therefore, consciously, it’s the characterisation that I see being played out over and over across the world.
I do like writing in the third person, on Precipice, our debut album, the song Post Millennial Dream was sung as a Jeffrey Epstein type character. Ultimately, I think it can make an interesting differentiation from lyrics railing against a system as it can
really help you grow a character and act that out through the song. The villain often tells a far more interesting story as well….
Q. The track has a dark, foreboding tone with a very post-punk,
industrial feel. How did you approach songwriting and production to
achieve that mood?
A. In recording the first album, we ended up concentrating on a limited number of songs for an extended period, so having been released from that it’s given us the opportunity to breathe and write new songs unencumbered from a particular sound.
It’s almost a release as it allowed us to delve into different issues and soundscapes to achieve something a little different.
This was an easy song to write, the lyrics poured out from watching the American Presidential rallies and how I perceived their messages being spread. A simple guitar riff followed which was built on in the studio and created into a song with added
electronics and drums following. Ultimately, I think it happened naturally, primarily due to the ease of the initial writing process.
With a lyric led song, the music follows pretty naturally in tone as it’s the words that set the initial rhythm and basic melody of the song, therefore the foreboding tone comes alongside a message of what’s to come. No-one knows quite what it is but it’s
not going to be pleasant. I’m really glad that tone came across in your impression of the song.
Q. The guitar is particularly nostalgic and cutting, with an almost
warning-like tone from the past. Were there any musical influences or historical events specifically that influenced the sonic direction of New Age?
A. It's the first Cyph_on song that has been released that was written on the guitar with electronics added later, rather than the other way round. Sonically it shows Alan’s (guitarist) influence growing on the direction of the band which helps develop the sound in differing directions.
There are correlations in sound to the likes of Geordie Walker (Killing Joke) and Justin Broadrick (Godflesh), but I think the sound does stand on its own with the influences there but not copied. Lots of chorus and reverb helped develop the
sound.
Historically, the rise of fascism in the pre second world war period plays strongly in the song. The rallies, the blind faith in an alternative message, the sense of despondency regarding the current incumbents alongside the wish to pin hope on anything different, despite the obvious consequences. It’s the opportunist saying anything they want just to take power and people are following blindly due to lost faith in the establishment.
Q. How was your recent album Precipice received and how has it changed the course of Cyph_on?
A. Firstly, I’m really proud of Precipice, I think it captured the sound of a band finding their way and had some really banging tracks on there that wouldn’t sound out of place in EBM and industrial club nights. It gave us a definition of sound that people
have seemed to like, especially in a live environment, but it is also the end of phase 1.
It seems to have been really positively received, but obviously that’s to a limited audience that we would really like to grow. I’d encourage people to listen to the album as a whole as it does tell a story of the past 3 years, from lockdown to political upheaval to personal demons and all to a banging, highly danceable soundscape.
As it was quite a long time in inception, there is an evolution of sound within the album itself and the later songs to be written, Misery Cycle and Precipice, give an idea I think of where we’re heading as a band. I don’t want to lose the EBM feel of the earlier tracks and these types of songs come naturally to us, but the sound is certainly developing in a really interesting manner post Precipice.
Precipice has given us a foundation, something to build on, but now something to move forward from. Lyrically, it draws a line under what was happening and how I was feeling during the initial inception of the band and has given us a position to
look at what is happening now in the world and the shitstorm that we’re currently flying headfirst towards.
Q. With the political and social aspects in your music, do you see New Age as a reaction to a specific moment in time, or is it a part of an ongoing statement about the state of the world?
A. As a cop out, I’d say a bit of both. The world is getting ever scarier, leaderships are getting more and more radical, but in reality this has been going on probably since the early 2000s. There is a hell of a lot of disenfranchisement out there especially as consumer demands make people want more and more, but economic reality limits that to such a massive extent. This is then magnified through (relatively) newer mediums such as social media, where the adverts and streams that bombard people often make them realise just how much they can’t afford, furthering that feeling of
hopelessness.
I believe people are that sick of the failures of Capitalism that they are getting sucked along with being told what they want to hear. Scapegoating immigrants, LGBTQIA+ communities, foreign governments or anything they can find to distract their populous from what their real agenda is and I have tried to portray this
through the song’s protagonist. It’s a scary situation that has been played out in history on multiple occasions.
The song is therefore a warning about heeding the lessons of the past, a reaction to the present and a stark warning about the future.
Review
Sticking to their political outrage Cyph_on now bring us a track of interpretation. It's fairly easy to understand however that this track is sung from the perspective of a corrupt right wing politician, and in this instance, the orange menace.
I spread the lies, I spread the hate I'll make your conscience dissipate Watching your morals disintegrate Here is your new age Ravenous circles I create in a chasm filled with your rage welcome to my state I'll give you my new age
'New Age' is a track that feels heavy with atmosphere and foreboding. The guitar throughout adds to weight with it's cutting nostalgic sound like a warning from the past, whilst the drum puts out a parade ground rhythm. Tim's vocals sound out this dictator's speech with a nonchalance ideal for the theme.
The release has a remix by Parasite Unit, however I do find it difficult to pick out much in the way of difference other than maybe an extra layer of something I can't quite pinpoint other than some extra rhythmic electronic element - added to the track. Have a listen and see what you think though! I'd be interested to hear other's thoughts! Besides A remix no matter in whatever it's form instantly doubles the value of the single you're purchasing, so that's always a bonus.
Conclusion
With New Age, Cyph_on makes a bold and deeply intelligent statement about the slow and corrupt fall of society. poignant and thoughtful, the band's mix of post-punk and industrial genres along with politically charged lyrics create quite the soundscape of environmental storytelling.
The song tells a tale of dystopia political nightmare fuel, and so casually delivered, just like the very people it portrays deliver their verbal diarrhea - uncanny!
This all serve as a chilling wake up call to power and manipulation in the wider world. Cyph_on have truly made an impressive and enjoyable niche of telling the tale of the villains, as the villains themselves.
Thank you!
Quick note: Elektro Vox is an ad free site that costs a lot to run and get content for. If you like our work please consider commissioning an article, making a small donation to keep us running, or sub to our YouTube for band interviews and music streams. You can also list your band or business on our Alternative Directory! Thank you!
Check out the alternative directory for E-stores, online Goth goods, and new bands to discover. Get yourself listed with us!
Thank you for viewing and please feel free to share on social media and like us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook @ElektroVox
Commentaires