Vision Video sophomore record, "Modern Horror," is an ominous signal of visceral feeling and social critique. The 11-track, out now, pairs ethereal post-punk soundscapes with laser-focused lyrical depth, giving listeners the soundtrack to their existential reckonings.
"Modern Horror" immediately immerses itself in themes of alienation, disillusionment, and resilience, leaping in from its opening notes. Frontman Dusty Gannon's vocals swing from commanding authority to haunting vulnerability, reflecting a tug-and-pull between despair and hope. Channeling the best influences of goth rock's past Joy Division, The Cure, and the Chameleons, the band creates a sonic world that is so familiar yet freshly rendered.
Although Ben Allen produces the record (Washed Out, Animal Collective), its lush, immersive production elevates Vision Video's signature struggle between shimmering synths, brooding basslines, and gritty guitar textures. Emily Fredock's synth work fucking slaps, lending this swirl of a record a cinematic depth that haunts long after the last moments of the songs have faded. Tracks like "Stay" and "In My Side" stand out from the album, which has an electrifying balance of sorrowful beauty and urgent energy, making them goth anthems upon release.
"Modern Horror" is an assertion. Picking at topics like political extremism, trauma, and the abiding anxiety of modernity, Gannon's songwriting is intensely personal but also widespread in its appeal. His perspective (he is, after all, a former anti-war vet) gives him the legitimacy that's hard to find in modern-era goth rock, and this album is so to be heard by all those seeking comfort in the dark.