New Music: Darkswoon – Thread

It’s difficult to favour one song over another on Antivenom, the third album from Portland outfit Darkswoon, but Thread is a personal favourite.

That’s in part down to hearing solid whispers of two of my favourite bands, The Organ and Desperate Journalist within the very essence of the song. Thread has a deeper, lusher and more melancholic ambience than those bands, and the production amplifies the rock side of the track.

What it does share is the ability to create post-punk that is haunting and personal, as if you’re hearing someone’s innermost thoughts and fears. Expressed in lyrics akin to poetry and set to music that tugs at the heartstrings, Darkswoon do indeed find us a safe place in chaos.

Darkswoon play a series of live dates in June in the lead-up to an appearance at MENOPUNKAPALOOZA, a benefit concert and peri/menopause resource fair in Portland on the last weekend of June. For details follow the band on Facebook or Instagram

Antivenom is out now via Bay Area dark music specialists Viasonde. Head to Bandcamp for ordering options in the US, UK, EU, and Japan. You can also hear the album on Spotify and Apple Music.

Header photo by Renee Gross