Album Review: Chiron – A Dark Beauty

Industrial and gothic genres have such established sonic narratives that it can be challenging to find something new to say. Chiron succeed in style with A Dark Beauty.

For Melbourne-based Chiron, the album signifies both a step forward and a backward glance, embracing new directions and the past. Opening and title track A Dark Beauty quickly establishes the scope of the album. The rhythm section contains nods to trip-hop and post-punk. The bassline, especially, has echoes of David J and Mick Karn, indicating that Chiron aren’t afraid to take risks. With vocals that gift the song an intimacy that is a striking contrast with the washed synths and brooding guitars, it really is a bit of a marvel.

The singular presence of Michael Aliani, formerly of IKON, on vocals defines the album in part – he has a voice that carries a power and emotional openness that has something of Ian Curtis about it. Aliani displays real versatility here, allowing the album to reach depths and heights that the starkness of Curtis didn’t ascribe to. It allows him to take a storytelling role on tracks like King of Sorrow and The Hunted in a style similar to Nick Cave’s and Frank Spinath’s, moving but not as dark – and quantifiably more human, in fact.

This is an album without any weak links, and the broad canvas the band has given itself will find listeners establishing personal favourites. For one, Oblivion certainly struck a chord with me; its richly embroidered post-punk and progressive dark wave sound finding a haunting and mournful equal in the vocals of Vaselyne’s Yvette Winkler.

Though it has a strong electronic theme throughout, one that accentuates the driving dark wave textures that frame the songs, it equally has a rock sensibility that gives each one added meaning. Having played through the album a few times, the reference points I established were varied but work within the scope and structure of the LP. Nick Cave, Rotersand, and Joy Division filter through, allowing A Dark Beauty to live up to its name.

Even within the remixes, Chiron take chances and pull them off, with the presence of Kriistal Annon on the Paradox Obscur remix of Flesh and Blood, as well as the SIRUS remix of The Hunted, letting the listener know that the band isn’t averse to dancefloor-friendly action.

In Greek mythology, Chiron was known as the wisest and most just of all the centaurs, but in terms of astrology, it is used to signify deeply buried emotional trauma. A Dark Beauty exposes pain but also the wisdom needed to heal, giving the album greater significance and impact.  

A Dark Beauty is out on the 17th of July and is currently up for pre-order in digital and CD formats on Bandcamp and will soon be available on vinyl. For album updates and pre-save news for the album, connect with Chiron on Facebook and Instagram.