Brooklyn-based artist Alex Julia‘s new album Making Friends With My Demons blends darkwave, post-punk, industrial rock, and grunge into a brooding collection of emotionally candid songwriting. Created through a transatlantic collaboration with German producer Patrick Wörner, the album confronts grief, trauma, and personal transformation, drawing on influences ranging from Nirvana and Deftones to The Cure.
Album opener “Losing The Plot” enthralls right away, its post-punk bass movements and eerily melodic vocal demeanor conjuring a darkwave-forward resonance. “I keep losing the plot again,” those vocals lament, as spacey synths inject amidst the twangy, nocturnal guitar crawl. The ensuing “Created A Monster” continues the delectably foreboding aura, though here within a heavier, industrial rock grit. Lyricism pointing to shattered grass and the sight of burning lends a visceral entrancement, asking “what are you crying about?” as ghostly keys pair with the sludgy bass and into a distortion-fronted ardor. The album’s opening one-two punch is especially commanding in their range, from the opener’s darkwave spell to the rock ferocity within “Created A Monster.”
Another highlight, “Naked In Your Bed” envelops in its palpable momentum, from flickering guitar lonesomeness and awakening lyrical sense to grungy intensity and multi-layered vocal allure. “I might as well be the demon under your bed,” the vocals ring out there. “I’d rather be caught dead, than make it in your bed.” Its haunting yet melodic production makes for one of many standouts on the release. Also consuming is the title track, its “making friends with hellhounds” referencing continuing the dark, mythos-like intrigue as ascending guitars compel alongside. Full of excellent songwriting, Making Friends With My Demons is a stellar album from Alex Julia.
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“Making Friends With My Demons” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
