Deathrock Has a strange but wonderful place in music history. On the surface it is a branch of punk that went in the opposite direction as hardcore but it should be understood they are more then kissing cousins. Deathrock is one of the early goth movements but much more tied to the tradition of feedback and aggression then the cure or joy division. I have over the last few months become fairly infatuated with several bands that were part of or satellites to the scene. So I though I should try to give a impression of what I feel are the distinguishing characteristics that separate it from horror punk. The most obvious difference is the speed most Deathrock bands sound like David Bowie mixed with flipper. where as horror punk sounds more like fifties rock mixed with black flag. The shocking thing about Deathrock was that someone might eat a dead cat on stage while looking like a glam rock version of a serial killer. While the scary part of horror punk show would be the fact you might get beat up by some dude who looked like a universal horror film monster. But alas we have spent half a retrospective on general information of the general distinguishing characteristic's of a scene. now let's talk about burning image.
Wikipedia says "Burning Image are an American deathrock band formed in Bakersfield, California
in 1982. Burning Image first released a 7" single with the songs "The
Final Conflict" and "Burning Image, Burning" in the summer of 1984. The
compilation
1983-1987 in 2004 and album
Fantasma (2009) were both released on Alternative Tentacles, record label owned by former Dead Kennedys singer, Jello Biafra, with album
Oleander (2011) being self-published. Burning Image celebrates 30 years as a band, in 2013, with a new album and a tour." So that is the factual shit now lets talk the real shit. Dark noisy like shards of glass flying in a swarm to rape the land of milk and honey. This is how I would describe the sound of early burning image. Hated and haunting disgusting as Buffalo bill at his most glamorous. This is how I would describe their lyrical assault. Gargoyles drive and menace is well acknowledged as possibly their best song. But other highlights include; the melodic angel fuck of Time Is Running Out and the shuffle stomp of You've Changed. The
compilation
1983-1987 is easily the best collection of loosely affiliated songs that still somehow works as a coherent piece of music and with it we can share in the failure of life.
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