Murderbait “When the Sun Goes Down, It Goes Down Forever”

    If you are a consistent reader of this blog, then you will have noticed that I give a fair amount of coverage to bands that are on the label, Sentient Ruin. The reason for this being that Sentient Ruin works with a wide variety of unbelievably creative and unorthodox extreme metal and punk artists. Now, in the case of Murderbait, I was pleasantly surprised to be sent this band which one might not right away think would be associated with the label. However, if you have followed this label from the beginning, then you would know that Sentient Ruin is all about promoting hard working and passionate underground artists. 

    Murderbait’s sophomore EP, “When the Sun Goes Down, It Goes Down Forever,” released back in 2019 is finally getting vinyl release thanks to Sentient Ruin. Originally only available on cassette and digital, this group of Portland, Oregon based goth/post-punk rockers are going to be capturing even more curious listeners now that Sentient Ruin is releasing this album on vinyl. Honestly, as much as I enjoy the bludgeoning extreme metal bands that write such savage offerings of sickening brutality, I too yearn for something a bit different to listen to once in a while. 

       I am glad that Sentient Ruin sent me this promo, as I sometimes feel that I do not get an opportunity to talk about the plethora of different musical styles which I also enjoy. Murderbait’s mesmerizing sound mixes together a variety of haunting elements, but the gloomy almost western influenced post-punk sound is what seems to be the main driving influence on this two track EP. When listening to the band’s sound I hear a bit of New Order, Depeche Mode, Bauhuas, Nick Cave and The Cure, while also those beautifully haunting moments one might expect to hear on a Type O negative release. I think the band’s ability to pull such a vast amount of influences together and form their own unique sound is what makes this group really stand out. 

    Also, the lyrical creativity along with the somber delivery of the vocal parts tells a tale of haunting grace accompanied by this macabre atmospheric sounding world of soothing gothic post-punk. As I mentioned earlier I hear a bit of New Order in their sound, especially in regards to the bone-chilling bass melodies. The song, “When the Sun Goes Down, It Goes Down Forever,” comes masterfully rolling out of the speakers in a hypnotic post-punk fashion. Each sound slowly builds to this tidal wave of melancholy emotion that compliments the singer’s dark delivery. 

    Track number two, “Unravelling,” definitely picks up where the first song left off by stringing you along with this glossy atmosphere, which eventually begins to unravel towards the end of the song by offer some dynamic instrumental arrangements. Overall, the guitars create a landscape shrouded in a veil of heavenly gothic tones, but the production never sounds weak, or loses its potency. From the start of the song until the end, you feel draw to this spectral aura emanating from your speakers. 

     Murderbait is highly recommend for fans of gothic rock and post-punk looking for something that breaks the stereotypical music mold. Music likes this could be used in a horror film as people are gathered in a cemetery under a cluster of dark ominous clouds, because the music paints such vivid images in your mind. In the end, having this EP finally released on vinyl through Sentient Ruin will allow for the band to be discovered by more potential listeners, while also offering current fans a chance to own this release on vinyl. The way I see it, everyone wins in the end (Besides those close minded bestial blackened death doom grindcore elitists who will continue acting like badasses until their parents tell them it is time to go eat at the Red Lobster). 

Check out the video for the song “When the Sun Goes Down, It Goes Down Forever” below:

Sentient Ruin Bandcamp:

https://sentientruin.bandcamp.com/album/when-the-sun-goes-down-it-goes-down-forever