This was engaging to say the least. Primarily Paracletus and ION vibes both structurally and sonically speaking which says also how far the former record has become for timelining dissonant avantgarde black in the last decade. For Alphaville to have reason to retry already means this is Imperial at their unironic golden prime. Highest level art, highest level photography worth showing to apply with too so we'll see if this catches on upon retry spins.

A truly great album but I can't help but feel that the previous one took my breath away far more than this one. I really want to give it a 9 but Vile Luxury set a different mark for me.
This one feels a bit less disturbing and, well... vile than Vile Luxury. I will give it a lot of listenings for sure. Maybe it was dumb to listen to the album while doing something else. This type of music does take time and focus after all.

Edit: One thing I can say that sort of changes the theme of this album compared to the previous is of course the production. Although this is not a complaint but just an obsrvation. The production on Vile Luxury was more muddy and oppressive which makes sense to me since the album had a more desperate vibe and lyrical tone, as if it was from the perspective of the oppressed. Here it is almost the other way around. A shinier sound with more flashy and stravagant jams. It is less violent. As if it was a representation of the grand city trying to invite you in.

Edit #2 : Hearing Yoshiko Ohara's banshee screams gives me a little hope that one day I will hear a new Bloody Panda.