An Orwellian dystopian sci-fi concept album at heart, Parasomnia is a surreal and dreamlike psychodrama for the ears built on labyrinthine song structures, exuberant musicianship, brilliant textures, angular rhythms, and thrilling twists and turns. Largely instrumental in approach, each track is woven together through the stark voice narration by radio presenter Alibhe Waterhouse, depicting an inhospitable endtime society polluted by chaos, despair and hostility. Just looking at the striking, surreal album cover art solidifies the idea of the lines blurring between reality and nightmares, and how the coldness and austerity of modern living seeps into our unconscious fears. Dead Cosmonauts’ fiery, energetic and cerebral performances play off of these themes in defiance and rebellion, bringing new life, hope and possibilities to the fore.
Parasomnia came to life during a world in lockdown and turmoil, finding new creative energy from such stagnant times. Dead Cosmonauts recorded with unsung producer, engineer and Sheffield hero Adam Zejma at Tye Die Studios – who has a proven ear for bringing out bold dynamics, density, nuance and textures in his recordings, having previously worked with Ba’al, Aidan Baker, Lo Egin, Sister Wives and his own band Naisian. Dead Cosmonauts truly utilise space and considered dynamics across these six tracks to tell a story not just through the album’s bold conceptual themes, but through the music, the interplay, plus the narrative ebb and flow. The band have brought in instruments from outside their live setup into the sonic environment to add extra spice and variety. Scraping violin and wandering double-bass punctuate the sorrowful lament ‘Swallowed In Dark Waters’, whilst mournful synths and effects pedals broaden the contemplative ‘Beneath The Choking Sky’. The album’s two centrepieces dazzle from the ten minute workout and lead single ‘Kenopsia’, which bursts with ideas and urgency, whilst ‘In Spirals It Took Everything’ is the sweetest and most subversive spot – a beautiful and chilling ambient modulated synth composition sounding akin to Sigur Ros or Jon Hopkins. Parasomnia concludes as fiery as it begins, with crunchy stabbing basslines and angular metal riffage, culminating in a record that bursts with flavour and versatility, built on daring ideas, surprising moments and a fully realised concept at its heart.
“Truthfully, the way in which Dead Cosmonauts warn us of the future we are barreling towards and the dystopia that awaits us in reality is on par with the art of fellow post-rock orientated acts such as Modern Technology, Torpor and even genre juggernauts Godspeed You! Black Emperor.”
~ Noizze
“Dead Cosmonauts can really play and have brought us a really good post rock instrumental experience that is worth your time to check out if you dig bands like Explosions In The Sky and other bands of that ilk.”
~ Musipedia Of Metal – 7/10
Parasomnia is out now on Vinyl, CD, Cassette and Digital through Do It Thissen and Trepanation Recordings.
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