Despite starting up around 1997, Portland's Deathcharge released their first full-length LP only a few months ago, in late 2011, on Unseen Forces (vinyl only; CD in Japan). The LP has garnered positive reviews and its first pressing sold out almost immediately. The LP is a gothic punk rocker in the vein of the first, self-titled Shadow Project LP, The Dark a la "Shattered Glass" or "The Masque," and Iron Mask-era Christian Death. Throw in a tinge of early Sisters of Mercy with a dash of Motorhead and you get one of the more compelling and driving deathrock LPs in recent memory.
As their name implies, Deathcharge -- who have a Facebook page HERE, and a Myspace page HERE --began as a Discharge-inspired discore band, evolving over the years to incorporate subtler postpunk and deathrock influences. The visual presentation of the band is a mix of Batcave and DIY crust: Big, colored hair in blues, reds, and whites, a la Xmal Deustchland; mesh shirts; lipstick, white face makeup, frock coats, and fog machines; homemade banners tacked up on the stage behind the drums -- and a sound that errs decidedly on the side of guitar-driven rock and roll, like Rozz Williams' Daucus Karota deathrock side project. They're one of the most exciting bands to watch in this area of music today.
Interview with Deathcharge singer Adam Nauseam February, 2012. Interview below the cut.
