Skip to content
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube

psychedelic Scene

psychedelic Scene Magazine

  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
Navbar
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Categories
    • Music
    • Lists
    • Books
    • Art
    • Columns
    • Science
    • Film
    • Podcasts

Synthesizer by A Place to Bury Strangers: Album Review

PrevPreviousPsychotropic Cinema: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
NextAcid Lore: LSD is Laced with Strychnine!Next
  • Pete Bratch
  • October 3, 2024
  • 6:51 am

Synthesizer by A Place to Bury Strangers: Album Review

NYC’s A Place to Bury Strangers just released their seventh album, Synthesizer, and how lucky our ears are to hear its beautiful noise. Despite their notoriety as a loud, guitar-driven band — they put the power into power trio — they’ve never shied away from electronics. Synthesizer finally gives the instrument its props for its contribution to the band’s sonic assault. In fact, the vinyl album cover is actually a working DIY synthesizer. DO try this at home, kids.

Synthesizer finally gives the instrument its props for its contribution to the band’s sonic assault.

The band has always worn their post-punk influences on their sleeves. Notable patches on said sleeves include the Jesus and Mary Chain, Brian Jonestown Massacre, and even New Order — with their melodic bass lines and affectless vocal delivery — but with Synthesizer and the previous See Through You, they have established a sound of their own that will undoubtedly influence some Gen Alpha kids starting their bands 10 years from now.

The success of these back-to-back albums owes as much to the return of husband and wife bassist John and drummer Sandra Fedowitz as it does to longstanding frontman Oliver Ackermann’s maturation as a songwriter. The rhythm section anchors the chaotic blast of Ackermann’s guitar work. That they’re married seems to strengthen their bond as a rhythm section. Their interpersonal chemistry carries over to their rhythmic chemistry, which is foundational to the album.

 

Synthesizer explodes out of the gate with opener “Disgust.” The squall of the guitar bombards you from all sides, a freight train carrying a cargo of barely controlled chaos, pummeling you relentlessly. Even though it feels like it’s going to head off

The rhythm section anchors the chaotic blast of Ackermann’s guitar work.

the rails at any moment, the skinny jeans tight rhythm section pulls the song back in. And the false ending midway through the song barely gives you a second to breathe in.

 

“Fear of Transformation” stands out the most on a lean, filler-free album. Picture director/composer John Carpenter showing up at a Suicide gig at CBGBs, where he gets invited to party backstage after the show. One thing leads to another, then 9 months later, this song springs forth, their beautiful bastard love child.

Black and white photo of three people--two men and a woman in heavy coats standing in an alley by a brick wall.

Ebru Yildiz

“Have You Ever Been in Love,” a song written by the whole band, channels the reverb-driven, feedback-drenched Beach Boys sound of the early Jesus and Mary Chain layered with Ringo Deathstarr-like backing vocals from Sandra Fedowitz. A Place to Bury Strangers is no stranger to female vocals, so hopefully we can hear more of her voice in the future.

 

Epic album closer “Comfort Never Comes” sounds like Ackermann brought a surf guitar to a spaghetti western soundtrack. Beginning with the cacophony of the opening cut, the rhythm section put up a heroic fight reining in Ackermann’s guitar. The album finally comes off the hinges in the outro, the Fedowitzes finally abandoning their duty, seconds before the song ends. 

 

The album is due out October 4, 2024, on the band’s Dedstrange label. Get it!

 

Related: The Sevens by A Place to Bury Strangers

A Place to Bury Strangers website

Gallery

Recent Articles

Bald man with beard wearing tie-dyed shirt giving peace sign in front of Cannadelic Miami background

Cannadelic Miami 2025–a Review

•
May 31, 2025
Ty Segall wearing dark clothes and pointing at the camera while crossing a busy street

Possession by Ty Segall: Album Review

•
May 28, 2025
Photo of bearded man in jacket and beanie

The Gentle Good Announces New Album Elan

•
May 24, 2025
PrevPreviousPsychotropic Cinema: Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
NextAcid Lore: LSD is Laced with Strychnine!Next
Loading...
  • Features, Reviews

Cannadelic Miami 2025–a Review

  • Bobby Nuggz
  • May 31, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Music, Reviews

Possession by Ty Segall: Album Review

  • Zev Rubin
  • May 28, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Music

The Gentle Good Announces New Album Elan

  • Georgia P. Taylor
  • May 24, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Features

An Arab Nation’s Psychedelic Awakening

  • Michelle Beehari
  • May 21, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Music

High Moon Records Releases Just Like Gold: Live At The Matrix by The Final Solution

  • Arlyn Ibarra
  • May 18, 2025
  • No Comments
  • Features

Choosing Your Guide

  • Stephan Kerby, Amber Kerby LMFT
  • May 15, 2025
  • No Comments

video

Gallery

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Sign up for our Newsletter

Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates on trending stories, featured music articles, artist highlights and much more!

Contact Us

psychedelic Scene

Magazine

  • Home
    Home
  • About Us
    About Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
    Contact Us
  • Art
    Art
  • Books
    Books
  • Music
    Music
  • Film
    Film
  • Interviews
    Interviews
  • Reviews
    Reviews
  • Lists
    Lists
  • Features
    Features
Copyright @ 2025 All Rights Reserved Psychedelic Scene Magazine

Designed & Developed by: SYNC Digital Management

psychedelic Scene

Magazine

Learn More About Psychedelic Sacred Sexuality

Buy The Book On Amazon