The Anix, the long-running one-man electronic-rock project of Brandon Smith, has materialized a last-minute single off his forthcoming album, VOLTAGE, which is set to drop in full tomorrow (November 22nd). Just ahead of the album release, you can hear his dark-stomping “POLTERGEIST.”
A press release explains that VOLTAGE finds Anix exploring “the darker side of modern life” via “brooding” atmospherics. That’s certainly the case with “POLTERGEIST,” a song that cross-references dark alternative melodies with industrial-pop guitar work and layers of ominously robotic, vocoded vocal harmonies. The song could fit a playlist alongside anything from Stabbing Westward to Filter to Failure.
Lyrically, Smith heads “down the road of shame” while contemplating bad memories and the ephemeral nature of life.
“When I write songs, I step into a world that’s part fantasy and part brutal truth, exposing thoughts and struggles I’d never share with anyone,” he said in a statement. “The lyrics to ‘POLTERGEIST’ take us through dark moments we fight to survive, and the music spans a wide spectrum of power, restraint and melody, mirroring the rollercoaster of emotions someone might feel throughout the day. ‘POLTERGEIST’ channels my rage, shame and battle to hold on, giving voice to those who, like me, aren’t comfortable talking about these things in real life.”
VOLTAGE is due out this Friday, November 22nd, via FiXT and available for pre-order now.