Goth music has never enjoyed much of a heyday in Atlanta or even America as a whole. That’s why when I heard rumors of a new goth-inspired band forming in ATL, I couldn’t wait to hear it. Maudlin’s new self-titled EP is a bubbling cauldron of brooding chaos that does credit to both goth and post-punk. Each of the five tracks is a frigid slice of darkwave, alternating between stinging and numbing.
Goth music has always been somewhat artisan, in that newer bands tend to build on musical traditions within a specific identity, and, I hate to even say it: aesthetic. Maudlin does the same, but the four-piece pulls most from golden era of English goth, eschewing the glam components and completely ignoring the late ’90s meltdown when the genre was co-opted into suburban malls.
In one sense, Maudlin’s music easily be interpreted as punk. There is a sneering quality and a swagger more badass than morbid. However, the band still plays on a moody shtick, even if that identity perfectly suits them. The all-encompassing darkness of the EP invokes Death in June and Bauhaus, but the pummeling percussion and the howling vocals of Jessica Renee Knight are better compared to Siouxsie and the Banshees. “Inside” is one of the best examples of this, while doubling as one of the strongest tracks on the EP. The ghostly reverb is oceanic in scope, covering the whole song with a shroud. As the track breaks into ferocious punk near the minute mark, the song cuts out, leaving a feeling of dread lingering in the silence.
Apart from the objectively good songwriting, the EP feels like an effort to clarify the band’s identity, both for themselves and the outside world. It is brutally successful, but despite the intensity, there is a slight undercurrent of creative reservation throughout the record. Hopefully, like the Siouxsie and the Banshees or the Birthday Party, they can challenge goth orthodoxy and expand their musical sphere with future releases.
Maudlin will celebrate the release of their self-titled EP on Sat., June 11 when they play in support of Wax Idols and King Woman at the EARL. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10.
More Info
Bandcamp: maudlinband.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @Maudlinband