A CULTURE OF KILLING – “Dissipation of Clouds, The Barrier” LP

The third album by this Italian post-punk outfit, undeniably influenced by the alternative sounds of the early 1980s. The chorus drenched guitars give them a slight goth/indie vibe along the lines of early New Model Army/4AD; while the half latent anger within the male/female trade-off vocals bring to mind anarcho punk, not the obvious Crass bands though, but more the tail end of anarcho: Karma Sutra, Crow People, Thatcher On Acid, Salad From Atlantis, and, less obvious, space-rock band, Ring. And then all brightened-up immensely with bass-heavy, dubbed-out grooves that bring to mind both The Mob and Public Image (circa the Jah Wobble years). It’s interesting how countless American bands have repeatedly tried to master this style and sound, and then along comes an Italian band that, with total ease, completely owns it. Eccellente.