A melting pot of metal, punk, gothic, synthpop and progressive rock, the cryptically-titled Dead Bees In Bourbon take all their influences and roll them into a potent sound that has plenty of sting. Having formed in the summer of 2023, this German quartet released their debut EP (Shots ‘n’ Pleasures) the following year. Striking while the iron is hot, the band follow-up with their first long player, Crystals, an album that maps out new sonic territories, offering eleven tracks that promise all sorts of dark delights.

The bands unique ability to create vivid, three-dimensional sonic structures becomes immediately obvious on opening track ‘Quiet Pulse’. Like stepping through a door into another world, ‘Quiet Pulse’ magically transports the listener to another dimension, as if being pulled through a wormhole in space. Some choice sound effects add atmosphere and the result is an immersive experience that’s both audible and visual; the lyrics and music entwine to create songs that plant strong images in your mind’s eye, meaning this is an album you engage with, rather than something you simply listen to. This opening track (with the album as a whole) is progressive in its purest definition; it’s constantly revolving and shapeshifting, so much so it seems to take on a life of its own, becoming almost organic and it is this evolution which holds your attention over the forty five minute running time.

Fusing different genres is no easy task; get that mixture wrong and a band could be left with an eclectic tangle that leaves them in a kind of musical no man’s land and with no appreciable audience to play to. However, get that fusion right and amazing things can happen, and a prime example is Crystals. It works because Dead Bees In Bourbon don’t deviate from their core sound too much, rather their inspirations are added as embellishments to enhance the songs. Subsequently, the ice cold synths and banshee-like vocals add a gothic aesthetic to ‘Song From The Abyss’, the musicianship throughout is strong enough to attract metalheads, whilst the fury of ‘Rooftops Of Zion’ will sate those with a penchant for post-punk. Yet, it is the band’s strong core which allows them to take musical detours, whist staying true to their original vision.

Attentive listeners might notice that this album takes on a decidedly melancholy tone as the record progresses, with the closing couplet of ‘Fire’ and ‘In The Silence Of The Night’ being particularly evocative, ensuring that as the final notes fade into the ether, this album will haunt you long after the disc has stopped spinning. It means that while it is perfectly feasible to dip in and out of this record and enjoy each track individually, it is best consumed in one sitting, like an old school album, to fully appreciate its ebb and flow.

• Crystals is released via Echozone on 10th October 2025.
• Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Channel

Track List:

1. Quiet Pulse
2. Weight Of You
3. Pleasures
4. Rooftops Of Zion
5. Song From The Abyss
6. On Your Own
7. Awakening
8. Distant Call
9. Open Skies
10. Fire
11. In The Silence Of The Night