Information_Age is a forlorn and misty darkwave project from Joseph D. Rowland of the gloomy doom troop Pallbearer and Daron Beck of the moody progressive rock project Pinkish Black. Their debut EP is self-titled and, sonically, very straightforward- synth-rock with an Italian disco feel. They're like a depressive version of Soft Cell with a touch of grand guignol gleened from the work of Dario Argento- a style that they establish from the first track with "Innerspace," a bleak but danceable number that feels as cold as the walls of slaughterhouse's freezer, and on through to the hope shunning, softly seething internment and cobwebby dirge "We Were Alive." The lyrics are as dark as the tone of the sonics, often betraying a grieving lament for the soon-to-be fate of humanity. Despite its apocalyptic outlook, you may be caught off guard by how catchy some of these numbers can be, especially when encountering the warm, rolling curves of the title track's melody, or the charismatic and dynamic transitions of rock operetta "Borrowed Time." Survive this brush with Information_Age and you might just live to dance another day.
