Dead Years – Night Thoughts [CLEAR VINYL IMPORT] – New LP

DEAD YEARS play dark post-punk with a distinct 80s influence. The trio from Bielefeld, Germany, consists of Julia, Hannes and Jonas, who all played in other bands (Gloom Sleeper, Pointed, Ruins, Mayak, Shoyu Squad) before combining their talents in DEAD YEARS and releasing a successful debut album a couple of years back.  Here's their latest offering.

The sound of DEAD YEARS is characterised by playful guitar riffs, intense alternating vocals and driving drums. Inspired by bands such as The Wipers, X, Masshysteri, Feral Trash and Hysterese, DEAD YEARS share their raw energy and dark aura. Yet, DEAD YEARS never sound like plagiarists, but always like their own version of depri-punk for the here and now. In this way DEAD YEARS effortlessly create a pull and intoxication that hypnotically attracts and embraces the listener. But it's never just about the music: their lyrics reinforce the melancholy of their sound, never too bold but always introspective. They deal with self-doubt, social anxieties and the daily struggle to find one's way in an alienated world.

In a dark world, DEAD YEARS' music offers a way out, forcing us through the aberrations of our thoughts and feelings. Music for when a dark world dies and an even darker world arises. DEAD YEARS are a positive band for this very reason, touring tirelessly and regularly leaving behind happy faces and new fans.

Two years after their debut, DEAD YEARS present "Night Thoughts", a haunting concept album about the night, its thought circles and the search for ways out. The lyrics describe emptiness, being haunted, being lost. But all is not lost: the title track and album closer is a concentration of the previous 30 minutes, allowing the darkness to enter and ending the album on a positive note.

Musically, the songs have become more compact, the post-punk gains atmosphere through a more 80s-like sound. In this way, DEAD YEARS provide an urgent soundtrack to reality, for those who don't want to escape it.

DEAD YEARS corroborate their strong debut with Night Thoughts and are one of the most exciting post-punk bands of our time.

Split with My Ruin. EU people should buy from them! 

Dead Years emerged fully formed in 2020, courtesy of an excellent four-song demo that opened with a notably mighty cut called ‘Cloaks’ and only got better from there. Three of those four songs return on this, their self-titled debut album - amped up and sounding better than ever. This is a record that hijacks the raw-throated immediacy of 00s punk faves like Fifth Hour Hero and Young Livers and laces it with a dark angularity that feels like a thoroughly modern take on post-punk - Iceage, Protomartyr, Facs, you know the drill.

Happily, though, Dead Years’ sound is very much their own. 
- Will Fitzpatrick

Dead Years from Bielefeld/Germany was founded in January 2019 by Julia, Hannes and Jonas. Hannes and Jonas had already played in Ruins together, Julia and Jonas were in Pointed. Further current and former bands are Mayak, Gloom Sleeper, Patsy O’Hara and Shoyu Squad.