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Starmonger Premiere “Dark and Gloomy” Video

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The video for Starmonger‘s “Dark and Gloomy” does well in terms of living up to its name. It starts out with a creepy kind of Gollum/mystic/zombie guy in a room with some tarot cards, taxidermy, flashing lights, wallpaper that needs replacing and other freaky bric-a-brac, and then, after the riff kicks in and the leather-jacket-clad Parisian three-piece start whipping out dirtied up Red Fang melody delivered with post-Baroness harmonies from bassist Steve and guitarist Arthur while Seb pounds away on drums, Mr. Grey — gotta call him something — pukes up some rubber cement, makes a paper mache mask out of the cards, and interpretative dance performance art ensues. I don’t mind telling you it’s fucking weird. It’s also dark. And gloomy. So, mission accomplished. Also, the song rules.

“Dark and Gloomy” appears on Starmonger‘s third EP, Revelation III. You can probably guess what its two predecessors were called, and they were released in 2017 and 2015, respectively. The trio did a video last Fall for the other song on Revelation III, “Rust to Dust,” and the vibe was totally different. No leather jackets, no creepy rubber cement vomit, just some old public domain footage of race cars and the band in their rehearsal space mixed together. Fair enough to go for something else this time around, but it really draws a line atmospherically between the two songs, when essentially the components that make them up are similar in terms of melody, tone, groove, etc. Something to be said perhaps for the power of suggestion in thinking “Dark and Gloomy” is dark and gloomy, but it’s to the band’s credit either way that they’re able to manipulate their approach to convey multiple atmospheres even just on a two-song release. Of course, it’s their third one — actually, Revelation II had three songs — so take that as you will.

Reportedly — and by that I mean going from what they say below — there’s another EP in the works. I can only think that Starmonger have made a purposeful choice not to put out a full-length at this point. Not that it’s been so long — four years since the first EP is nothing on the grand cosmic scale — but I don’t think you can listen to “Dark and Gloomy” or “Rust to Dust” and think of them as a new band searching for their sound. They’ve clearly got it down. So maybe the shorter releases are a way to build up to an eventual compilation? If so, they’re just about there. But that seems like an easy answer. I wonder what the reasoning is for a fourth EP instead of an LP, that’s all. I’m not criticizing it or saying it’s a bad choice or it’s wrong somehow — if it’s what they want to do and they know that, then it’s very much the right choice — I’m just curious, that’s all.

Something to think about while you’re watching Mr. Grey regurgitate adhesives. Gross. Ha.

These guys know what they’re doing. Enjoy the clip:

Starmonger, “Dark and Gloomy” official video premiere

Psychic, seer, fortune-teller…? Starmonger gives glimpses of their divinations through spellbinding melodies and rhythms, occult revelations and fantastic, extravagant stories.

In 2015, Steve (bass) and Arthur (guitar) began incorporating modern stoner rock influences and orientations to their jams. They quickly recorded their first homemade demo, “Revelation”, and after offering several drummers in ritual sacrifices, they were joined by Seb in 2017 on heavy-drumming duty.

With their next EPs, “Revelation II” and “III”, Starmonger continued its search for expanding and thickening its own sound. As they refuse to stay stuck with the same old recipe, Steve, Arthur and Seb keep experimenting with old school 70s rock and mesmerizing, fuzz-soaked stoner rock beats, while adding a progressive dimension to the raw power and efficiency of a power-trio format. Throughout their songs, the band evoke strange and phantasmagoric B-movies and pulp stories, from post-apocalyptic deserts to unfathomable beasts from the abyss.

2019 is packed with promises, with a new music video for “Dark & Gloomy” (from “Revelation III”) along with multiple gigs around Paris. Starmonger is also polishing their new songs for another homemade, self-produced EP. Stay tuned…

Their 3 self-produced EPs are available on bandcamp: https://starmonger.bandcamp.com/

Next live gigs :
23 May 2019 : le Klub, Paris (with Stoned Void, Dead Acid People, Qilin)

Starmonger are :
Steve : bass & vocals
Arthur : guitars
Seb : drums

Starmonger, Revelation III EP (2018)

Starmonger on Thee Facebooks

Starmonger on Bandcamp

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