Are you in need of a soundtrack to the misery and desperation capitalism forces us to endure in order to obtain our basic needs? Well, it’s your lucky day, because we’ve got exclusive access to stream the full DEAD REGISTER album Alive! Somehow they’re able to capture a feeling of gothic melancholy, put it in a gilded post-punk cage, and fill it with an industrial fuzz that puts it out of its misery. It officially releases on Friday, May 13th, via Seeing Red Records — pre-order it here. Right now, sink into the feeling of Alive and cherish every breath you take with Dead Register…
Life is transient. Death is imminent. Perched in our van in a strange city after playing a crushing show at a pissy dive the night before is one of the only true joys in the world. The rest is just a bullshit dog and pony show. The actions of writing these songs are pretty much all that keeps me alive. The lyrics to the title track “Alive” neatly sums this up. The themes dance around the mundanity of day-to-day life, analysis of fleeting/failing relationships, obsessions, pondering of life choices, dwelling in the past, and questioning what life is and if it’s worth living. I pour all that I have in my heart into crafting these songs.
-M. Chvasta
The artwork we chose is as crushing as the musical and lyrical content. I’ve been a huge Stephen Kasner fan since I saw his work on Craw’s Self-Titled LP. I sent him our music years back with the intention of working together someday. Stephen passed in 2019, but has family has graciously allowed us to use his piece “Ten Years Dying/Nodding Astronaut” as the cover for our record. It is the perfect visual pairing to our tempestuous atmosphere.
