Never judge a book by its cover is how the old saying goes. Though you may think you know everything about someone, they will always throw up a curve ball to make you reassess. Enter The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puciato. Taking a break from being one of most engaging and hostile artists extreme music has ever seen, the frontman has stuck his oar in to a spot of 80’s electro with his new band The Black Queen.

Channeling the industrial bounce of Gary Numan with the flair and sexiness of the Pet Shop Boys, the band’s debut full length is a real treat no matter where your taste lies. From the glitchy sultriness of ‘The End Where We Start’ and building funk of ‘Maybe We Should’, right through to the darkened fuzz of ‘Taman Shud’ and encapsulating ambience of ’Apocalypse Morning’, Puciato croons and bellows with burning desire and at times sensual resentment over a sea of rich atmospheres and burrowing beats.

As daunting as it is seductive, ’Fever Daydream’ is a brooding and engrossing journey into the dark and mysterious that grabs you gently by the throat and doesn’t let go. Though he will forever be associated with the frantic, with The Black Queen Greg Puciato has proven he is more than just a ball of fury and here’s hoping that this is not just a one-album blink-and-miss-it venture.

4/5

‘Fever Daydream’ by The Black Queen is released on 29th January

The Black Queen links: Website|Facebook|Twitter

Words by Jack Rogers (@JackMRog)