The Dead Science

CST54M
cover: CST54 Constellation

Villainaire CD CST54

  1. Throne Of Blood (The Jump Off)
  2. The Dancing Destroyer

  3. Make Mine Marvel
  4. Monster Island Czars
  5. Lamentable
  6. Death Duel Production
  7. Wife You
  8. Holliston
  9. Black Lane
  10. Sword Cane
  11. Clemency

Seattle-based group The Dead Science are set to release their strongest work to date, a new album called Villainaire, on Montréal-based imprint Constellation. They will tour tirelessly in North America and Europe from May until October 2008, with the album set for release in late Summer.

The songs on Villainaire range from epic orchestral pop to sinister jazz-rock to weary, soul-bleached balladry. Sam Mickens writes about "moral pragmatism and experimental moral nihilism, black-out drunkenness and its psychic and emotional repercussions, and the continuum of baroque fantasy and stark reality" - all delivered with inimitable, seductive, and at times disturbing operatics.

The band does provide some respite however, with the short, tremulous ballad Lamentable, and closes Side One with the insistent march of Death Duel Productions. The band stretches out a little more on side two, with a couple of dark slowdances lending the album's second half a more introspective but no less intense vibe.

Villainaire was recorded and mixed by band member Jherek, and features contributions from a number of guest players, including Shudder To Think's Craig Wredren and Celebration's Katrina Ford on additional vocals. The album is available on CD and deluxe 180g LP, in custom-printed jackets of white and gold ink on heavy black artstock paper; the LP version is screen-printed by hand. The album is of course also available as a digital download.