26 September 2022

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Review And Photos By Tony Sanchez

There is a new force to be reckoned with in the blooming Synthwave movement of the last decade. Going a step further the Carpenterian trademarks of the genre, DANCE WITH THE DEAD incorporates something sure to make anything better, killer heavy guitar riffs and solos. This gives the opportunity for a show to actually resemble a show, as opposed to standing in front of a DJ, with the high energy of a metal gig and the neon aesthetics of Synthwave. There are some artists in the NewRetro genre who have incorporated heavier elements into their acts such as CARPENTER BRUT and PERTURBATOR, coincidently both French, but DWTD are clearly set to accentuate their Metal background even more when it comes to the high energy at their shows. La Machine du Moulin Rouge becomes the TECH-NOIR just for a night.

From the start, they come storming with a contagious hyper-energetic stage presence that didn’t rely solely on lights and visual effects, but mostly on the performers ability to wreak havoc on stage. The L.A power duo composed of Justin Pointer and Tony Kim, in that case trio with the addition of John Terry on live drums, combines the best of both worlds in terms of visuals and music, leaning to a darker yet upbeat tone compared to most Synthwave artists out there. Having live drums clearly adds to the dynamic of the show, like witnessed this summer with PERTURBATOR, and the fact that Tony and Justin are fronting the stage often standing on their raisers further adds to the real concert feel of the show. The crowd, composed of everything from Metalheads, CyberFreaks and 9 to 5 metro people, is on fire and you can feel the synergy in the room between them and the band tonight. Some are dancing while other are head-banging.Everyone is getting what they came for, some neon-lit brutality made of heavy beats, hypnotic synths and loud guitars. An awesome experience I can only recommend to witness in person.

https://dancewiththedead.bandcamp.com/