When searching for new synth music to play on my radio show one night, I happened across something thrilling: The Crüxshadows had released not one, but two new singles.

Industrial music is already largely dependent on synthetic sounds paired with electronic beats to make music that combines unusual symphonies with powerful lyrics. So, when ‘The Crüxshadows,’ an industrial band that finds ways to expand on the already creative genre, release new content, my excitement is nearly impossible to contain.

Fronted by lead singer Rogue, The Crüxshadows are an industrial band who shed light on the beauty the genre contains. A prime example of their innovation is one of their most popular songs “Deception” which is heavy on the use of the violin. The song begins with a drawn out bowing of purely violin and crashes into the song’s main beat. With the song’s progression, the violin effortlessly sends signals to the listeners feet forcing them into a frenzy of square dancing as the lyrics follow with a tale of vampiric despair: “And she says:/Pray for daylight/Pray for morning/Pray for an end to our deception.”

However, I have a love-hate relationship with the first new single “Tomorrow Girl”. The song has similarities to older music from The Crüxshadows, but also introduces distinct differences. Big on originality, it was certainly off-putting when the song contained little to no signs of the enchanting violin and instead heavy usage of synthesizers and digital tones. If the lack of familiarity was not confusing enough, the lyrics describing a mysterious relationship with that of a paranormal digital presence certainly complimented things as well: “My lover is a voice on the telephone/An angel or a Ghost/Origin unknown.”

The other new single, “Kingdom of the Moon”, was a large sigh of relief as sounds of familiarity came crashing back. While there no longer appears to be a heavy base of violin, little undertones of synthetic violin-like noises can be heard, which warmed my heart and soul. One of Rogue’s best qualities is his admiration for poetry, especially the likes of Edgar Allen Poe. His ability to turn song lyrics hauntingly poetic with the flow of the music also returns in this new single. “Lie La Luna, in these dreams entwined together/Sail Selena, separated by the night/Dream La Luna, and stay like this forever.”

Typically, when an artist releases more than one new single it means an album is on the way. After waiting since their last albums release in 2017, I can only hope these back-to-back singles are signs pointing in that direction.

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