ATTRITION - The Black Maria
World-renowned UK darkwave, industrial, and post-punk pioneers ATTRITION have released their long-awaited new album, The Black Maria through Two Gods.
Dedicated to the memory of the late Kerri Bowes (1982-2022), The Black Maria is the long-awaited new album from the UK’s renowned post-punk, industrial, and darkwave innovators ATTRITION. Described by reviewers as “career defining”, “more than excellent”, and “darkly cinematic”, The Black Maria album released in March 2024, via ATTRITION’s own independent label imprint, Two Gods.
“For all our Gods and imitators...”
ATTRITION’s Martin Bowes explains the album’s title:
“The Black Maria refers to a menacing Nineteenth Century figure, who would come to take away our outcasts and miscreants; later used as a slang term for UK police vans. Nothing much has changed.”
ATTRITION formed in 1980 in Coventry, England, becoming integral to the original UK industrial and post-punk music scenes, and a key influence on what was later termed ‘darkwave’. Playing early shows with Coil, The Legendary Pink Dots, In the Nursery et al, they would go on to release music through a veritable who’s who of international underground labels: Third Mind, Projekt, Antler, Contempo, Hyperium, Invisible and now, Two Gods. In 2024, ATTRITION continue to evolve, create, record, and tour the world. From dream to dancefloor, their enduring legacy is testament to their unparalleled talent.
The music of the new album The Black Maria weaves and shifts between gothic-industrial, neo-classical, and dark-ambient soundscapes, with founding member Martin Bowes’s lyrics fearlessly exploring the themes that bind and break us all – life, love, loss, longing, and death. From the politics of manipulation, be it personal or state manipulation; to the uncertainties of theosophical and philosophical thought: Martin’s treatises on these and other subjects are delivered in his dangerously anarchic yet melancholic growl.
“Alpha male manipulators, Denizens of our dictators…” – ‘The Great Derailer’
Teaming up with the glorious baroque female vocalists Emke Arvai-Illes (Black Nail Cabaret), Elisa Day (Hetaira Decrépita), and Yvette Winkler (Vaselyne), with spoken word from Joanne Wolf, is a genius move from the ATTRITION founder: their voices contrasting Martin’s distinctive dark growl, and lending filigrees of ghostly ambience to the band’s rich and idiosyncratic sound. But it’s the return of original ATTRITION vocalist and cofounder Julia Niblock Waller, after twenty years, that elevates this album to another realm – peerless.
“I am the perfect Alibi, If not the perfect bride…” – ‘The Alibi’
Further special guests on The Black Maria include vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Alia Miroshnichenko (Subterranea); Annie Hogan (Marc Almond, Nick Cave, Jarboe, Barry Adamson, Yello, et al) on grand piano; Vancorvid and Marietta Fox on violins; Ian Arkley (My Silent Wake) on guitar; Steve Clarke (Fütumche) on additional guitar and bass; and Kris Force on cello.
Produced by Martin Bowes at The Cage Studios, Coventry, England, 2017-2023, The Black Maria includes remixed/remastered versions of the singles, ‘The Great Derailer’ (2020) and ‘The Alibi’ (2021); and a reworking of ‘The Voice of Truth’, originally commissioned for Coventry UK City of Culture 2021.
The Black Maria is out now from Two Gods on CD, Cassette, Vinyl, and Download formats, including a limited run of signed physical copies, via the official ATTRITION Bandcamp. The album is meanwhile available for streaming via Spotify, and all major digital music outlets.
ATTRITION will tour in support of the album in 2024, commencing in the UK, followed by Europe, and North and South America; with Autumn dates in Japan, and more international tour-dates to be added.
ATTRITION | LIVE
13.07.24 BOLKÓW (PL) Castle Party Festival
25.07.24 WINCHESTER (UK) The Railway Inn
22.08.24 MANCHESTER (UK) The Peer Hat
29.09.24 CHICAGO (US) Cold Waves XII Festival
