OUT TODAY: Beacons by Chicago alt-rock postpunk outfit THE BELLWETHER SYNDICATE (for fans of Killing Joke, New Model Army, The Chameleons, ACTORS, Placebo, Lords of the New Church)
Today is release day for the illustrious new single from Chicago-based THE BELLWETHER SYNDICATE. 'Beacons' follows 'Dystopian Mirror' as the second offering from the band's 'Vestige & Vigil' album (out in early 2023), having debuted at #4 in the DAC/German Alternative Charts. 'Beacons' exerts its nautical feel in both tone and verse, with the ‘set adrift’ narrative supported by liquid, chorused guitars and distress-signal bass and synth, before the whole thing kicks into a full steam ahead chorus, with chiming, glorious guitars chasing the pulsing beat and soaring vocal all the way home.
The band revolves around two US underground music legends - WILLIAM FAITH of seminal goth acts CHRISTIAN DEATH, MEPHISTO WALTZ and SHADOW PROJECT (and co-founder of FAITH & THE MUSE) and SARAH ROSE FAITH aka SCARY LADY SARAH, who has been one of the scene’s most eminent DJs and club promoters for decades. Stereo Embers Magazine says, "Beacons churns mightily away with singer William Faith’s voice soaring like a beacon across a dark sea. The propulsive and rhythmic track flexes its melodic muscle without breaking a sweat". DOWNLOAD THE SINGLES / PRESS KIT (via Google Drive)
The Bellwether Syndicate
Beacons
Sett Records / Nexilis Records
2 December 2022
View Promo
The Bellwether Syndicate present enigmatic 'Beacons' single & video, navigating through realism
FOR FANS OF: Killing Joke, New Model Army, Lords of the New Church, The Chameleons, ACTORS, Love & Rockets, Placebo, White Lies
FCC clean
"Goth Rock Tornado... hair-raising speed, riff-racing insanity and badass drum/bass force... William Faith‘s edged Goth-infused vocals rumble all over this super-duper sucker-punch steamroller" ~ Turn Up The Volume
"Anything but conventional when it comes to rock music... the band is one of the most unique dissonant sounds in the scene" ~ Outburn Magazine
“Amazing, stunning... Post-punk on a not-very-discreet death rock orientation” ~ The Noise Journal
“The time seems right for a new wave of post-punk to be ushered in. But I suspect that is already underway, and The Bellwether Syndicate is leading the charge” ~ Big Takeover Magazine
"A glittery piece of glamorous darkness...with William Faith’s crooning vocals and Sarah Rose smoothly cascading guitars” ~ Post-Punk.com
Chicago-based alternative post-punk outfit The Bellwether Syndicate presents 'Beacons', the second single from single from the band's 'Vestige & Vigil' album, scheduled for release in April 2023 via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe and Sett Records in North America. The single debuted at #4 in the DAC/German Alternative Charts.
'Beacons' exerts its nautical feel in both tone and verse, with the ‘set adrift’ narrative supported by liquid, chorused guitars and distress-signal bass and synth, before the whole thing kicks into a full steam ahead chorus, with chiming, glorious guitars chasing the pulsing beat and soaring vocal all the way home.
The Bellwether Syndicate is made up of William Faith (vox, guitars), Sarah Rose Faith (vox, guitars), Philly Peroxide (keyboards, percussion), Stevyn Grey (drums) and Corey Gorey (guitars).
"'Beacons' is simply a love song to our family: our people — our fans. We’d be truly lost at sea without them, and every time we get ready to play a live gig, they really are the beacons that guide us home, to that moment where we’re together in a safe harbor and everything is possible. That moment is everything to us, and it’s what we live for," says William Faith.
Earlier, the band released the lead track 'Dystopian Mirror', which reached #11 in the German Alternative Charts (DAC). This glam-noir single wields a relentless assault of hard-edged guitars, buzzsaw synths and tribal beats set the stage for a guided tour through the realm of the unwell, spat out with sardonic conviction by the voices in your head.
Six years in the making, the 'Vestige & Vigil' LP was produced by William Faith, whose credits include Jarboe, Clan of Xymox, Bootblacks and Autumn, and Chad Blinman (Face To Face, Faith and The Muse, Jarboe). Recorded by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago, it was mixed by Blinman at The Eye Socket. This album comes 9 years after debuting with 'The Night Watch' EP and four years since their latest single 'Republik'.
William Faith is a former member of seminal goth acts Christian Death, Mephisto Walz and Shadow Project and also co-founder of Faith & The Muse. In 2010, he moved from his native Los Angeles to Chicago to form The Bellwether Syndicate with his wife, Sarah Rose Faith a.k.a. Scary Lady Sarah.
An underground legend in her own right, Sarah has been one of the scene’s most eminent DJs and club promoters for decades. She hosts Nocturna, the longest-running goth event in North America, which takes place at Metro in Chicago. Apart from forming the nucleus of The Bellwether Syndicate, the two often DJ together as The Pirate Twins.
As of December 2, 'Beacon's will be available from all fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where 'Dystopian Mirror' can also be found.
CREDITS
Written and performed by The Bellwether Syndicate
Produced by William Faith & Chad Blinman
Recorded by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago
Mixed by Chad Blinman at The Eye Socket
Additional programming and treatments by Chad Blinman
Mastered by Josh Sebek
William Faith - Vox and guitars
Sarah Rose Faith - Vox and guitars
Corey Gorey - Guitars (live)
Philly Peroxide - Keyboards and percussion (live)
Stevyn Grey - Drums (live)
'Dystopian Mirror' video filmed by William Faith & David Staudacher
'Beacons' video filmed by William Faith & Sarah Rose Faith
Both videos directed by William Faith
