Debut album from These Dead Machines

During the chaotic times of 2020, as the world retreated behind closed doors and countless bands faced dissolution, something unique was taking shape in Manchester. Out of the ashes of Mark of 1000 Evils, a new project began to emerge; These Dead Machines. Initially conceived as a one-man band in a bedroom studio, These Dead Machines has since flourished to combine the grit of grunge-inflected alternative rock with a darker, more cinematic aesthetic.

Rather than just continuing the sonic legacy of their predecessor, These Dead Machines has reshaped and expanded it, introducing elements of psychedelia and electronic experimentation. This transformation has resulted in a sound that’s at once heavy and hopeful, bringing together themes of loss, strength and the persistent drive to move forward.

This year, the world got its first glimpse into the band’s refined vision through a trio of singles. Now These Dead Machines brings us the perfect run through of their sound on the debut full-length record titled Any Minute Now. The album presents an exploration of contrasts, blending reflective lyrics with expansive soundscapes and intertwining alternative rock energy with electronic textures across ten tracks.

Brought in by the shuffling drums and airy guitar notes of “Subatomic Heart,” the moody chug of distorted guitar tones and commanding vocal leads set up an engaging sonic ride that blends memorable melodic writing with an intense alternative rock sound. Previously released single “Phantoms” follows with an uptempo sound of crunching guitars, driving drums and compelling vocal leads to serve up a catchy and anthemic rock outing.

“Hello World” shows the project’s more intricate style with a slick arrangement of bright guitar tones, layered vocal elements and the rattling tap of drums to frame the band’s gritty rock sound in an enthralling setting. Other highlights on the record include songs like “Signals” with its contrast of fuzzy guitar lines and crisp electronic beats capped by delicate vocal leads and soft backing vocalisations. Flowing with a kaleidoscopic blend of bold bass lines and zapping electronic dashes, the expressive vocal performance bends from impactful delivery to gentle, dreamy aesthetic to craft a truly original listening experience.

These Dead Machines’ debut single “Recover” perfectly captures their mission statement with the punchy snap of electronic percussion and angular graininess of the guitar tones as gripping vocal leads ring out above. Closing the album with “Long Shadows,” a laid back rhythm of plodding bass notes and softly tapped drums casts a downtempo alternative sound as hushed vocals hover above, presenting a superb slowcore-tinged finale to the project’s incredible debut record. It’s a fantastic first full-length outing from this exciting new project, offering a stellar snapshot of the band’s enduring songwriting and forward-thinking sound to firmly plant them on the map of must-watch alternative artists to emerge from the UK music scene this year.

Listen to Any Minute Now below