Hi, I’m Daniel Thurman

Daniel reviews cyberpunk books, games, and more.

  • SIRUS Releases New Single and Video “Save and Suffocate”

    Self-described Melbourne cyberpunk electronica trio SIRUS have released a new single, “Save and Suffocate” with an accompanying music video this week. The music video was premiered exclusively by Side-Line Magazine. It will be the band’s first single release since 2020 and it’s packed with emotional intensity.

    The “Save and Suffocate” video starts by showing what appears to be a brushfire causing devastation. The video then cuts to singer Josh Rombout dressed as a firefighter standing amidst the flames as he begins his emotional vocal delivery. This is perhaps a reference to the recent Australian wildfires which burned for nearly 240 days and have been declared one of the worst wildlife disasters in modern history.

    Bridging the divide between bass music and progressive metal in the way that only SIRUS know how, “Save And Suffocate” is another slab of heavy electronics fused with furious guitar riffs somehow amplifying even more the rich vein of previous hits like “Full Scale Revolt” and “Singularity”. Stand by to be slapped in the face even harder than Chris Rock.

    Save and Suffocate’s Bandcamp Page

    The song itself is juxtaposes melodic synthpop with heavy industrial metal and glitch giving “Save and Suffocate” an emotional hybrid of melancholy, frustration, and anger. If the song is in fact referencing the wildfires, either literally or symbolically, the mood the song creates fits.

    “Save and Suffocate” marks the first single release by the band since 2020’s “The Book of Gates.” The band’s Bandcamp Page for the single calls it “a foretaste of the upcoming new SIRUS album,” which will be its first full-length release since 2018’s Apocrypha.The single can be preordered on the band’s Bandcamp page now and is due out on April 15th.

    [Source: Side-Line Magazine]

  • Rabbit Junk Release New Song, Denature

    One of our favorite bands, Rabbit Junk, has returned and released a new song titled “Denature.” The song is a heavy, adrenaline-fueled, angsty ride through the mind of someone trying to separate themselves from a predetermined identity and choosing to be who they want to be instead.

    The husband and wife duo from Seattle has heavily leaned into the cyberpunk theme since their initial return after a long hiatus a few years back and released a bunch of successful single tracks since then.

    Their music can best be described as industrial metal but they incorporate everything from punk to drum n’ bass to create a frenzied, intense sound that seems to fit the cyberpunk theme perfectly. “Denature” is the perfect example of their signature sound which incorporates all of these styles and more.

    The best part of Rabbit Junk is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. And they seem to really have fun with what they are doing. Even an angst-driven song like “Denature” is a truly fun listen. Their sense of humor shines through, even if the lyrics themselves aren’t humorous. The light-hearted approach of their sound is refreshing and enjoyable.

    If you have never listened to Rabbit Junk, check out “Denature” above. It perfectly illustrates what I love about this band. You can buy the single over at their Bandcamp page as well as browse all of their other fantastic releases.