Noise Against Tyranny by CALLING ALL ASTRONAUTS is a bold, political, gothic project with intense themes and a sense of conviction that elevates it beyond the sum of its parts. The first track gives a glimpse into the deep narrative core of the album with a take on religion and its dominance in so many lives. “Pray For Your Soul” recontextualises the positive, guiding light of religion into this tool that is often used to breed uncertainty and division in people’s lives.

The vocals are impassioned, you get the sense that they really mean what they’re saying as opposed to just singing lyrics disconnected from their true meaning. There is also a harsh distinction between the vocal style in this track and some of the others throughout the rest of the project. The second track, ‘Will Somebody Help Me’ has a more intense tonal palette that is reflected in the vocals as well. This helps to display the varied emotional range of the vocalist. The vocal feels confident in the more introspective sections but truly excels at the high energy moments of its register. It almost has a slight metal influence that amplifies the power of the track. It feels like the vocal truly rises to the challenge of the energy of the rest of the track, if anything leading the charge from the front. I Can’t Breathe is another standout on the project. Detailing a heavy topic, this track refuses to compromise its narrative, exploring the horrific concept of domestic violence and being trapped in your home. The track conveys this with a claustrophobic and pacey tone that feels panicked and rushed, sonically connected to its thematic core. The drums are a key component of this, their hiss and crash amplifying this anxious energy. The themes the album tackles are heavy and, to be totally honest, makes some of the tracks uneasy listening however I think this is part of the point. This level of focus on the darker sides of the human psyche and society is quite confronting to listen to, shocking people into proactive change. It’s a powerful project that has the conviction to back itself up.