SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MASSIVE EGO – “THE NEW NORMAL”

MASSIVE EGO
THE NEW NORMAL
OUT OF LINE RECORDS

Synth-pop/darkwave giant Massive Ego exerts an unapologetic political voice with The New Normal, its first multi-song project since 2019. Complimented by cover art depicting two androids riddled with needles and marked with a QR code, the opening track “You Will Comply” demonstrates the band makes it no secret that they’re taking aim at the pandemic and that they are not shy about calling out the powers that be. With grim production and a towering chorus backed by “Yeah, yeah, yeahs” reminiscent of an arena rock anthem, “You Will Comply” is a call to arms to the vox populi.

While not necessarily maintaining the grave political tone of the opening track, the follow-up ones remain sonically consistent. Each track seems to express different parts of a dystopian world: a revolution takes place (“You Will Comply”), the rebels abandon the world that they knew (“Fake Star”), disaster strikes as they deal with their new settlement (“Dead Eyes Black”), a dark plague befalls their new home (“The Vampires Wife”), and they finally come to accept the consequences of their preceding actions (“Not Without Consequence”).

Anchored by standout tracks “You Will Comply” and “Dead Eyes Black”, The New Normal is a dark, thunderous, and unflinchingly political EP that packs a punch like dark dystopian vignettes in a single volume.

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