‘Timewave’ | Tanks And Tears
Album | CD+DG | Swiss Dark Nights Records | Release 01/03/2024
The Italian darkwave band is back with a compelling second album that is a clear reflection on the importance of time and the cyclical nature of events
On Friday, March 1st, the Italian darkwave/post-punk band Tanks And Tears returns with their second album, ‘Timewave.’ Preceded in recent weeks by the singles ‘Darkside’ and ‘Timewave,’ the full-length album is released on CD and digital platforms by the Swiss label Swiss Dark Nights Records.
Seven years since their debut, the Prato-based band is back with a renewed sound, thanks to a recent addition to the lineup – keyboardist Lorenzo Cantini – and the limitations imposed by the last pandemic, forcing Matteo Cecchi (bass, synth, and vocals), Claudio Pinellini (guitar and synth), and Francesco Ciulli (drums) to work remotely.
The result is an intense, introspective, and exciting album, appreciating nods to the electronic sounds of the ’80s, beloved by the genre. Simultaneously, it manages to convey a resounding sense of modernity. The rhythmic and powerful bass sequences (Roland SH-101), reminiscent of early Ministry or Nitzer Ebb, and played electronic drums (samples of 707, Linn, and Korg DDD-5) drive atmospheric and leaden synth layers. These serve as a backdrop to the post-punk-style guitar harmonies and captivating keyboard and synthesizer melodies.
Completing the picture are the troubled and melancholic lyrics, often in contrast with the bright melodic lines of the music, addressing delicate themes of self-isolation, atelophobia, depression, and the repetitiveness of events over time. It’s a clear examination of contemporary issues in a darkwave context.
Recommended for fans of Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Skinny Puppy, and Depeche Mode.
TRACK-BY-TRACK | THE WORDS OF TANKS AND TEARS
1. Intro | An instrumental composed in the studio, it serves as the ignition of a spaceship ready to take you on a journey;
2. Timewave | Fast and direct, in true Tanks And Tears style, where 80s bass intertwines with catchy synth melodies. The song talks about the importance of time and the cyclical nature of events that characterize life;
3. Nightmare | Already released as a single in 2022 (here in a remixed and remastered version), it signalled the evolution of the band’s sound. Alienation, abandonment, and the difficulty of realizing one’s dreams are addressed;
4. Darkside | A dark yet catchy piece that marks the band’s new style;
5. Crystal Ball | Fresh and original, with minimal and rhythmic bass, gritty guitars in the choruses, and interesting melodies in the verses. It speaks of the pain that human relationships can sometimes cause in one’s life;
6. Haze of Lies | Distorted and swelling bass, majestic synth carpets, and a 90s guitar riff take centre stage. The final chorus is unforgettable despite the prevailing hypocrisy;
7. Galaxies | A spacey atmosphere is highlighted by a hypnotic guitar and an explosion in the final part, where the voice makes a desperate plea for help. Solitude is a refuge to escape the troubles of interpersonal relationships but also a trap that ultimately harms;
8. Vampire Bite | A very catchy song with an original combination of sounds that further strengthens the desire to stand out from the majority of today’s music scene;
9. S.O.F.T. | A piece in full new-wave/darkwave style: repetitive 80s bass and melodies mixed freshly for the longest track on the album. An anthem to second chances.
The band Tanks And Tears was formed in Prato (Italy) in 2013 by Matteo Cecchi (bass, vocals, synth) and Claudio Pinellini (guitar, synth). With the addition of Francesco Ciulli on drums a year later, their sound evolved in the direction of British post-punk from the 1980s. In 2015, coinciding with the release of their debut EP ‘Know Yourself,’ they began their collaboration with the label Swiss Dark Nights, to which they are still affiliated today. In 2017, they released their first album, ‘Aware.’ In 2019, after performing around a hundred concerts in Italy and Europe and with the addition of Lorenzo Cantini on synth and keyboards, they took a break. They returned to the music scene only in December 2022 with the release of the maxi-single ’Nightmare,’ which marked an evolution in the quartet’s sound, emphasizing the electronic elements of synthesizers and drum machines. In the same darkwave vein, their second full-length album, ‘Timewave,’ was released in March 2024, preceded by the singles ‘Darkside’ (January) and the title-track ‘Timewave’ (February).
CREDITS
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Leonardo Magnolfi at El-Sop Recording Studio in Florence
Produced by Tanks And Tears
Music | Tanks And Tears
Lyrics | Matteo Cecchi
Cover art and graphics | Giulia Feola
Photos | Pan Vision Studio
CONTACTS & SOCIAL MEDIA
- Nicola Amici | Press Officer