Ears Wide Open: Death Bells

Kevin Bronson on August 11th, 2023

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Death Bells got their start in Australia before Will Canning and Remy Veselis transplanted themselves in Los Angeles in 2018. They’ve taken well to their new surroundings — and also found a home for their cinematic post-punk on Dais Records, which released their sophomore album “New Signs of Life” in 2020 and the follow-up, “Between Here & Everywhere,” last year.

Barely a year later, the duo have a new EP. On “Take My Spirit Now,” out today, the duo employ stabbing guitars, peripatetic bass and drums and a sea of reverb to explore themes of love, paranoia and destiny. In the big picture, their music is fruit that has not fallen far from the Joy Division sonic tree, but on their 2022 album and this new EP there are hints that the bright lights of L.A. — and definitely the shadows they cast — lurk in the background.

“Get vicious / Get low / Reach for ecstasy / Pay the toll / Drink the drink / Get low / Take my spirit now / Steal my soul,” Canning intones on the title track. It’s not necessarily a victim talking.

Collin Fletcher directed the video for the title track, and the visuals for “Heaven Is Your Company” are the work of Jeremy Stith.

||| Watch: The videos for “Take My Spirit Now” and “Heaven Is Your Company”