Straight Panic — 16 Shades of Black

Providence, RI power electronics project, Straight Panic, returns with 16 Shades of Black - a look into darkness, depression, and hitting rock bottom. Dark and grimy, the two tracks on display are densely layered and very active. Moving heavily forward with each noisy oscillation, 16 Shades of Black is a welcome addition to Straight Panic's steadily growing discography. 

Bleak and depressive, 16 Shades of Black is composed of two long tracks, "Cupcake" and "Ugly Bunny." Playing as opposite sides of the same coin, the pieces work in conjunction to create a wide spectrum of grimness and desperation. Built upon thick and quickly moving layers, "Cupcake" forces its uneasiness through aggregation - sounds upon sounds, building discomfort through unfamiliarity. The oscillations keep the song propelling forward as the frequencies collide, add, subtract, and shape the landscape for the listener. While not blisteringly harsh, there is a bit of an attrition factor due to the length and somewhat unvaried approach. While not wall noise by any stretch, "Cupcake" has a "here I am" feel that builds as the time rolls on. The companion piece, "Ugly Bunny," encompases the wet, basement sound of rock bottom and falling. Chains, drips, and puddles, this crispy track has vile industrial feel, complete with distant dread and furnace rumblings. Culminating the fall downward and the (possibly) 8 remaining shades of black, "Ugly Bunny" is a reminder that there is an ugly, fearful, sadistic terror in all of us, we just have to keep it in check.

Packaged in a black case with a razor blade ready for a self-inflicted trip to the other side, 16 Shades of Black is a grim, sonic excursion through depression, self-esteem, loathing, and bottoming out. Densely packed, the songs put forth Straight Panic's cynical psychology in a noisy fashion, and work their best to chill the listener. Clocking in just under 30 minutes, this release is a dark little number that is well worth a few spins.