Barcelona duo Darkways work the colder end of post-punk on their third album, ten tracks that lean into reverb, skeletal drum programming and guitars that scrape rather than ring. Marc P. and Lluís S. handle all the writing and mixing themselves, and the production stays sparse throughout, bass sits low and unadorned, synth pads fill space without adding warmth. Lisandro Montes mastered it at Sonic Art in Buenos Aires, which keeps the low end tight without softening the edges.
The album circles themes of impermanence and erosion. Song titles like "Ash Maker", "Hollow" and "Leaves No Trace Behind" telegraph the mood, and the music follows through: mid-tempo, minor key, vocals buried just enough that you catch intent more than detail. It shares territory with early Clan of Xymox and the less ornate end of darkwave, though it skips the gothic theatrics. Fans of coldwave who want something current without retro affectation will find plenty here.
Available as download in lossless and lossy formats, plus vinyl, CD and cassette if you want the physical. Active since 2016, Darkways have settled into a sound that does not chase trends, and Rust holds that line.
