Portland dark-alternative trio DARKSWOON have just dropped their new full-length album, Antivenom — and it hits exactly like the title suggests. Unflinching, atmospheric, and emotionally charged, it’s the kind of record that gets under your skin and stays there.
Lyrically, ‘Antivenom’ goes head-to-head with loss, anxiety, fear, and inequality, wielding words as equal parts confession and scalpel. The songs function as an immersive whole while never losing their sense of urgency — built from cautionary missives, unresolved emotions, and the weight of things left unsaid. This is DARKSWOON at their most assured, channeling deep introspection into focused, resonant songwriting that is distinctly their own.
Sonically, the album pushes further into their signature intersection of darkwave, post-punk, and shoegaze — built atop a hardware-driven electronic foundation that balances cold mechanical textures with an intimate human core. At moments, Antivenom stretches into more expansive shoegaze territory, weaving a dense sonic web that rewards repeated listens.
Formed in 2014 as the solo project of Jana Cushman, DARKSWOON evolved into a powerful three-piece with the addition of Rachel Ellis (synths, keys, and beats) and Norah Lynn (bass). Across three previous full-lengths — ’Year One,’ ‘Bind,’ and the critically embraced ‘Bloom//Decay’ — the band has steadily expanded both their sonic palette and their reach. Live, they’ve become fixtures of the Pacific Northwest dark music scene, bringing their shadowy electronics and hypnotic guitar to underground clubs and renowned stages alike.
‘Antivenom’ is available now on CD, vinyl LP, and all major digital platforms. Stream it, buy it, feel things.
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