Liverpool gothic alt-pop trio THE DSM IV (Guy McKnight (vocals), Jade Ormesher (guitars) and Pav Cummins (drums/synths) have recently released their latest EP, `Negative Utopia` having previously released their debut album New Age Paranoia in June 2023.
THE DSM IV take their name from the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Vol. IV, as used by the American Psychiatric Association. Frontman Guy McKnight’s interest in it was born out of his experiences dealing with his own mental health, as well as that of family and friends.
The band have toured with Sleaford Mods, Dream Wife and have racked up slots supporting Ladytron and The Libertines across Europe.
There`s a wonderfully dystopian feel to `Pink Lady` the opening track with shimmering guitar riffs, an underlying synth platform and vocals that have a detached and fairly ghostly feel and at times an exasperated texture. We enjoy a faster pace on `Pray Like a Fool` which felt delightfully retro and appeared to be a viewpoint on organised religion.
`Wise Guy` is a dreamy slow burn and seems to hint at loneliness and has a pretty haunted sense at times. In `Racist Man Remix` we have a reworked version of what was a standalone track from a few years ago and it`s a much more robust and fleshed out offering but retains the frustrated awareness of the original.
`Isolation` is a pretty faithful cover of the Joy Division track from forty-five years ago but with a touch more potency. We have a further remixed number in `Pennywise Hologram Cowboy Remix` to close out on with a completely new reimagining of `Pennywise` from the band`s debut album `New Age Paranoia`. A fairly disturbing but compelling listen with the track entirely slowed down and sounding as if somebody has played the record on thirty-three and a third rpm rather than a forty-five rpm setting.
There was much to enjoy on this twenty five plus minutes, six track extended play which seems to be a precursor to a sophomore album in the near future. It brought to mind for me, some bands that I’d really enjoyed in the eighties such as The Danse Society, Our Daughters Wedding and B-Movie.
The trio are on the road this month so worth catching them live if you can.
Rating 8.5/10
REVIEW: THE DSM IV – NEGATIVE UTOPIA EP (2025)
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