Von Stroheim - Love? Who Gets Love? (2019)

Von Stroheim, described as some variation of a "doom band", fulfills that promise in ways very possibly unintended by those claiming either (or both) doom and bands: they've made a record that's a soundtrack for the doomed. Which is almost totally different. With a nod to Austrian director Erich von Stroheim, the record 'Love? Who Gets Love?' is a biting treatise on love soured where all of the femmes fatales are fatal and as voiced by singer and theremin player Dominique Van Cappellen-Waldock with guest appearances by Pete Simonelli from Enablers and Caroline Blanchet (ex-Choo Choo Shoe Shoot), set in stone in a darkening world view successfully evinced by the guitar and synth work of producer Raphaël Rastelli.

Eight songs, violins by Franz Krostopovic (Pale in Grey), guest vocalists, artwork by David Crunelle, and surprises galore make this sleeper release of 2019 totally unlikely to let you sleep.

The trio has been described a cinematic doom, compared to PJ Harvey singing with Black Sabbath, Neurosis featuring Jarboe, OM, Hexvessel, and even “Amon Duul II in salsa stoner”.