Yet another great tune from those anti-fascist synth-punks KILL, THE ICON! with a fantastic AI generated video to go with it.
"Deathwish" draws inspiration from Joshi's parents and their encounters with overt racism in 1970s England, juxtaposed with his own experiences of more subtle forms of racism. Joshi aims to highlight the contrasting nature of the racism he has faced throughout his life, such as being overlooked for job opportunities and gigs, in comparison to the active exclusion his parents endured during their settlement period.
For Joshi, the band serves as a channel for the nation's cathartic anger: "Modern Britain exhibits a pervasive sense of helplessness and hopelessness, which seems to intensify day by day. Workers across various industries are resorting to strikes, and people have been immersed in misery throughout a decade of austerity. Now, they are rightfully furious. Thus, we have embraced the punk spirit, utilizing our platform as a positive act of rebellion."
Lead singer Nishant sheds light on the inspiration behind the music video: "Given recent anti-protest legislation, we intended this video to be viewed as an innovative form of protest. We are no longer allowed to take to the streets confidently, exercising our right to peaceful protest that has traditionally been protected by law. The situation has become uncertain, and these new laws have severely impacted our ability to speak truth to power."
The music video for "Deathwish" was created using AI programs like Midjourney and Studio D-ID, spanning several weeks of production. While AI art generators help bring our visions to life, it still requires significant human effort. From conceptualization to completion, this 212-second music video demanded a total of 83 hours to materialize.
The song itself delves into the insidious normalization of fascism in modern Britain, examining the various guises it assumes.
Review by Thomas Imposter