Death Mask (album)

Last updated

Death Mask
Death in Vegas - Death Mask.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 6, 2025 (2025-06-06)
Genre Techno [1]
Length64:55
Label Drone
Death in Vegas chronology
Transmission
(2016)
Death Mask
(2025)
Singles from Death Mask
  1. "While My Machines Gently Weep"
    Released: March 2025
  2. "Death Mask"
    Released: 1 April 2025

Death Mask is the seventh studio album by English group Death in Vegas, led by rock musician Richard Fearless. It was released on 6 June 2025, via Drone Records. [2]

Contents

Background

The first release by the group in nine years since Transmission in 2016, Death Mask was noted as consisting of techno songs, including "Hazel" of 145 bpm. [1] It is described as a reflection of moments that occurred between Transmission and Death Mask. [3] The first single of the album, "While My Machines Gently Weep", was released in March 2025. It was followed by the title track and second single, "Death Mask", on 1 April 2025. [4] [5] Fearless noted the influences of the album as including Population One, Panasonic, and Tm404. [6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 78/100 [7]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Death Mask received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 from five critic scores. [7]

Writing for the Quietus , Jeremy Allen remarked, "On Death Mask, Fearless lifts the lid on what lies beneath and exposes his true self in ways that he's always been reluctant to entertain. Fearless honesty suits him." [1] Louder Than War described the album as "an album about transition, about the black tides and inky currents we are swept away on, along with everything else, that ever was, and will be." [3]

MusicOMH assigned a rating of four and a half stars to the album, referring to it as "an intoxicating mix, adding another striking feather to the bow of Richard Fearless." [9] Paul Simpson of AllMusic stated in his review that Death Mask "sounds closer in spirit to those two records than anything previously released under the name Death in Vegas, melding noise, drone, and industrial influences with the type of pure, unrelenting warehouse techno associated with Birmingham and Berlin." [2]

Piers Martin of Uncut gave the album a rating of eight out of ten, calling it "a surprisingly moving reflection on the big issues — family, death and companionship — as he processes his feelings through caustic noise and deep-flanged techno, skillfully drawing out enchanting, almost sculptural passages of serene beauty." [10] Chris Catchpole of Mojo assigned it a three-star rating, remarking "Death Mask makes for a visceral, at times abrasive listen, and much like Fearless's Deep/Future Rave Memory projects, it often emulates the creaks and groans of his floating former shipping container studio, clanging and booming against a claustrophobic, industrial throb." [8]

Track listing

Death Mask track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Chingola"5:03
2."Lovers"5:12
3."While My Machines Gently Weep"6:58
4."Hazel"7:19
5."Roseville"7:24
6."Róisín Dub(h)"9:09
7."Robin's Ghosts"8:53
8."Your Love"7:40
9."Death Mask"7:17
Total length:64:55

Charts

Chart performance for Death Mask
Chart (2025)Peak
position
UK Albums Sales (OCC) [11] 84
UK Dance Albums (OCC) [12] 1
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [13] 31

References

  1. 1 2 3 Barry, Robert (2 June 2025). "Death in Vegas – Death Mask". The Quietus . Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Simpson, Paul. "Death Mask – Death in Vegas". AllMusic . Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 Walker, Ryan (4 June 2025). "Death In Vegas : Death Mask – Review and Interview". Louder Than War . Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  4. Breihan, Tom (1 April 2025). "Death In Vegas Announce First New Album In Nine Years Death Mask: Hear Two Tracks". Stereogum . Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  5. Jones, Damian (1 April 2025). "Death In Vegas announce first new album in nine years Death Mask and share two new tracks". NME . Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  6. Carey, Wayne (2 April 2025). "Death In Vegas to release new album Death Mask!". Louder Than War . Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  7. 1 2 "Death Mask". Metacritic . Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  8. 1 2 Catchpole, Chris (July 2025). "Death Mask". Mojo . p. 85. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  9. 1 2 Hogwood, Ben (6 June 2025). "Death In Vegas – Death Mask". MusicOMH . Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  10. 1 2 Martin, Piers (June 2025). "Death Mask". Uncut . p. 31. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
  11. "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  12. "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  13. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 June 2025.