French electronic body music (EBM) artist James Kent, known by Perturbator, has officially unveiled his highly anticipated sixth studio album, Age of Aquarius. This is his first release under the record label Nuclear Blast. The album can be streamed here, diving into the latest sonic landscapes crafted by the visionary producer.
Age of Aquarius follows the critically acclaimed Lustful Sacraments, an album that dove into the themes of bad habits and addiction. Age of Aquarius explored conflict, war, individualism, and the connection between them with its military-like focus on human aggression. It features elements from post-punk, goth, and techno, appealing to fans of industrial, metal, and new wave.
The album incorporates several featured artists, including Ulver on the opening track “Apocalypse Now”, Alcest’s Stephane Paut on the title track “Age of Aquarius”, Author and Punisher on “Venus”, and Greta Link on “Lady Moon”.
“Apocalypse Now” captures the album’s theme through its lyricism, framed by blasting synths and drums. Ulver delivers a captivating performance, singing lyrics as they read in the chorus, “Our hearts grow cold / Another war to end all wars again / Apocalypse Now! / There’s blood on the ground / We’ve got bullets for everyone.” The song is accompanied by a music video directed by David Fitt that features wartime imagery.
“Mos Ultima Ratio” was the fourth single released from the highly anticipated album, following “The Swimming Pool”, “Apocalypse Now”, and “The Art of War”. It is a high-intensity instrumental track that begins with a moody introduction that slowly builds. “This was inspired by industrial music and black metal. The title roughly translates to ‘Death is the final accounting,’” Kent explains.
The 10-minute title track concludes the album, featuring a single, simple lyric: “Do you see me?” The song progresses through various sections, heavenly vocals over a calmer yet slightly ominous instrumental, and builds to intense screaming layered over a higher-intensity track. “Age of Aquarius” features Alcest’s Stephane Paut, also known as Neige.
“The Swimming Pool” takes the listener on a journey through a beautiful instrumental piano ballad. The captivating piece has earned praise from Brooklyn Vegan, Metal Injection, Exclaim!, Metal Sucks, The PRP, New Noise, MXDWN, and more. “‘The Swimming Pool’ is a little moment of respite in an otherwise mostly aggressive album. It’s simple, minimalist, and intimate. Inspired by a dream I had years ago in which I found myself stuck in a huge hotel, searching ever so unsuccessfully for the swimming pool,” Kent explains.
“’The Art of War’ is the 6th track of the album and the most EBM sounding one. It’s about our propensity to make everything a spectacle and how we consume acts of violence as entertainment,” Kent stated. The song is paired with an animated music video, depicting a war in a world where everything and everyone is made completely out of porcelain.
The album masterfully immerses the listener in a journey crafted around a military-like focus. It explores the multifaceted dimensions of conflict and human aggression while surrounding the listener with heavy synthesizers, pulsating basslines, and driving drums to create an atmosphere of relentless intensity and tension. Throughout the album are pockets of peace and calm, manifesting in specific sections of songs and the entirety of “The Swimming Pool”. The contrast between aggression and tranquility underscores the album’s themes.
Age Of Aquarius Tracklist:
01. Apocalypse Now (Ft. Ulver)
02. Lunacy
03. Venus (Ft. Author & Punisher)
04. The Glass Staircase
05. Hangover Square
06. The Art of War
07. 12th House
08. Lady Moon (Ft. Greta Link)
09. The Swimming Pool
10. Mors Ultima Ratio
12. Age of Aquarius (Ft. Alcest)
After two years of global touring, Perturbator is beginning his European & UK headlining tour this fall, beginning on November 1.
Perturbator Fall Tour Dates
11/05 -Nantes, FR -Stereolux
11/06 -Lille, FR -Aeronef
11/07 -London, UK -O2 Forum Kentish Town
11/08 -Manchester, UK -Damnation Festival
11/11 -Vienna, AT -Arena
11/12 -Budapest, HU -Dürer Kert
11/13 -Prague, CZ -SaSaZu
11/14 -Berlin, DE -Huxleys
11/15 -Warsaw, PL -Progresja
11/17 -Vilnius, LT -Loftas
11/19 -Helsinki, FI -Kulttuuritalo
11/21 -Stockholm, SE -Fallan
11/22 -Copenhagen, DK -The Grey Hall
11/23 -Oslo, NO -Rockefeller
11/25 -Hamburg, DE -Gruenspan
11/26 -Nijmegen, NL -Doornroosje
11/27 -Brussels, BE -Ancienne Belgique
11/28 -Cologne, GE -Live Music Hall
11/29 -Meisenthal, FR -La Boite Noire
12/01 -Munich, GE -Muffthalle
12/02 -Ljubljana, SO -Kino Siksa
12/03 -Milan, IT -Live Club
12/04 -Lausanne, CH -Les Docks
12/05 -Paris, FR -Le Bataclan
12/06 -Paris, FR -Le Bataclan
