Vision Video’s latest release, ‘Modern Horror’, is a work that bridges past and present in goth rock, delivering an experience both nostalgic and contemporary. This album stands as a defining moment for the Athens-based band, solidifying their unique sound and message in a genre often thought to be time-bound. With influences like Joy Division, The Cure, and Bauhaus, Vision Video borrows from post-punk and goth rock’s most iconic sounds but pushes them further, creating music that speaks to the 21st-century listener.
Frontman Dusty Gannon and keyboardist Emily Fredock’s vocals are a powerful duo; Gannon’s gritty, emotive delivery blends with Fredock’s haunting, ethereal lines, making each track resonate on multiple levels. Songs like “Crying Over You” and “Exile” embody the sonic and emotional depth that’s so characteristic of the band, with melodies that stick long after the music fades. Gannon’s lyrical explorations of disillusionment and personal trauma are rooted in his own experiences, including his time as a veteran and paramedic, which add an authenticity rarely seen in this genre.
But ‘Modern Horror’ is more than a nostalgia trip. Its themes of societal discontent, systemic disenfranchisement, and personal loss strike chords that are all too real today. With lush, layered production under Grammy-winner Ben Allen and Frank Arkwright’s mastering expertise, Vision Video has managed to create an album that sounds polished yet raw. The release is a testament to goth rock’s enduring power to articulate the inarticulable, and it’s bound to resonate with a wide range of listeners—from classic goth fans to newcomers who need a cathartic anthem for today’s times.