Death Popsicle carves out a genuinely fresh EP with "Komusō"
On our first listen of this record, we can 100% confirm that it doesn't sound like anything else out there. Death Popsicle's debut EP "Komusō" is a piece of art that’s for those seeking something actually original. Coming out of Northern Arizona as the solo vision of Devon Aviles, this five song release is a genre bending, mind melting listen that feels both slightly recognizable in ways but also impossible to pin down at the same time.
Immediately, this project covers so much without ever feeling scattered. He’s filled us in and told us it’s a blend of Darkwave, industrial, goth, hip-hop, and modern electronic textures that all bleed into each other here. It’s built around 80’s-esque synth atmospheres and rhythms that pull straight from 90s hip-hop. Honestly, it sounds like it shouldn't work on paper, but Aviles blends it all together so seamlessly that it becomes its own distinct sound rather than a patchwork of references. This is music that would feel right at home in a goth club, just as comfortable echoing through an industrial warehouse, and equally perfect for a late night drive through the desert.
Thematically, "Komusō" digs into some heavy territory like isolation, collapse, outsider identity, and emotional survival, and it handles all of it with real weight. The brooding vocals carry a lot of that emotional heaviness, cool and detached in one moment before pulling you in with real vulnerability the next. There's a rawness to the songwriting throughout that feels honest rather than performative, like this music was made specifically for anyone who's ever felt forgotten or disconnected from the world around them. Obviously we’d recommend listening from start to finish to get the full feel for the whole project. However, some personal standouts were the opener “Animal” and “Own”!
The production is where this EP really separates itself from the pack! Cinematic and hypnotic, every track feels meticulously built with rhythms that lock you in and atmospheres that pull you deeper the longer you listen. Knowing that Aviles wrote, sang, produced, mixed, and mastered this entire project solo makes it even more impressive. This isn't just a collection of songs, it's a fully realized artistic vision. Sometimes when you’re going for something that’s never been done before, it’s probably to best handle literally every aspect of the record like he’s done here.
For anyone who's grown a little tired of the dark alternative scene starting to sound like a hall of mirrors, "Komusō" is a genuinely exciting record. It's interesting in the best possible sense, unrecognizable in a good way, and confident enough in its own strange identity to stand completely on its own. Death Popsicle has announced itself here as a real project to watch, and this EP is a fantastic, fully formed introduction to a sound that feels truly fresh.
We urge everyone out there to listen! So please, go ahead and click those links below to check it out, to follow along, and of course to stay tuned for more in the works.
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