Sardinian producer Massimo Usai, better known as CONFRONTATIONAL, has released the latest full length, CUT, out May 2023 via NRW Records.
True to form, CONFRONTATIONAL is in great shape again, delivering another punchy version of his darksynth expertise. CUT is unfiltered darkwave with element from punk and industrial, and a quite direct record in total. It features notable collaborations with James Doviak, Antoni Maiovvi, and Adrien Grousset, paired with artwork by HauntLove.
Musically, the album traverses synthwave, synthpop, industrial, and darkwave. Aesthetically, it channels horror and giallo, creating a narrative which seems as stylish as it is unsettling. The spirit that powered earlier works like Kingdom of Night and The Burning Dawn is still alive and well, yet, with this one, CONFRONTATIONAL pushes further, sounding even more haunted, and at times more dangerous.
Nocturnal atmospheres run through the entire record, often fast-paced, shadow-drenched, and unrelenting. The title track Cut kicks things off with cinematic eighties flair. From there, Replay and the standout single Temptation lock into harder, faster rhythms, showing once again the artist’s knack for sharp songwriting. Black Glasses rises as another highlight, embodying the record’s core DNA based on horror, darkness, and driving electronica, all fused into something menacing and infectious.
The momentum builds seamlessly into the collaborations which follow. Anton Maiovvi is part of the sinister Cold Hard Silver, James Doviak appears on The Chase, and Adrien Grousset (Hacride) on the great closer No Respite. Each guest, apart from adding a distinct edge, also prove CONFRONTATIONAL’s versatility and ability to merge different creative voices into a unified whole.
In the end, CUT plays like a modern thriller rooted in timeless style, and bold enough to twist expectations. It's an album that seems attached to the artist's previous offerings, still, not settled for safety. It moves forward slyly, holding attention, and delivering not just music, but a fully realized atmosphere.
ZR