u/xanaduthrowaway

\"In search of God, we won't find the answer.\"

Today marks five years since Perturbator, our King of Synthwave and Cyberpunk, took us to the dark city of Xanadu, producing, in my opinion, the most beautiful and haunting album of his career. I'd go so far as to call it perfect.

For me, Lustful Sacraments couldn't have come out at a better time. In 2021, I was just getting into darkwave and post-punk, as well as cultivating an appreciation for all things Art Deco. Having already been a massive fan of James' work for years and listening to the original version of "Excess" back in 2019, I was hyped to listen to the full album. Needless to say, it more than delivered, and I've been in love with it ever since. I don't think it's an exaggeration for me to say that Lustful Sacraments contributed greatly to who I am today.

Sonically, it blows every previous album out of the water, which is a huge deal, given that Pertubator had already mastered his particular brand of electronic music. It seamlessly weaves multiple genres of "dark" music together, creating a soundscape that, while familiar, is wholly unique. Nothing else sounds quite like it. I especially love the way the tracks flow into one another, creating a story told through sound and verse.

Speaking of verse, I love the lyrics on the songs that have them. They're short, yet very meaningful, and the vocal work is stellar. I'm especially fond of lines such as "In search of God / We won't find the answer" and "His Son will never shine / As much as the Devil's daughters". In fact, "God Says" is full of some of the most poetic lines I've ever heard in a song.

Thematically, it's very compelling. You have Xanadu, a city full of the depraved -- hedonists who worship pleasure and hold the pursuit of it above all else. The album explores what such a pursuit can do to a person, shaping them into something grotesque, something Other. And, in true Perturbator fashion, there's the Occult angle, as these people may be surrendering themselves to a sinister, otherworldly power. Honestly, the world today reminds me a lot of Xanadu, and I shudder to think of what may be in store for us if we continue down the path that we're on as a species.

A special mention must go out to u/AJ_from_Spaceland, who figured out the connection to The Divine Comedy, which James himself confirmed. It only makes the album's themes more powerful.

Another great aspect to them album is how it combines everything I love about Perturbator's music -- dark, layered soundscapes, genre-blending, compelling themes and references, experimentation -- into a concise ten-track package. There's no fat nor filler. Just a seamless experience from start to finish. Simply immaculate.

And while I'm on the topic of tracks, I want to single out "Excess", my favorite on the album. Not only is it the first song off of Lustful Sacraments that we heard, it also holds the distinction of being the one track of Perturbator's to receive its own EP, full of covers by other bands and artists. The fan favorite seems to be the cover by HEALTH, one of my favorite bands. I myself am actually partial to the covers by INVSN, Pig Destroyer and She Past Away. The She Past Away cover is actually what put me on to the band, and they've become another one of my favorites.

As an aside, I do lament the fact that "Excess" never got its own music video, since it's clearly the standout track, and we already had great music videos for "Death of the Soul" and especially "God Says", which perfectly encapsulates everything the album is about. This is a very minor nitpick, however, since I've always had a good time visualizing my own scenes to go along with the song, and there are a few fan-made music videos out there to sate my desire.

Movies in general play a role in the album's aesthetics and themes. You have the obligatory Blade Runner stuff, but there's also nods to classic film noir and Fritz Lang's Metropolis. It makes me curious to know if James ever considered making a Lustful Sacraments movie. He may be a music guy, but he undoubtedly has a cinematic eye.

One more aspect to Lustful that is personal to me would be how it encouraged me to seek out Perturbator's side projects: L'Enfant de la Forêt and Ruin of Romantics. I was desperate for anything similar to my favorite album. However, while I'm happy to say that you all must drop whatever you're doing and listen to ABRAXAS, STRANGLED and Velvet Dawn immediately, they don't quite scratch the same itch as Lustful despite being similar in sound (with James' work as L'Enfant certainly having some kind of sonic influence, with its brooding darkness). Again, it's truly unique.

So, all in all, I just wanted to take the time to celebrate the anniversary of my favorite album. The album that entertained and inspired me in equal measure. The album that I will probably be listening to on my deathbed, just before my skin turns grey and dirt becomes my crown. I hope you guys will join me. Give it another listen if you haven't, preferably late at night, when all is cold and quiet, as I consider these to be the optimal listening conditions for it. I promise you, you won't regret it.

And, in the very slim chance that James himself ends up reading this, I just want to say: thank you. Your music has always meant a lot to me, and Lustful Sacraments speaks to me like no other album has. Xanadu, for all its chaos and depravity, has become my home.