Death Goals - A Garden Of Dead Flowers - CD

Whilst bands are often prone to describing their latest opus as a progression, in this case, it very much is - and there were signposts towards their burgeoning intentions on The Horrible and the Miserable’s closing track.

Nothing Left To Give was the only song to feature clean vocals and paved the way towards what is now just around the corner with A Garden of Dead Flowers.

This album also sees the duo Harry Bailey and George Milner embrace being defined as a queer hardcore band; their experiences - both good and bad - with that label and its accoutrements are documented throughout.

From album the album opener - the wonderfully titled Genderless Clones of Gameshow Hosts - through to the joyously provocative closer, Faux Macho, Harry and George guide listeners through secret woodland hookups, fighting against queer erasure, nightmarish middle of the night fears, addiction and rehab, dysphoria, and - potentially most importantly - euphoric community acceptance.

Sonically, the pair have expanded their palette - arguably a happy by-product of feeling more comfortable in their own skins and within the band’s identity.

With more time and focus dedicated to shaping and re-working the songs in pre-production, the 11 tracks on A Garden of Dead Flowers are more cohesive and well-rounded than ever before.

Recording took place over just five days in April 2022 with Tom Hill at Bookhouse Recording studio in London, UK.

Whilst they stay true to their chaotic hardcore nucleus, there are flourishes of noise, sludge, and even black metal speckled throughout.