- Words Charlotte Gornall
Welsh electronic trio Gallops have taken a dark turn with the vinyl release of their latest EP, The Offa Society For Psychical Research.
Known for pushing the boundaries of electronic music, this EP is Gallops‘ most intense and eerie yet, exploring a world of paranormal investigation and cosmic dread. Released through their own label, SKANDALKONZERT, the five-track EP offers a visceral blend of industrial, EBM, and Detroit techno, all steeped in gothic and occult themes.
The concept behind the EP is as intriguing as the music itself. Gallops — Mark Huckridge, Brad Whyte, and Gavin Thorpe — imagined the EP as a pseudo-occult document, tracking the fictional investigations of a local psychic society. “It’s like a provincial Ghostbusters without the budget or sense of humour,” Mark jokes. The result is an unsettling, otherworldly sound that leaves a lasting impact.
Tracks like ‘Liquid & Envy’ evoke Lovecraftian horror with punishing sub-bass and distorted synths, while ‘Hemlock Chaser’ blends menacing beats with disfigured guitars, creating a nightmarish soundscape. The EP’s heaviest moment, ‘Paint It Diseased’, feels like the soundtrack to a collapsing universe, its brutal, galactic energy drawing on the twisted, dark side of techno.
But amidst the chaos, there are moments of eerie calm. ‘The Crunching Teeth Of Sharks’ offers a haunting, almost nostalgic respite, while ‘Youth Medium’ closes the EP on a more hopeful, albeit unsettling, note.
Inspired by everything from gothic literature to Western esotericism, The Offa Society For Psychical Research is being released for the first time on vinyl. It’s a bold step forward for the band, and a thrilling, unnerving listen for fans of experimental electronic music.