The world is aflame; the collective is in turmoil. Our descent into darkness needs a soundtrack: enter the sonic onslaught of CSDM (a.k.a. Celebrity Death Slot Machine), an Atlanta GA collective featuring current and former members of Material Girls, Neighbor Lady, Mothers, and Rose Hotel. CDSM is the formidable blend of Ben Presley (vox, guitar/bass, synthesizers, drums), Tyler Jundt (vocals, saxophone, synthesizers), and John Restivo Jr. (vocals, drums, percussion), CDSM features accompaniment from Jack Blauvelt (synthesizers, percussion, backing vocals), Drew Kirby (synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals) and Vinny Restivo (synthesizers, bass, percussion, backing vocals).
Their overall output is an eclectic, psychedelic conglomerate of eerie synth, four-to-the-floor disco rhythms, No Wave-esque saxophone growls, a drum set bathed in red fog, a tenor brass machete, and a cascading flow of catchy hooks. We hear elements of The Cramps, The Damned, Wall of Voodoo, Gorillaz and Nick Cave in this maelstrom of macabre beats. Sounding like a lost child of ZE Records and Stiff, Hell Stairs is infectious, slightly terrifying and a great romp through the hellfire and brimstone.
Listen to the EP below:
Hell Stairs, CDSM’s forthcoming coming EP, is glamorous and bleak, swanky and derelict, uplifting and crushing. It’s hedonism clinking in your glass, change jingling in the pit of your chest. You now have the perfect clair-obscure soundtrack for a night at the local neon-noir casino. You’re welcome.
Hell Stairs comes out on April 29th, 2022 via Mothland (Believe/FAB/Org Music) and Exag (Orchard). Post-Punk.com spoke with the band ahead of the official release:
We love the new EP — and how you incorporate so many different genres, textures, and sonic elements across the record. Could you tell us a little bit about what/who has influenced your genre-bending sound?
We’re glad you like it, we all listen to very different things so we try to give everyone space for Their influence whether that be Elton John or Primal Scream, or Pino D’Angiò.
What was the creative process like while writing this record?
The songs were all written by Ben, Tyler, and John, typically in our basement studio/rehearsal space or during a group wilderness retreat, accompanied by a roaring fire and a tape of Mooch Goes to Hollywood on mute. The songs were then brought to Jack’s studio where he handled engineering and production.
And how does it feel to put it out into the world?
After sitting with these songs for so long it is a huge relief to finally see our baby taking its first steps. We’re looking forward to performing songs from the next release on this upcoming tour so we’re already on to the next thing.
Lastly, what’s next for all things CDSM? Are y’all hitting the road anytime soon? We’d love to catch you live!
We will be on the road all of May on the heels of the EP release and then we have a couple of dates supporting BODEGA in the southeast this summer before another month-long US/Canada tour in the fall.
TOUR DATES:
- 4/28 Atlanta, GA – The Earl * EP release SHOW
- 4/29 Asheville, NC – Fleetwood’s
- 4/30 Washington, DC – Slash Run
- 5/1 Baltimore, MD – Downsquares
- 5/2 Saratoga Springs, NY – Desperate Annie’s
- 5/5 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Made *
- 5/6 Troy, NY – No Fun *
- 5/7 Montreal, QC – Theatre Plaza ^
- 5/8 Toronto, ON – The Baby G
- 5/11 Windsor, ON – Meteor
- 5/13 Athens, OH – The Union #
- 5/14 Columbus, OH – Cafe Bourbon St. #
- 5/15 Cincinnati, OH – MOTR Pub
- 5/16 Indianapolis, IN – Healer
- 5/18 Louisville, KY – Flamingo Lounge
- 5/19 Memphis, TN – Lamplighter Lounge
- 5/20 Nashville, TN – Sugashaq
- 5/21 Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light
- 5/26 Athens, GA – Georgia Theater Rooftop
- 5/27 Savannah, GA – El-Rocko Lounge
- 5/28 Charlotte, NC – Snug Harbor
- 5/29 Outer Banks, NC – Outer Banks Brewing Station
- * w/ Cindy Cane
- ^ w/ The KVB
- # w/ DANA
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