Causenation – Promises Of Hope And Fear (Album – Wool-E Discs)
Genre/Influences: Dark-Wave, Electro-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Causenation is a Belgian formation, which has already been active for a couple of years now. They self-released a few singles and EP’s –and didn’t spare any effort, asking Claus Larsen (Leather Strip) to mix and master some songs. They now joined hands together with Wool-E Discs unleashing this work featuring eight songs. This (mini)-album has been mixed and mastered by Gazdag István (First Aid 4 Souls) who previously remixed one of their songs.
Content: The main sources of inspiration are clearly revealing 80s Electro-Wave music. The first part of the album stands for good-old Electro, but also for the Belgian Electro; dark and somewhat tormented. Some of the songs have been achieved with guitar sounds. The vocals are somewhat tenebrous reinforcing the dark expression of the production. Previously released songs like “Things You Promise” and “Black Lust” have been featured as well.
+ + + : The first part of the album sounds very promising; I like the dark sphere supporting the production, which also creates a perfect balance with the way of singing. Nothing really new, but accomplished songs with “Fear The Future” and “Demons Of The Night” are the absolute highlights.
– – – : The last 3 songs of the album –featuring the previously released “Black Lust” are somewhat ruining the promising debut part. These songs are unaccomplished.
Conclusion: I have mixed feelings listening to this work; a promising debut followed by a disappointing final. But there clearly is potential in this band.
Best songs: “Fear The Future”, “Demons Of The Night”, “The Things You Promise”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.facebook.com/causenation1
Label: www.wool-e-discs.be / www.facebook.com/woolediscs
About Causenation
Causenation is a project from Antwerp, Belgium. Between 2018 and 2019 the act self-released a run of singles and EPs, among them “The Things You Promise”, “Black Lust” and “Demons Of The Night”, along with remix editions of those tracks. “Promises Of Hope And Fear”, released by Wool-E Discs in 2020, was mixed and mastered by Istvan Gazdag of First Aid 4 Souls. Causenation singer Vain Sacrosanct went on to feature on First Aid 4 Souls’ “Stainless Steel Eyes” album in 2021 and the “Laudator Temporis Acti” EP in 2023. Causenation itself returned in 2023 with the “Divided We Fall” EP and the single “Hearts Beat Strong”, followed by “The Remix Collection” on DressCode Black in 2024.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
