The Violent Youth – Tsvety (Digital/Vinyl/Cassette Album – Artoffact Records)
Over the last ten years, The Violent Youth, the project led by Belarusian musician Arthur Tsymbal and joined by his Russian collaborator Egor Ivakhnenko, has released quite a few albums. With “Tsvety”, the band now unveils its second consecutive release on Artoffact Records.
The Violent Youth has developed a highly distinctive sound that comfortably fits within the broader spectrum of Electro-Wave and Dark-Wave. The production is rather minimalistic, yet it is enriched by a dark and immersive atmosphere, while the deep, often muffled vocals add an extra layer of intensity. The lyrics are often difficult to decipher—sometimes due to the language itself—but this only enhances the overall mood, adding another mysterious and shadowy dimension to the music. Most of the songs are infused with a dark, ethereal quality, strongly reinforced by the synth work. Here and there, the guitar lines evoke memories of the magic of The Cure and Trisomie 21.
There are several noteworthy tracks to discover on this album, but the opening, title, song stands out as the absolute highlight for me. (Rating:7½).
Listen to “Tsvety”:
About The Violent Youth
The Violent Youth is a synth-pop and post-punk project based in Augsburg, Germany, created by Belarusian musician Arthur Tsymbal with support from keyboardist Egor Ivakhnenko of Moscow, Russia. The project self-released its early material, starting with the albums “Discotheque” and “Pure” in 2016, followed by singles including “Through The Night (80’s Mix)” in 2019, “Ne Uhozhu” in 2021, and “Glaza” in 2022.
The Violent Youth signed to Artoffact Records for the “Tuman” EP in 2022, followed by the digital singles “Serdtse” and “Prah” in 2023. Those tracks were folded into the band’s first Artoffact Records album, “Na Igle”, released in 2024 on vinyl, CD and digital formats. “Tsvety” follows as the band’s second consecutive album for the label.
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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.
