Crush of Souls is the musical endeavour of Charles Rowell (Crocodiles, Flowers of Evil, Issue). One foot in early Industrial and the other in 80’s Synth-Pop, Crush Of Souls hold the whip and demand that you submit your soul.

Returning once again to Catacomb Soul studios where he had recently finished recording “(A)Void Love”, Charles Rowell mapped out the next chapter for Crush of Souls, limitations were set in place while new faces appeared to lend a fresh coat of black magic to the album.

The album is a love letter to Paris; all of its beauty and decay. “Lézire” which is a slang mixture of the French words for Lizard and Desire provides a sinister title to an album full of hard hitting, romantic songs.

Harry Howard (These Immortal Souls) provides his signature snarl and profound lyrics to the haunting ballad “You Rose Up”. Long time sax player Stanislas de Miscault colors the dark corners of the record with his unhinged personality and one half of new look COS, Stevan Dinet bangs both the martial beats and the Fairlight sample pads.

An album cover full of chains and S&M can provide enough of an explanation as to the new direction of Crush of Souls. Cronenberg’s “Crash”, David Lynch’s “Lost Highway”, Psychic TV and Sisters Of Mercy are constantly mentioned.

LP / Digital Album

Coming from an arduous two years of literal blood, sweat and tears – with gigs becoming infamous with guitars smashed to pieces, broken glasses, unruly audience front flipping onto the stage – every bit of drama, creative wanderings around Europe and sleep psychosis can be found within the walls of (A)Void Love.

With Paris providing the background and a scene of friends such as avant-garde drag artist Tuna Mess and industrial techno veteran Poison Point who pushed his creativity even further, Crush Of Souls constant spirit is that it remains unpredictable and thrives on collaboration. This is even more true with his newest record.

There’s always been a thread of synth-punk, death rock and DIY noise running through all of Charles’ projects (Crocodiles, ISSUE, Flowers of Evil), however Crush Of Souls pushes harder and further into the darkness with (A)Void Love.

LP / Digital Album

After relocating from New York to France, Charles Rowell began stuffing his suitcase with various synths and samplers while taking cheap bus rides to bordering countries.

While living out of a hotel in north east Paris, he played his demos for Third Coming Records who quickly released the Bad Trip EP in 2020. Concerts became more frequent after the pandemic, with the release of Spellwound and a few have become infamous with guitars smashed to pieces, broken glasses, unruly audience front flipping onto the stage.

With Paris providing the background and a scene of friends such as avant-garde drag artist Tuna Mess and industrial techno veteran Poison Point who pushed his creativity even further, Crush Of Souls constant spirit is that it remains unpredictable and thrives on collaboration.

Read more…

LP / Digital Album

Crush of Souls is the new musical endeavour of Charles Rowell (Crocodiles, Flowers of Evil, Issue…).

After relocating from New York to France, Charles has been pushing and morphing the project towards its final state over the course of the last years. But it wasn’t until he was living out of a hotel in north east Paris, a short stoned stumble away from La Station and Espace B, that Rowell found his inspiration for Crush of Souls. The city provided the background and the scene of friends who pushed his creativity even further.

There’s always been a thread of electronic, goth rock and diy noise music running through all of Charles’ projects, however Crush of Souls pushes harder and further featuring guitars revisiting tones only discovered by Chrome, primal Wax Trax style beats, challenging noise passages that rattle the ghost of Genesis P. Orridge – the rain and wind ultimately completed by stormy saxophone entries.

A dreamlike – or nightmarish – electrical journey into the weird, not for the faint hearted!

Cassette / Digital Album