Joy Division
Closer

If there is—or rather, there was—a group that, in just two records, managed to revolutionize and practically create an entire musical movement... well, these are (also) Joy Division. After the stunning debut of "Unknown Pleasures," they reinvented themselves and delivered what can be considered the absolute masterpiece of dark music (also called gothic rock, sigh).

First of all, let's examine the band's frontman. Among the most fascinating and distressing figures in the history of rock, Ian Curtis was born in Manchester back in 1956 and—lo and behold—took his own life in 1980, shortly before the release of this masterpiece reviewed below. Crushed by a world he couldn't bear, ensnared in a grip of despair, he bowed out; forever. He suffered from epilepsy, so much so that, when it came to concerts, there was never a certainty he would be able to withstand being on stage, as the penetrating lights caused him seizures (forcing the band to bring along a backup player just in case). A beautiful biography has been written about him, and a splendid film has been made. His robotic voice, which under many layers hid an existential monster of distress, made history. It is he, was he, the soul of the band, the creative genius; his lyrics are simply stunning, poetic, captivating like few others, and reflect an immeasurable pain. Try looking up one on the internet, and you'll realize this yourself. A cursed poet of the twentieth century, without a doubt. Hung himself, yet he continues to reside within us. This is because listening to one of his tracks literally steals your soul. But let's move on to the album...

It starts with the shocking, tribal, and distressing "Atrocity Exhibition". Piercing and painful notes emerge from the bass and guitar, while the percussion launches into a macabre tribal rhythm that flows unaltered from start to finish. Under the chaos of dark sounds, Curtis tries to sing, or rather, to scream... to be heard. "this is the way, step inside". And it is the apotheosis. Undoubtedly a masterpiece. It continues with the ballad "Isolation" and the punkish "Passover", two very beautiful tracks perfectly in line with the rest of the work. The violent and apocalyptic "Colony" is among the weaker pieces but listenable. Here we have "A Means To An End", with a beautiful, captivating rhythm. Another unique gem. The final explosion is unforgettable.

Welcome to "Heart and Soul", one of the most beautiful tracks on the album. Ian's voice becomes sibylline and tempting, enough to freeze the blood in your veins; while the echoing soundscape seems to come from a gloomy empty room, drowned in the darkness of the night. The ending consists of the sound of a shutter (but everyone interprets it as they wish) closing, reopening, and closing again. An anthology piece.

From heaven to hell, with the terrible "24 Hours". Luckily, after it comes a high-quality funeral march... the pinnacle, "The Eternal". Probably the most dramatic and dark piece of all time. Muffled beats, a voice from the beyond, dark choirs. A procession, black as the well of hell, Ian Curtis's testament. Occasionally, you hear the piano, and these are small flashes of light in an endless sea. Something transcendental, a work of art.

To seal this enormous masterpiece comes a splendid ballad, "Decades", overwhelming like a river in full flow. And one realizes, astonished, that they have listened to and perhaps even understood the despair of a twenty-four-year-old boy.

It's not for everyone, but everyone should try to listen to it. Once entered into its venomous bowels, there's no way out.