Darkswoon's 'Antivenom' Searches for the Cure to Heartache

The process of creating antivenom is gruesome and arduous, but anything that leads to healing doesn't come easy. Darkswoon's fourth LP wraps around the causes of the pain and squeezes it tight.

"You should still be here... I'd suck the poison out for you..." are the haunting words that echo at the beginning of Antivenom. Jana Cushman's otherworldly voice lures you in as it carries over atmospheric synths and riffs. Powered by lyrics seeped in melancholy and an existential outlook, Darkswoon's newest LP is a spiritual journey that expands on themes of their earlier work with more clarity and urgency.

Easily one of my favorite albums of the year, Antivenom is an immersive experience from start to finish. From the strum of the first chord to the lingering of the last note, Antivenom requires openness to absorb what the band has to say. Through music, Darkswoon aims to find the cure to madness.

Antivenom is the Portland-based band's fourth full-length effort, following the critically acclaimed Bloom Decay. In Antivenom, Darkswoon sheds their skin with a deeply emotional soundscape that acts as a temporary cure to the barrage of noise that surrounds us. The album is a direct response to the chaos in the world (and within) and also a strong reminder that in a society that constantly injects its poison, there is a way forward, even if it isn't obvious.

Darkswoon comprises Cushman (vocals and guitar), Norah Lynn (bass), and Rachell Ellis (keys and synths). The band primarily identifies as "electrohaze," their own fusion of darkwave, post-punk, and shoegaze. They have garnered comparisons to acts such as Eurythmics, Modern English, and Austra.

For Antivenom, Darkswoon has solidified their sound and identity as a band. During the creation of the album, Cushman took an approach that was different from the band's previous efforts. According to label Viasonde's recent zine (vol. 5), Cushman took three separate solo writing retreats on the Pacific coast, and leaned into a more organic composing process that connected with nature and included microdosing on mushrooms.

The record launches with the cinematic "Connective Tissue" before transitioning into the heavy title track, an ode to Nex Benedict, a trans non-binary teenager who took their life. Directly resonating with Cushman's own identity, the song is an outcry for the safety of trans individuals. The lead track sets the pensive tone of the album and anchors its core message, "Antivenom—the song and the album—is about sucking the poison out and caring for the wound."

Antivenom continues with songs that can be received as a set of spells and energetic releases. While the title track is one of protection, "Pacific City" and "Thread" weave in stories of strained love and loss. Meanwhile, "Monochrome" and "Small Death" lean more into affirmations. The first song continues with the recurring snake motif, declaring, "Found a power within, I'm molting. Shedding skin. No more crying over ashes of the fire you started..."

The penultimate track, "x3," bemoans the scourge of capitalism, which has tightened its grip on society more than ever. Cushman sings a curse to shadowy corporate overlords and promises that even wealth doesn't protect from an early grave. According to Darkswoon, Death is the end of the sentence. From the beginning of Antivenom, the band inches closer to the concept of finality.

Antivenom closes with "Going Dark," a somber closer that allows the music to fade to black. Cushman describes the ending as more of an ellipsis rather than a solid conclusion. Darkswoon acknowledges that while life is currently dire collectively, the future is up for interpretation. The album's final song references being "ready to see in the dark." However, when wandering in the dark, there is always the hope that you'll find the light.

"Looking into the future
I am ready to see in the dark
Protect our light
You are perfect in the night..."

Antivenom is now available on all streaming services as of April 3rd. The vinyl LP is now available for purchase through Bandcamp and Viasonde Records.

Additionally, DARKSWOON will celebrate their album release in Seattle on April 18th at Add-a-Ball ($14; tickets HERE).

For more information, visit the band's official website at darkswoon.com.