This Track Is Fire!

Though not an offical theme, I have been in a synth mood the last few posts, so far be it for me to deviate from that. Today, I give Empathy Test "Doubts," which just speaks to everything I like about good synthpop: it's catchy, it's singable, and yeah, it's dark. there is no substitute for love no feeling tell me when you've had enough It's because of songs like this that I had to put a disclaimer on my Facebook page so that when I posted lyrics/music people wouldn't think I was in the middle of a deep depression. Quite the opposite, actually. Music like this makes me feel happy and alive. And that's how Monday should be. If you're celebrating Labor Day today, I hope you're having a good time! Enjoy! Monsters by Empathy Test

Note: In honor of one full year of This Track Is Fire I thought I would highlight the top 10 posts over the last year, but there's a tie in the seventh position, and a three-way tie in the tenth position, so instead you're getting the Top 12 Posts over the past year. At #10 is  Perturbator "The Glass Staircase ," which, to be fair, is a strong track in an entire album of fantastic songs. It was honestly hard to pick just one, but there was something about this track that just grabbed me.  I would dare to say that Pertubator isn't anything near mainstream music, so I am tickled that this post has seen more love than some more well-established bands. If you haven't already, please do check it out !

It was the final Bandcamp Friday of 2025 three days ago, and yes, I made several purchases (more on that later), but one of the standouts is this track by Perturbator. I think the best way I can describe this track, and the entire album, is that it's the soundtrack to a badass sci-fi/action movie that does not yet exist. After making my purchases that afternoon I was listening to them as I drove to/from my friend's house for our weekly poker game when this track came on and I was like, "DAMN!" It's already a solid track, but then at about the 1:15 mark it shifts to this sinister, throbbing beat. Dark Wave, indeed! I love it! Age of Aquarius by PERTURBATOR

Just listen to that sinister, slithering bassline and tell me that this song isn't sexy AF.  Do it, I dare you, because I don't think that you can, not honestly. Combined with that deep, almost monotonous voice of Robert Alfons, and hot damn, there's just something about this song that tingles up and down my spine. Happy October! Note: updated because I mispelled " Colossal," but at least the URL will show my stupidity for all eternity. Derp. The Destroyer - 1 by TR/ST