Almost a year after releasing their gloriously ominous EP  Husband, Lord, & Master,   the goth quartet Wax Lead  is back and has joined forces with their self-described "kindred spirits," the Washington D.C. based band  Luna Honey  for a split 7-inch. With "Honey on the Moon," you are instantly transfixed as vocalist Holly Axelrod becomes engrossed with what's on the other side. With each repeat of the phrase "there's honey on the moon," Holly's tone shifts from curiosity to obsession. The hypnotic bassline of Cody Bourdot combines with Evan Blasing's drumming to push the group of crusaders forward through the song's vast and deary landscape. In a statement from the band, Holly describes "Honey on the Moon" as an exploration into humanity's desire to take things that aren't our own. "We rarely have the time to be gracious and reflect on our natural world. This song brings in the comparison of extinguish...

Minneapolis darkwave quartet Wax Lead has released a music video for their track "Crushed Velvet" off the band's debut EP "Husband, Love, & Master." "Crushed Velvet" is a letter of lament from the band to warn the listener of the dangers of losing one's self to another person. This is evident from the get-go with the opening line "I was in love once, long ago."  From the first chord, you feel like you're being transported to a past memory still clouded by warbly lead lines that take away some of the pictures clarity. On this track, Wax Lead really wear their influences on their sleeve in the best way possible. Poetic lyrical phrasing mixes with the soulful voice of vocalist Holly Axelrod to evoke a moody tone that is similar to the work of Nick Cave. The instrumentation and arrangements on this track (and EP) create a vibe that not only supports "Crushed Velvet's" narrative but adds a dreamlike quality to t...