When you’re taking mood and thematics into consideration for any body of work no matter how small it might be, there’s not much that can compare to a piece of gothic rock done right down to the very tone of the strings. Effortlessly, the style has long been home to works that are nothing but immensely compelling in every form but it’s not nearly often enough that we’re able to be graced by such works that are able to continue that trend in a continuous, glorious fashion. I’m not sure I’ll ever understand why there aren’t more gothic acts of even a half-decent caliber that cross my path but it is what it is for when something quality does come along, I’m never able to wretch myself away from it easily. With just three tracks to spare, De Arma’s newest EP manages to do that and then some.

In the event of taking mood as a key factor in any performance that you may bring forth, it always helps to have a backdrop or setting that matches what you’re going for since that can then further enhance your effort tenfold into realms that are simply engrossing, to say the least. Immediately, it’s effortless for any listener to realize that De Arma already knows how to execute such a concept to a wondrous degree with the very cover art for “Nightcall” giving us all the insight we could need in order to get a proper window into the world crafted before us. A dystopian metropolis sometime in the unknown future where it always seems to rain and the dichotomy of the neon lights and dark alleyways make for a truly dangerous concrete jungle setting, it’s the distinct concoction of gothic rock alongside a strong injection from the worlds of metal and darkwave that makes “Nightcall” a dense yet immensely accessible work that captures its environment gorgeously. From the atmospheric rock elements to the sleek darkwave excellence that’s sprinkled throughout the entirety of the EP, it’s hard not to look into what all has been brought forth for “Nightcall” and feel wholly immersed in the world De Arma has crafted for us to lose ourselves in with each track having its own distinct feel to it that only further fleshes out their carefully crafted world before our very eyes.

This is what it means to make gothic rock immersive, diverse, and still immensely interesting for all that it manages to achieve, and yet I can’t help but feel as though this is just the beginnings of what De Arma is capable of. There may not seem to be much to uncover in the three tracks that are offered to us within “Nightcall” but it’s in every way that the alleys and streets of this world are not to be treaded lightly for you never truly know what you’ll come into contact next be it hostile or wondrous.

LISTEN to “Nightcall” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE De Arma on Facebook here.