The Exploding Boy

Alarms!

Eighties-sounding Swedes deliver dark pop.

Whether it’s the gloomy goth of Icelandics Kontinuum or the erratic beats of the groovy Grave Pleasures, the darker sounds of the 80s are having a resurgence in rock.

Plucking their name from a Cure song title, The Exploding Boy are riding on that synthy wave. Dubbing themselves as ‘dark indie’, these Swedes are undeniably 80s-sounding, with their namesake an obvious influence, but there are also echoes of New Order and the Sisters Of Mercy. They blend a melancholic air with anthemic melodies, from Run Red’s rousing chorus to Danger Zone’s mix of twanging guitars and atmospheric synths.

Alarms! is already their fifth album, and this stirring collection of dark, nostalgic pop looks set to get them some recognition outside their homeland.