“Leaves you breathless and in awe at its sonic onslaught, rendered by the sheer force of its jagged, metallic power”
BLITZED
“Ranks among their best albums. Mainman Tom Shear shows no sign of waning in his creative muse”
ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK
“Powerful electro tracks, the quality and catchiness of which becomes even more apparent after repeated listens”
SONIC SEDUCER (DE)
“Delivers a true rollercoaster of emotions, taking you on a journey through the highs and lows of human feeling”
ORKUS (DE)
“Powerful beats, driving electronics, clear synth layers and strong melodies”
REFLECTIONS OF DARKNESS (DE)
“The sound design is flawless, the vocals intimate yet confident. Every hook lands, every melody lingers”
KLANGINSTANZ (DE)
The long-awaited new album by Assemblage 23, ‘Null’, is released today. The brainchild of US electro-industrial/synth-pop artist Tom Shear, it is his tenth album but first since ‘Mourn’ in 2020. Home to the recent singles ‘Tolerate’ and ‘Believe’, ’Null’ was pre-promoted with a successful UK tour in October.
As a literary noun, ‘Null’ means ‘zero’. “I thought it would be funny as a title for my tenth album, but I also like the fact that ‘zero’ or ‘nothing’ really depends on the context,” explains Shear. “If you go to the doctor after treatment and there’s no more sign of cancer or whatever, that’s the best possible news you can get. But, if you have no money in the bank, it has a totally negative connotation. I like that about language, about how context can completely change the meaning behind it.”
Shear has been releasing records as Assemblage 23 since the turn of the millennium, when his debut album ‘Contempt’ sent shockwaves through a scene that was primarily dominated by European acts. Subsequent albums helped establish him as one of the leaders of the ‘Future Pop’ movement that took hold of underground dancefloors in the early 2000s.
What has always separated Shear’s output from most of his contemporaries has been the deeply personal and relatable manner of his song lyrics. Often broaching difficult subjects such as suicide and depression, he has gained a significant worldwide following and performs regularly around the globe.