{"id":23767,"date":"2026-11-04T12:13:20","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T17:13:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mkultramagazine.com\/?p=23767"},"modified":"2026-11-04T12:52:50","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T17:52:50","slug":"pittsburghs-industrial-goth-post-punk-artist-shadowmouthdeals-with-anxiety-and-frustration-in-a-world-constantly-online-with-new-album-modern-alchemy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mkultramagazine.com\/?p=23767","title":{"rendered":"Pittsburgh\u2019s Industrial\/Goth\/Post-Punk Artist SHADOWMOUTH Deals With Anxiety And Frustration In A World Constantly Online With New Album \u201cModern Alchemy\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Photo by Amber Reskey<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pittsburgh, PA industrial\/goth\/post-punk artist SHADOWMOUTH<\/strong> has released the new full-length \u201cModern Alchemy\u201d<\/strong> on October 14th viaDeath of The Party<\/strong> Records<\/strong>. The work, featuring eight new tracks, is available on the major digital services, while CD and vinyl can be purchased on ElasticStage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick Polo<\/strong> \u2013 the mastermind of SH<\/strong>ADOWMOUTH<\/strong> \u2013 has stated about \u201cModern Alchemy\u201d<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe album was directly inspired by the daily anxieties and frustration directly related to a world that is consistently online. Our very Alchemy has drifted away from the physical world to a false sense of identity in which we project ourselves into the world via social media. But there is a longing to return to form. This record challenges those ideas; of one\u2019s life on display and valued solely by views, likes and direct engagement, as well as the catharsis of tearing down such structures.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShadowMouth is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rick Polo – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keys, Bass VI, Programming<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brooks Farris: Live and Programmed Drums, Studio Wizardry<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShadowMouth is the solo project of Rick Polo (of Baroque Monody and Heck Vektor). Based out of Western Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The debut single, “Poison Nostalgia\/Twenty Four Hours” landed on Bandcamp on Oct. 4, 2024 for Bandcamp Friday, and on streaming platforms Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. The single features and A-side of the debut original track, “Poison Nostalgia,” and for the B-side a cover of Joy Division’s “Twenty Four Hours.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project’s sound encompasses the sweet spot that intersects Goth, Post-Punk, Industrial Rock and Heavy Alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first two tracks appeared on the debut EP, “Purification By Fire,” released in late 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poison Nostalgia was written and performed by Rick Polo with drums and production by Brooks Farris and vocals by Dombrowski. The same line-up performs on the “Twenty Four Hours” cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new single, “Your Words, Not Mine,” was released on May 21, 2025. This was the first single from the forthcoming debut LP, \u201cModern Alchemy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Your Words, Not Mine,’ touches on our relation to social media. It’s fascinatingly ironic how there are platforms larger than ever in history to share our voices, yet we are seemingly more disconnected than ever before. Social media, and these platforms which are run by billionaire megalomaniacs, has stolen and distorted our voice, our personality, and completely altered how we interact with one another on a personal level.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n