Johnny becomes addicted to the pull of this nostalgic world, meaning it needs a suitably intoxicating soundtrack, which it has in the likes of Till We’re Gone and Adeline. These 11 songs really pull you in, too, but unlike other bands that soup up their sound with ’80s accoutrements, Electric Century genuinely sounds like a time capsule from a bygone era, whether in its vibrant, pulsing instrumentals, or singer David Debiak’s voice, which is robotic, though more Max Headroom than The Terminator.
While the Electric Century graphic novel may simply prove to be a collectible piece of ephemera, there’s a grandiosity in Mikey and David’s songwriting that rewards repeat listens to Electric Century the album. In addition, Voices and Let Me In have a formal, stagey quality, which leaves you wondering whether a stage musical version might be a possibility. There’s certainly than enough in these tunes, and the world of neon lights and thrumming arcade machines it conjures, to suggest that would be a good idea – and make for a great night out.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: My Chemical Romance, Panic! At The Disco, iDKHOW
Electric Century is out now along with an original graphic novel published by Z2 Comics