DESOLAT Channels Political Disillusionment Into People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders

Photo Credit: Katharina Fruehwirth

Vienna noise-rock and hardcore-punk trio DESOLAT will release its third album, People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders, Oct. 9 through an international DIY network of labels, with Reptilian Records and Exotic Fever Records handling the U.S. release.

The nine-track record turns contemporary political frustration, social alienation and outright pessimism into a particularly abrasive combination of hardcore, sludge and noise rock. Rather than treating those concerns as background commentary, DESOLAT structures much of the album around a progression from anger and observation through depression and finally into cynicism and resignation.

Opening tracks “Idiots As Leaders” and “Pig Race To The Apocalypse” establish the record’s outlook, confronting what the band views as an increasingly authoritarian and reactionary political climate. Later songs move inward, including “This Sadness Makes Me Rage,” “No Depression When Dead” and the pointedly titled “Good People Keep Their Mouths Shut While The Assholes Believe The World Belongs To Them.”

By the time the album reaches “Cyberdyne Employment Application” and closing track “Humans Are Such Easy Prey,” its tone has shifted toward darker resignation.

DESOLAT approaches those subjects from an anarcho-punk perspective, with the band’s criticism aimed broadly at authoritarianism, political extremism, religious fundamentalism, concentrated wealth and a media environment it sees as increasingly shaped by outrage and manipulation. The album also reflects a tension familiar to left-wing political movements: arguments over revolutionary versus reformist approaches can begin to feel increasingly remote when basic democratic institutions themselves appear fragile.

Musically, People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders expands the band’s established collision of hardcore punk, sludge and noise rock. The record introduces more emocore influence than previous DESOLAT material, reconnecting its members with sounds explored in some of their earlier projects.

The trio emerged nine years after the dissolution of Viennese stoner/sludge band CYRUSS and brings together musicians with histories in PHAL:ANGST, CYRUSS, DIM PROSPECTS, LA LIGNE MAGINOT, GFRAST, FACE THE OWL, RADIKALKUR and E.M.S., among others.

DESOLAT’s previous album, Get Sick And Let Me Watch You Die, arrived in 2024 through Reptilian Records and significantly expanded the band’s international profile.

The new record adds several outside voices to its already volatile sound. Former SWANS vocalist and musician Jarboe appears on “This Sadness Makes Me Rage,” saxophonist Michael Masen of MOZO MOZO contributes to “No Depression When Dead,” and RBK of post-punk band ROLLTREPPE appears on “Wannabe V.I.P.”

Rainer Spänle recorded and mixed the album at Cosmix Studio in Vienna, continuing his work with the band from its previous record. Dan Swanö mastered the album at Unisound; his production and engineering history includes EDGE OF SANITY, KATATONIA and BLOODBATH.

The resulting sound should sit comfortably with listeners drawn to the uglier edges of UNSANE, HELMET, CHERUBS, COUCH SLUT, THE JESUS LIZARD, NEUROSIS, BONGZILLA, NO MEANS NO, LARD, TRAGEDY and MINOR THREAT.

People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders Track Listing

1. “Idiots As Leaders”

2. “Pig Race To The Apocalypse”

3. “This Sadness Makes Me Rage” feat. Jarboe

4. “No Depression When Dead” feat. Michael Masen

5. “Wannabe V.I.P.” feat. RBK

6. “Good People Keep Their Mouths Shut While The Assholes Believe The World Belongs To Them”

7. “The Art Of Shit”

8. “Cyberdyne Employment Application”

9. “Humans Are Such Easy Prey”

The album will be released digitally and on marbled oxblood vinyl through a cooperative network spanning nine labels and three distributors across seven countries. Participating labels include Reptilian Records and Exotic Fever Records in the United States, Bloodshed666 Records and Grazil Records in Austria, Araki Records in France, minoRobscuR in Germany, Geenger Records in Croatia, Rat Run Records in the United Kingdom and Geertruida in the Netherlands.

DESOLAT will celebrate the album with an Oct. 16 hometown release show at Venster99 in Vienna, with additional live plans in development.

DESOLAT consists of Alfred Satani on vocals and guitar, Klaus on bass and Mentl on drums and sampling.

People As Idiots & Idiots As Leaders arrives Oct. 9.