Distant, icy, somber, and isolated within their own self-imposed exile, Death in June return in the end of 2004 with a new album. Following the structure and the logic of ALL PIGS MUST DIE (acoustic start, more experimental songs as the album unfolds) but as far as the "concept" is concerned, the cold nihilism of the previous album is somehow absent here, replaced by a spirit which is closer to the ROSE CLOUDS OF HOLOCAUST, as far as the first part of the album is concerned, and WALL OF SACRIFICE for the second part.

This, of course, has a lot to do with the fact that Boyd Rice is the lead singer, and by now a permanent addition to the lineup which also features John Murphy at the percussion. Douglas joins only for occassional background vocals, other than his standard guitar playing and keyboard touches.

ALARM AGENTS can be divided in two big sections. The first is acoustic-heavy, with synth lines and percussion adding color to the riffs, and a sense of nostalgia present. Images of summer, sun, and sea rule the titles and the lyrics, Boyd's funeral-like delivery of an innocence forever lost, and references to old memories creating a sad aura. "Storm on the sea" is my favorite from this collection of songs, but every single composition is effective in its own way.

The second part shifts moods and goes back to the noisy, strict WALL OF SACRIFICE. Anger and refusal of compromise rule these songs, with the towering "Get used to saying no!" and "Deeper than love" standing out as noisy monsters above effects and other loops, Boyd Rice in his very element with his commanding voice, spitting out every word with a robotic precision but a true enraged wolf's persistence and passion.

The delivery is a welcome escape, with the oddity of a laughing-effect based song and a final narration, all apparently Boyd's own obsessions, references to alcohol, Schopenhauer and a sense of self-imprisonment as an eccentric method of self-liberation.

Death in June are already who they are. People can either love them or hate them. With this new album, they add another blade to their sword collection. And it cuts deep. "Deeper than love"...