Calling All Astronauts – Noise Against Tyranny Review: A Fierce And Uncompromising Sonic Rebellion Against Injustice

Calling All Astronauts – Noise Against Tyranny
Calling All Astronauts – Noise Against Tyranny

Calling All Astronauts, the London based electropunk duo of vocalist and programmer David Bury and multi instrumentalist Paul McCrudden, have long been a fierce and unapologetic force in the alternative music underground. Since forming in 2011, they have built their reputation on a fearless fusion of electro, goth, post punk, industrial metal, and EDM, consistently lacing their work with politically charged narratives that take aim at racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and corruption. Influenced by acts like Ministry, Sisters of Mercy, Nine Inch Nails, and Pendulum, they have created a sound that is both retro in its industrial and gothic sensibilities and modern in its electronic power.

With previous albums such as Post Modern Conspiracy, Anti Social Network, and the acclaimed #Resist, they have proven themselves masters at turning socio political outrage into compelling, hard hitting art. Now, with fascism and nationalism still rampant across the globe, they return with their fourth album, “Noise Against Tyranny”, a release four years in the making due to the global pandemic, but one that arrives with sharpened focus and undiminished fire.

Calling All Astronauts – Noise Against Tyranny

Noise Against Tyranny” by Calling All Astronauts was released on July 11th 2025 through their own Supersonic Media, marking the duo’s first full length project in four years. The album arrives as a timely and uncompromising statement, shaped by the lingering social and political unrest that has continued to fester across the globe. From the outset, it becomes clear that David Bury and Paul McCrudden have poured their full creative and ideological energy into crafting a work that is as urgent as it is musically adventurous. The pandemic extended its creation, but the extra time has allowed the record to evolve into a layered and fully realised piece of art that blends fierce industrial edges with immersive electronic soundscapes, giving each track a sense of purpose and bite.

Vocally, David B commands attention with a delivery that balances sermon like authority and raw emotion, perfectly complementing the music’s unrelenting drive. His voice slices through the mix, carrying lyrics that speak directly to themes of corruption, oppression, and resistance, making the messages impossible to ignore. McCrudden’s multi instrumental contributions bring depth and variety to each track, whether through urgent bass grooves, blistering guitar work, or tightly programmed percussion. Together, they create a musical chemistry that is rooted in precision but fuelled by passion, ensuring that every song carries both sonic weight and thematic resonance.

Noise Against Tyranny Album Track List:

Pray For Your Soul:
“Pray For Your Soul”
stands out as one of the most intense tracks on “Noise Against Tyranny”, delivering a fierce critique aimed squarely at conservative Christianity. From the very first moments, the song erupts with jagged synth stabs and booming bass lines that carve a dramatic, almost cathedral-like industrial soundscape. The razor sharp drum programming adds a relentless urgency, making the track feel like the collapse of oppressive walls into an electronic rebellion that demands attention. This sonic backdrop perfectly sets the stage for the track’s potent message, immersing the listener in a landscape of confrontation and reflection.
David B’s vocal performance dominates the mix with commanding authority, sharp and sermon like, yet cutting through the distorted textures like a siren. His delivery is precise and unapologetic as he exposes religious and political hypocrisy with unflinching clarity. The vocal intensity drives the song’s emotional core, balancing raw passion with a calculated edge that pulls the listener deep into the track’s message. Alongside David’s voice, Paul McCrudden’s ominous bass and slashing guitar riffs inject a gritty goth metal energy, propelling the song forward with relentless momentum and dark power.
More than just a lead single, “Pray For Your Soul” is a bold statement of Calling All Astronauts’ evolving musicianship. It combines elements of industrial power and electronicore into a fearless and cohesive whole that both challenges and engages. The expertly arranged synth flourishes and rhythmic pulses heighten the tension throughout, making it impossible to simply listen passively. Instead, the track demands that you feel its weight, reflect on its message, and confront the issues it lays bare. It is a commanding example of the band’s ability to merge intense political commentary with electrifying sound.

War On Truth:
“War On Truth”
launches with an aggressive sonic attack that targets far right disinformation with relentless intensity. The track immediately immerses listeners in a battlefield of sound, where jagged guitars snap sharply over grimy, unyielding electronic pulses. This combination creates a trench-like atmosphere thick with tension, perfectly mirroring the urgent political message embedded in the lyrics. The rhythm section carries a weighty industrial power, while flickering synth lines act like warning signals cutting through the darkness, setting a tone of both alertness and resistance.
David B’s vocal performance is a standout element, blending the force of a battle cry with the weary wisdom of a prophecy. His voice slices through the dense mix with feral clarity, painting a vivid picture of misinformation’s corrosive effect on society. The song’s narrative feels immediate and personal as it exposes the dangers of falsehoods and the collapse of trust within communities. When the chorus hits, it erupts with righteous fury, demanding attention and action. It serves not only as a warning but as a manifesto, compelling listeners to awaken to the realities being obscured by deceit.
Musically, “War On Truth” exemplifies Calling All Astronauts’ ability to balance tension and release with expert precision. The arrangements build and break in ways that keep the listener engaged and on edge, matching the thematic urgency with dynamic shifts in intensity. As one of the most compelling tracks on “Noise Against Tyranny”, it transcends mere aggression to become a powerful call to arms. This is a song designed to provoke thought and ignite resistance against the lies and manipulation that threaten social cohesion and truth itself.

Calling All Astronauts – Noise Against Tyranny

I Can’t Breathe:
“I Can’t Breathe”
is one of the most emotionally devastating tracks on Noise Against Tyranny, confronting the harrowing reality of domestic abuse and the feeling of being trapped in an oppressive relationship. The song unfolds as a slow-burning industrial dirge, its subterranean synths and heavy, ghostly beats creating a suffocating atmosphere that echoes the crushing silence victims often endure. Atmospheric textures pulse subtly beneath the surface, imbuing the track with a quiet but palpable grief that immediately draws the listener into its emotional depth.
David B’s vocal delivery on this track is deeply affecting, oscillating between anguished confession and defiant cry. His voice carries a sorrow that feels both intensely personal and hauntingly universal, capturing the complex emotions of fear, pain, and resilience. The sparse arrangement is deliberate, magnifying every moment and allowing space for silence to strike as powerfully as sound. This restraint heightens the emotional impact, making the song’s core lament all the more wrenching and authentic.
As “I Can’t Breathe” progresses, the underlying tension tightens rather than releases, transforming sorrow into a simmering, righteous anger. This progression mirrors the emotional journey of many who endure abuse, moving from despair to a potent, quiet resistance. The track stands as a profound statement within the album, showcasing Calling All Astronauts’ ability to blend raw emotional immediacy with purposeful restraint. It leaves a lasting impression about exhaustion, protest, and the heavy weight of living under relentless duress.

1979:
“1979”
serves as the emotional and sonic epilogue to “Noise Against Tyranny”, a poignant anti-fascist poem penned by David B in the year 1979. Recognizing that the world seems to have circled back to the same troubling issues after 46 years, the duo chose to set these words to music as a reflective finale. The track unfolds slowly and deliberately, its ambient textures filled with ghostly synths and layered atmospheres that create a haunting yet futuristic soundscape. This longest piece on the album invites listeners into a contemplative space, gently carrying the weight of the record’s previous intensity into a more introspective moment.
David B’s vocal delivery on “1979” shifts from the defiant urgency heard elsewhere on the album to a tone of quiet resolve. His voice echoes across the sonic landscape with a sense of calm reflection rather than confrontation, encouraging listeners to pause and consider the cyclical nature of history. The track’s pacing is measured and patient, each drone and harmonic nuance carefully crafted to evoke a sense of standing at the edge of memory, both deeply personal and broadly universal. This temporal dislocation reinforces the song’s thematic core, making it feel as though time itself is bending to reveal lessons often forgotten.
Ultimately, “1979” acts as a grounding force within “Noise Against Tyranny”, anchoring the album’s political fervor in human experience and continuity. It serves as an elegy for fractured histories while simultaneously offering a tentative hope for the future. The track’s elegiac sweep honors what has come before but insists on forward momentum, leaving the listener with a profound sense of reflection balanced by a subtle call to action. It is a fitting and powerful close to an album defined by urgency, rebellion, and a relentless quest for truth.

Calling All Astronauts – Noise Against Tyranny

Across its ten tracks, “Noise Against Tyranny” refuses to be confined to one sonic lane. The record shifts between the aggressive propulsion of “metal drum and bass” passages and the more atmospheric pull of “spoken word shoegaze,” all while maintaining an industrial thread that holds the project together. The duo’s use of jagged synths, thick bass lines, and sharp guitar riffs creates a dense wall of sound that feels both menacing and hypnotic. Every beat and texture is meticulously placed, resulting in arrangements that are powerful yet never overcrowded. This sonic craftsmanship allows the political and emotional weight of the album to land with even greater force, inviting listeners into a soundworld that is as intricate as it is intense.

Noise Against Tyranny is a Fierce, Unrelenting Sonic Rebellion Where Calling All Astronauts Fuse Industrial Power And Electronic Edge To Confront Corruption, Oppression, And Social Injustice

The production of “Noise Against Tyranny” is bold yet controlled, a testament to the duo’s decision to self produce after working with Grammy winning engineer Alan Branch on previous singles. The result is a record that feels entirely theirs, unfiltered and uncompromising in its execution. There is space in the mix for every gritty synth texture and pounding rhythm, allowing each track to breathe while still maintaining a sense of relentless momentum. Ultimately, “Noise Against Tyranny” is more than just an album; it is a charged, immersive journey through sound and ideology, cementing Calling All Astronauts’ place as one of the most politically fearless acts in the alternative scene today.

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