The DSM IV, formed by Guy McKnight of critically acclaimed cult favourites The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster, along with Jade Ormesher and Patrick Cummins, present a dark sound blending noise-rock, synth-pop, and industrial elements to deliver a unique musical experience. Their powerful soundscapes are cacophonous and epic, featuring rich textures, melodic hooks and thought-provoking lyrics that both entertain and encourage introspection.
After a trio of singles, ‘Racist Man’ (2018), ‘Funland’ (2019) and ‘Killing Your Time’ (2020), The DSM IV dropped their 6-tune ‘Negative Utopia’ EP on 31st January last year, and it was made up of remixes from their 10-track ‘New Age Paranoia’ album as well as some new material. It had swiftly followed on from their ‘Wise Guy’ / ‘Pennywise’ double A-side single which came out just a month before.
Their ‘New Age Paranoia’ album hit the streets on 9th June 2023 and saw the band unveil an impressive collection of stories, beats, guitars and noise, seamlessly weaving together sobering but dream-filled songs that explore the ways in which our collective minds are influenced by mass media, entertainment industries and social media.
On the road, The DSM IV have headlined packed-out rooms across the UK. They have shared stages with the likes of John Cale, Warmduscher, Ladytron, The Wytches and Deadletter. We last caught up with The DSM IV when they headlined The Hope & Ruin in Brighton on 12th June 2024 – You can read that review below.
In the meantime, The DSM IV have announced that they will be playing live in Brighton on Sunday 16th August 2026. The gig will be part of a packed summer seaside soiree at Daltons which is located on the Lower Promenade of Madeira Drive. The event kicks off at 7pm and the seriously stacked lineup features a trio of real quality acts, namely Francis Pig, Jonny Couch, and Solid Pleasure. Advance tickets are priced at £10 and can be purchased HERE.
ADDITIONAL READING:
THE DSM IV – THE HOPE & RUIN, BRIGHTON 12.6.24 (by Graeme Houston)
While the vast majority of Brighton and Hove’s music fans may have been found down at Chalk tonight to watch Goat Girl, a packed out Hope & Ruin shows that there is still much demand to see new, up and coming, bands who one day in the not too distant future could be playing venues that size, if not greater. Promoters ‘Hidden Herd’ have been championing such newer bands for a number of years now putting on gigs at local grass root venues such as The Prince Albert and The Hope and Ruin which is where I find myself this evening to see their latest bill of four exciting emerging talents.
After securing support slots with the likes of the legendary John Cale, Ladytron, Sleaford Mods, The Wytches and Deadletter as well as securing a slot at ‘Mutations Festival’ then it might not be too long until we see tonight’s headliners The DSM IV grace the stage of Chalk when they next come to town.
Fronted by Guy McKnight (vocals) of the critically acclaimed cult favourites The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster along with Jade Ormesher (guitar) and Pavarotti (drum machines and synthesizers) took to the stage for 54 minutes for their nine song set, eight of which were taken from last year’s debut album ‘New Age Paranoia’.
Their sound has been described as post-punk, noise rock, synth-pop, and Industrial and McKnight himself has been quoted as saying that they’re making “making music for the people living in strange times. Nasty and nice. Tunes”.
That’s quite a lot of genres to cover but tonight they cover them all. The lyrics are dark, very dark in places, but the music itself is incredibly uplifting. If I was asked what box I’d fit their sound into then I’d slot it straight into the one marked “brilliant”.
McKnight’s voice is like an instrument in its own right and from the moment he stepped on stage and started handing out his four pack of beer to members of the audience I had a feeling that we might be in for an entertaining time.
Pavarotti, who I was standing right in front of, was driving the beat from the get go, turning those dials and knobs creating that post-punk, synth pop, Industrial backdrop I’d heard all about.
Ormesher turned up with a suitcase full of effect pedals and I swear to God, if she used more than one of them she must have feet quicker than Ronaldo. She didn’t look happy and kept looking at her amp and muttering to McKnight throughout the set but if this is what her guitar sounds like when everything isn’t working 100% then I can’t wait to see them again when it is as I thought it sounded awesome.
The set itself kicked off with ‘Break You In’. Well if this is how they’re going to start things off then that’s fine with me. Jade ended up on her knees running her hand up and down the fret so her guitar was literally screaming while Guy was repeatedly shouting out the chorus. Were the crowd headbanding? Moshing? Nope, mostly dancing down where I was. Alchemy.
From there they moved onto ‘Reclaim The Night’. Another dark blast of a tune where Guy’s voice really came to the fore.
‘Runaway’ was up next and not only was this the danciest of the first tracks, it also marked Guy’s first foray into the audience as he popped in for a brief walkabout.
Track four was to be the only song played tonight not taken from last year’s debut album ‘New Age Paranoia’. This new one is called ‘Racist Man’. It starts off with Giorgio Moroder like beeps and beats which are then joined by the heaviest guitars and screaming vocals over the top. Absolutely exhilarating and the stand out track by any of the four bands tonight.
Before we could move onto track five of the set, Jade decided that as there wasn’t a window for her to throw her suitcase of effects pedals out of, she’d go ahead and change one of the leads down there. While she was doing that Guy magically conjured up a small box and announced that he’d brought a shower cap that he’d found by his bedside in Liverpool in the morning and hadn’t yet decided whether to sell it for 50p on the merch stand or give it to a member of the audience. With a new lead in place Guy announced “This one’s about Prince Andrew”. ‘Pennywise’, needless to say was the slowest number of the set but boy the guitar sure did sound louder.
They were really on a roll now and ‘Lions’ wasn’t just dark, broody and noisy, it also had a fantastic groove to it and Guy took every opportunity to bounce around stage when not treating us to his vocals.
Before cracking on with ‘New Age Paranoia’ the title track of their LP, Guy pointed to Pavarotti and told us “I met this man on the bus today and said do you want to have a jam?” And that was that. The music kicked off and Guy bounced off back into the crowd for a boogie.
As we near the end of the set there’s no letting up at all. If anything it’s getting a bit more manic and on ‘Killing Time’ the guitar really comes to the fore. I’ve decided that after 8 tracks I’ve heard enough to declare that Jade is a bona financial badass guitar Goddess. While she’s driving this brilliant tune along, Guy, not to be outdone, starts to tear down one of the drapes that has been covering the ceiling over the stage of The Hope for God knows how many years and by the end of the number there’s more of it hanging off than hanging on. Things are getting a bit mental now. I’m liking it.
The set climaxed with ‘Scumbag’. It rocked. It bopped. It was noisy. It was utterly magnificent. At one point, Guy climbed on somebody’s shoulders with the intention of going walkabouts again. He should have probably chosen someone a bit bigger as they went one step forward and two steps back. Obviously pumped up he treated us to a wild shamanic dance which culminated with him coming out of his spin and landing a perfect right jab on the mic stand which sent the mic flying into the crowd. He could try that another hundred times and not only miss the stand but probably fall on his arse, but the Gig God’s were with us in The Hope tonight. Once the mic was returned, miraculously undamaged he continued to sing, shout and scream the last few verses while eventually liberating the drape and years and years of who knows what from the ceiling.
He got to wear the drape around himself like a Superhero or champion boxer would their cape or gown. The front of the audience got to wear the many years of detritus it had been hiding from view.
No glitter. No confetti. Just dust and dead insects. Proper Rock and roll!!! …and as if that amazing performance wasn’t enough for you they’ve just announced that they will be releasing the video for their next single ‘White Wolf’ on 13th July.
The DSM IV:
Guy McKnight – vocals & necromancy
Jade Ormesher – guitars
Pavarotti – cheekbones, drum machines & synthesizers
The DSM IV setlist:
‘Break You In’ (from 2023 ‘New Age Paranoia’ album)
‘Reclaim The Night’ (from 2023 ‘New Age Paranoia’ album)
‘Runaway’ (from 2023 ‘New Age Paranoia’ album)
‘Racist Man RMX’ (unreleased)
‘Pennywise’ (from 2023 ‘New Age Paranoia’ album)
‘Lions’ (from 2023 ‘New Age Paranoia’ album)
‘New Age Paranoia’ (from 2023 ‘New Age Paranoia’ album)
‘Killing Your Time’ (from 2023 ‘New Age Paranoia’ album)
‘Scumbag’ (from 2023 ‘New Age Paranoia’ album)
