Monthly Archives: December 2023

The beautiful chrysanthemum derives its name from the Latin version of the ancient Greek χρυσάνθεμον, which translates as ‘gold flower’. Its humble white form is also known as the ‘cemetery flower’ as its longevity is often used to adorn graves, while for Black Nail Cabaret its blossom paves the way for our own deathbed portraits.

 Musically, the duo have brought their outstanding songwriting ability closer to perfection, with ‘Chrysanthemum’ effortlessly blending dark electronic sounds with pop noir elements. That they have form in delivering strong compositions rather than merely relying on studio wizardry was recently proved with ‘Woodland Memoirs’ (2023), an album of BNC songs that were recorded acoustically and released as Black Nail Cabaret & Friends.

Although BNC are also remaining true to their marked penchant for sexually explicit provocation, the primal and subconscious fear of death that triggers emotions, anxiety and the fear of letting go is also a thread running through ‘Chrysanthemum’. Moreover, their eroticism has always sought to avoid cheap clichés; rather, they depict their living BDSM reality in artistic fashion framed by high aesthetic standards.

 BNC self-released their 2018 fourth album ‘Pseudopop’, a record that successfully fused art, pop, dark harmonies and powerful electronics. It made an impressive mark on the electronic music scene in their home territory and received an international relaunch after its 2020 follow-up ‘Gods Verging On Sanity’ saw their reputation spread rapidly, even though the global pandemic enforced limitations upon them.

The stars have now fully aligned for BNC to take on the world with a dark soundtrack to life’s glory symbolised by a shiny white flower of seeming innocence that at closer inspection also carries the eternal might of death in its scent: ‘Chrysanthemum’.