Age of Aquarius is Perturbator’s most thematic and refined work yet.
James Kent, better known as Perturbator, has never let genres decide who he is. He’s often placed in the synthwave or darkwave crowd because of his cyberpunk imagery and cinematic aesthetic, but his music pushes far past those boundaries. Beneath the glossy synths is something darker and more intense, a mix of aggression and atmosphere that draws from metal, industrial and gothic influences. Across his albums, Kent builds moody, dystopian worlds that feel alive and deliberate, each one expanding his vision and setting him apart from everyone else in the scene.
The latest release, Age of Aquarius, is Kent’s most cinematic work yet, bringing a stronger sense of purpose and emotional weight to his sound. It leans into themes of conflict and human chaos, showing an artist who’s grown more confident in using his music to explore deeper ideas. While the production still carries his signature tension and atmosphere, there’s a sharper focus on storytelling and commentary than in his past releases.
One of the central themes running through Age of Aquarius appears early in the track “Apocalypse Now.” Even without breaking down its production, the song’s lyrical focus is rooted in war, collapse and human conflict. Kent sings, “I remember the fall, the tumbling wall, the grey city opening, a dream that faded away,” his voice cutting through a backdrop of pounding drums and sharp, splitting synths. The contrast between his calm delivery and the intensity of the sound captures the tension that drives much of the album, where beauty and brutality exist side by side. His vocal performance is surprisingly soft for such a heavy production. He doesn’t shout or force emotion the way you might expect from a song built on such intensity. Instead, his calm and almost weary delivery reflects the exhaustion that comes with constant conflict, capturing a sense of fatigue that feels deeply human.
Two of the album’s most pivotal moments come through its instrumentals, “The Art of War” and “The Swimming Pool.” “The Art of War” unfolds in a dark, relentless atmosphere, driven by hypnotic rhythms and fast-paced production that feels both mechanical and chaotic. In contrast, “The Swimming Pool” slows the pace, built around haunting piano passages that create a sense of stillness and reflection. It carries a more somber tone and stands out as one of the few tracks without Kent’s vocals, allowing the emotion to emerge entirely through sound.
Age of Aquarius feels like Kent’s most technically accomplished work to date. He’s honed his control over synths and texture, creating an atmosphere that feels intentionally unsettling yet purposeful. Every sound seems carefully placed to draw the listener into discomfort, not as a shock tactic, but as a way to make the tension and emotion of his world feel real.
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