It’s been a minute since we last heard from Energy Whores, and it’s safe to say, they’ve been sorely missed. The electro-punk band, led by the dynamic Carrie Schoenfeld and Attilio Valenti, burst onto the scene with a hypnotic and confrontational sound. Their new track, “Bunker Man,” released on the 9th of January this year, marks a significant return to the spotlight, exploring themes of paranoia, delusion, and the consequences of isolation. Let’s take a better dive into this track.
The song opens with a wonderful whirl of retro beats, uniformly mixing vintage synths and a pulsating bass that serves as the song’s foundation. This infectious rhythm pulls you in, setting the tone for what’s to come as the beat becomes more entrancing. The opening lines, “A paranoid asshole sits, deep inside his lair. A lifetime of planning, just to get him there,” then set the stage for the dystopian journey ahead. These lyrics introduce us to the character of the “Bunker Man,” a figure cloaked in isolation and delusion, cut off from reality in his underground utopia. Schoenfeld’s voice is layered with emotion, each syllable sharp and pointed, making it clear that the personal reflection within these words is just as important as their societal implications. Her vocal performance is what truly elevates the track, giving it emotional depth while also making it a rallying cry for anyone who feels unheard or trapped in a world that values survival above all else.
As we delve deeper, it becomes clear that it’s not just a song about one individual but a critique of the very systems that allow such delusion to fester. “And when the earth is dead and gone. And there’s no reason for right and wrong. There’s no one left to listen to your righteous little song. Because it had no meaning all along.” These lines tear into the self-serving mentality that dominates the bunker-dwelling man’s worldview, exposing the emptiness of any moral claims when the world around him has crumbled beyond repair. It’s a biting commentary on self-righteousness, where the pursuit of power and control leaves behind a world without meaning, compassion, and connection.
The production in “Bunker Man” is stellar, with intricate layers of synths and processed vocals that give the track a mechanical feel, almost as though the music itself is a part of the very dystopian future the lyrics describe. The bass pulses steadily, almost like a heartbeat, while the synths swirl in and out, creating a disorienting atmosphere that perfectly mirrors the chaos of the world the song inhabits.
Ultimately, “Bunker Man” is an electrifying probe into the dangers of isolation, unchecked power, and the mistake that one can escape the consequences of their actions. In ‘Bunker Man,’ Energy Whores tap into the same vein of protest music that fueled Dylan, but with the industrial bite of Rage Against the Machine and the pulsating energy of a cyberpunk fever dream. It’s music that makes you dance but also makes you think—and more importantly, makes you uneasy.
Listen to “Den of Sins” by Energy Whores on Spotify
You can follow Energy Whores here for more information.
