Attrition - This Death House

The legendary Attrition embarked on their musical journey in 1980, and just two years later, they released their masterful debut, Death House. This album conjures the darkest and most macabre elements of Attrition’s sound. Allegedly inspired by classic zombie films, Death House delivers forty-six minutes of blackened, paranoia-inducing ambiance. Split into two sprawling compositions, the record channels the grim, unsettling atmospheres of films like The Last Man on Earth and the original Night of the Living Dead, transforming their eerie moods into haunting musical form.

Listening to Death House is often an unsettling experience, much like witnessing the harrowing scene in Night of the Living Dead where Judy and Tom’s pickup truck explodes for the first time. The ghastly image of their corpses being devoured by zombies marks a chilling turning point in the film—and Attrition captures that same queasy dread throughout the entire album. Musically, Attrition employs a minimal approach, layering light percussion and synthesizers to build their sound. Waves of synthesizer swells bellow with agitation, twisting and morphing into unfettered sonic shapes, shifting between swelling intensity and quiet menace. Tension, dread, and psychosis remain ever-present.

On The Dead of Night, you are greeted by harrowing synth effects that echo an ambulance siren. The sound rises and falls ominously, conjuring the image of a speeding ambulance that never reached its destination. Instead, it lies overturned, its windshield cracked and stained red, as a slow-moving horde closes in on its tragic victims. Wind samples and eerie computer bleeps add further layers of horror—the wind lending a naturalistic chill, while the computer effects suggest something far more sinister.

Death House essentially serves as the soundtrack to the perfect horror film, boasting all the signature elements: high-strung motion, unwavering tension, and absolute conviction. It comes as no surprise that a band as legendary as Attrition emerged with such a striking debut masterpiece. The use of synthesizers and percussion is breathtakingly effective, making Death House a must-listen for anyone who appreciates authentic, dark music.