IST IST - Dagger

Post-punk has become one of the most crowded, and unfortunately overexploited, territories of recent decades. Amid obsessive revivalism and countless Joy Division clones, standing out requires a voice that breaks from the pack. England's Ist Ist, now at their fifth full-length with "Dagger", don't seem capable of pushing beyond the boundaries of a genre that's already been picked apart from every angle. Where the Manchester band had tried to flex their muscles on previous records (not always with great results, to be fair), here the feeling is of a group that prefers its comfort zone to any real risk.

Formed in 2014, Ist Ist started out with a minimal, brooding post-punk sound built on distorted basslines, gritty riffs and Adam Houghton's deep voice holding everything together. Over time the Manchester band has leaned ever more heavily on synths and electronic textures, as on 2023's "Protagonists". On "Dagger", this evolution doesn't seem to find any new outlet: the ingredients are the usual ones - sturdy riffs, tectonic basslines, icy synths and that baritone timbre that's now their trademark - and the sense of "already heard" looms large.

The opener is "I Am The Fear", chosen as the lead single: a fast, synthetic post-punk pill that's undeniably effective but lacks the spark needed to really stick. The record picks up, though, with the following one-two: "Makes No Difference" boasts a catchy chorus and a sturdier melodic build, with a bassline that nods directly to fellow countrymen New Order, while "Warning Signs" hits the accelerator with a driving rhythm propelled by feverish, metronomic drumming.

One of the record's finest moments is undoubtedly "The Echo". Here the band plays with light and shade, building an atmosphere that brushes up against dark territory, balancing between the romanticism of The Mary Onettes and the urban suggestions of Editors. The guitars turn more liquid and the reverb wraps around the track, lending it an almost cinematic breadth.

In "Encouragement", Ist Ist try to condense the best of their repertoire: the rhythm section is imposing and the synthesizers create a glacial backdrop over which Houghton delivers one of his most convincing performances. Also worth noting is "Obligations", a track dominated by a pulsing bassline that acts as its true backbone, interweaving with guitars that scratch just as they should. The curtain falls with "Ambition", a closer with almost messianic, epic overtones. The track unfolds in a slow instrumental crescendo where layered sounds attempt to lend gravitas to the finale, succeeding only in part.

"Dagger" is a stylistically flawless work with undeniable sonic impact, yet it struggles to establish itself as essential listening in today's overcrowded market, coming across as decidedly too derivative. Genre fans will find plenty to sink their teeth into, but anyone hoping Ist Ist had finally made their definitive leap forward will likely be left with a bitter taste.

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10/03/2026