Perturbator // Age of Aquarius // Album Review

The sixth album by Perturbator happens to be the debut release on Nuclear Blast, so it will come as no surprise to hear that James Kent is here offering us his potentially most complete piece of work to date.

Following up on the 2021 release Lustful Sacraments, which explored bad habits and addiction, Kent has used Age of Aquarius to delve into the links between individualism, conflict, and war.

Utilising the tried and tested combination of Electronic Body Music (EBM) with techno and New Wave influences, if you’re looking for a band comparison, think along the Depeche Mode kind of lines, and you won’t be far off.

The album comprises 11 tracks spanning 59 minutes. You will hear some of the most beautiful and serene soundscapes you can experience alongside some heavier and moodier sounds, utilising the mixture of genres alongside synth work to create not just sounds but atmospheric experiences – the kind that only people at the top of their game can pull off this well. No matter whether it’s the more upbeat offering or the slower and more thought-provoking, what you get here is a soundtrack without a movie.

Age of Aquarius is the perfect type of album that you want, no distractions, and to sit in a room, block out all the light and experience it without distraction.

With guest appearances from Ulver, Author_Punisher, Greta Link and Alcest to help with the narration and feel of the respective tracks, this really is a triumph on so many levels nd will appeal to fans of not just Perturbator but the heaviest metal heads through to a more casual fan of all music. It will transcend gatekeeping communities and reach its peak interest among anyone who listens.

Age of Aquarius is as intriguing as it is stunning, with the feeling that something is always lurking just beneath the surface, and the uncertainty about whether it is sinister keeps you on the edge of your seat, wanting to delve deeper into this rabbit hole and see where it leads.

This is a welcome change from when I get stuck in a dark black-metal rut, and now and then I need something like this to refresh me and experience more than just the music. What Perturbator has released is a sensory wonder.

Age of Aquarius will be released on Friday, 10^th October 2025, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Review: Ed Ford

Track List

1 Apocalypse Now

2 Lunacy

3 Venus

4 The Glass Staircase

5 Hangover Square

6 The Art of War

7 12th House

8 Lady Moon

9 The Swimming Pool