As an active paramedic, firefighter, and veteran of the war in Afghanistan, Vision Video lead Dusty Gannon has seen more horror in real life than in the classic movies he draws inspiration from. When not saving lives on the front-line, Dusty dons torn fishnets, combat boots and makeup to play post-punk that recalls the genre’s heyday when the lines between goth and pop blurred to create some of the underground’s most beloved acts such as The Cure, The Smiths and Joy Division. But hidden within Vision Video’s catchy hooks and dancy beats is a nostalgic yet desperate message exploring the darker undertones of our existence. At its core, Inked In Red looks inward to understand the effects of war and the global pandemic. Dusty’s experiences in service have imparted an authentic gravitas to the music, revealing a cautionary tale of unhinged mental illness born of trauma. Sonically, this is reflected in every chord and melody through its enticingly gothic yet often upbeat nature. Vision Video’s debut imparts a duality of mania that, simply stated, is real malaise and existential dread that cannot be made facsimile.

Dusty left the active duty Army and decided to move back home to Athens, GA after being disillusioned with his experiences from the war. “I just knew that I couldn't keep on supporting something that was fundamentally against my nature as a human being,” he says of his return from military service. As a native of Athens, he recalled the rich music scene that he grew up around. “It just made total sense to go back. I knew in my heart that I wanted to play music, as I had been writing about my experiences during the war and I knew it was a message that needed to be heard,” Gannon notes. Upon his return to civilian life Dusty also decided to serve in the metro Atlanta area as a paramedic and firefighter, where life and death still hang in the balance.

Shortly before the world entered the pandemic, Dusty assembled a band with Dan Geller the producer behind synthpop act I am the World Trade Center on bass, and Jason Fusco the bombastic drummer of punk band Shehehe. In attendance at their first show was keyboardist Emily Fredock, who would soon find herself adding an integral layer of sound that cemented the lineup. Fredock, a classically trained pianist who had never played in a band, quickly became a staple, lending gorgeously complex synth-work and vocal harmonies that give Vision Video their signature sound distinct from the classic influences they wear with pride

Emily explains, “As much as I love bands like The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Sisters of Mercy, I wasn't really interested in a direct reproduction of their sounds. I wanted to do something new.” That newness is palpable, as the band projects an even synthesis of goth, synthpop and dance punk that finds a unique accessibility. In fact, that was one of Gannon's goals.“With Vision Video's first LP I tried to write music that was almost inviting at first listen. I wanted people to be drawn into the music first, but then immediately see the lyrics are distinctly jarring, dark and foreboding,” Gannon adds.

Lyrically, the band does not shy away from the dark, but dives in head first. Gannon's writing is the byproduct of post traumatic stress made manifest; a foreboding tale of manic depression and the inability to connect through the haze of trauma. “In the blunt terms, I completely lost my damn mind. And this music and this band were the only things that saved me,” says Gannon. The catharsis and exploration are real, yet universal for the listener. One needs not be a combat veteran or firefighter to relate to the unifying message. That message, says Gannon, is simple. “It's okay to be inherently NOT okay. This is music for people who need to bring their skeletons out of the closet to make friends with them, instead of recoiling in horror at their sight.”

After the pandemic rattled plans for 2020 to serve as the band’s grand unveiling to those outside their hometown, Gannon’s disciplined work ethic kicked in to deal with idle hands during lockdown. Starting from scratch, Dusty became an online presence, fostering an audience of over 120k followers between Instagram and TikTok with his gender bent explorations of artistry with makeup and goth fashion. The band also remotely finished tracks they had started recording with producer Tom Ashton of the classic 80s goth band The March Violets ultimately releasing their first two singles to a surprisingly eager response. After entertaining several offers from record labels, the band opted to release their first full-length independently relying on bass player Geller’s experience as one-half of the storied indie pop label Kindercore Records to navigate the music business terrain.

Inked in Red is a culmination of Gannon’s experience dealing with trauma but the band is all about having the time of your life: “While the subject matter of Vision Video is full of real-life terror and monsters, I want our listeners to feel the same thrill of the teenage Friday night horror movie rental. They say that when looking into the void, it looks back into you, but it will damn well see us dancing our ass off."

In 2022 Then Comes Silence unexpectedly became a three-piece while getting ready for their first US tour. It turned out to be an involuntary test and experiment: could the band continue with only three members? It eventually proved to be a successful endeavour after all and the band decided to continue as a trio for good. 

Then Comes Silence have been on the road touring again with two recent albums 'Machine' and 'Hunger' under their belt: twice in the USA supporting Vision Video and The Bellwether Syndicate, and very frequently in Europe. The metamorphosis of the band led to a different way of creating music and performing live.  

The electronic elements are essential to the band's new album 'Trickery', but are also a salute to punk music, the cradle of Then Comes Silence and the cradle of post-punk. The album was recorded live over just three days at Kapsylen Studio in Stockholm to capture the heart and essence of rock. 

'Trickery', the band's seventh album, celebrates friendship, unity and the feeling of belonging to a group, a tribe. Being a part of what most people would call the goth and post-punk  community is, according to the band, a great privilege.   

Of course there are dark sides to everything, but after being on the road meeting people from the music scene for so many years, the band have experienced a caring and welcoming community. Old and young. Some with a similar background and some just for the love of the music and the culture that comes with the lifestyle.  

Alex: "No one is free from apprehension and fear. Everyone feels some kind of alienation in certain degrees. You might often think you need to camouflage yourself to be part of a context. Make a change to fit in the group. The need for friendship is strong so you adapt. Maybe not always the way you hoped. But then...  there are moments when we unite and harmonize with other people and feel an incredible community together. That feeling is priceless and a blessing. Friendship is love. It is important and worth fighting for."