MP3DB.pro - PTYL - The Golden Cage (2022)

„The Golden Cage“ is the 10th studio album of Ptyl Dragon’s solo industrial rock project (Spasm 1998, Reptyl 1999, Triptyl 2002, Hellsounds 2005, Is Missing 2006, Loki 2007, God Of Change 2008, Retrofit 2009, „V“ 2010). Released by Danse Macabre Records, the album’s name echoes the story behind it. Recorded between 2017 and 2022, it follows Ptyl’s relocation from Tel Aviv, Israel, to California (aka the golden state), to work in San Francisco (with its iconic golden gate bridge), the tech mecca, before and during the pandemic (the golden cage). The music is reminiscent to that of skinny puppy and nine inch nails, along with its signature Ptyl flavor. It’s more communicative and refined than Ptyl’s previous album, although it doesn’t really attempt to appease anyone. First and foremost, „The Golden Cage“ is Ptyl’s attempt to connect with the artist he was before, and escape the person he was becoming: a normal, boring, aging, mostly scared individual. This is articulated in songs throughout the album: Rebellion’s Null, Bite, Stray, etc. Understanding how lucky he is, how much worse his life could so easily be, he doesn’t simply mock it all. Still, there’s a deep sense of failure, that this is not the life he wanted („this isn’t my religion“). At the same time, he knows he’s too lucky to expect or accept any sympathy („They give me anything I want, and then some“, Happiness in Tech). Furthermore, he understands that his story and emotions are very common („My complaints sound just like any other’s life“, Happiness in Tech). While this realization intensifies his frustration, it also rids him from self pity, to be replaced with irony. The best example of this is the song “Gotta be shitting me”, where Ptyl describes his life during the San Francisco pandemic, riots, forest fires, heat waves, and never seen before pollution, working from home, singing to bottles of beer.
The album features guest appearances by Ariel Aviad (his wife & lead vocalist in Demoncast), on a cover to the Moddy Blues’ “Nights in White Satin”, a song about yet another cage, the cage of emotions that can’t be expressed. Ariel appears again later together with yet another member from Demoncast, Roi Illouz, on the song “All In”, a song about the world of lockdowns and riots, that everyone must now be a part of.
What’s next for Ptyl? Possibly a new (3rd) book, and if the gods of Covid shall allow it, maybe some live shows. Who knows.