Formed and fronted by the magical and mystical Guy McKnight of the much revered and critically acclaimed cult favourite; The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. Created in Liverpool in 2019 the band have won over audiences all over the UK and Europe with their idiosyncratic musical character getting unsuspecting audiences hyped to hysteria with their strangely seductive,noise-rock, synth-pop industrial sound that delivers nothing short of a unique musical experience. Their music is cacophonous and epic, featuring rich textures and melodic hooks that keep listeners captivated and the band have proved themselves stadium worthy in their own right, following their tours with Gods such as  The Sleaford Mods and The Libertines.

THE DSM IV take their name from the ‘Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders vol IV’, as used by the American Psychiatric Association. 

Guy’s interest in the manual was born out of his experiences in dealing with his own mental health; 

“Mental health problems still carry so much stigma, through ignorance, fear, misunderstanding and intolerance. While I’m not necessarily an advocate as such for the limited categorisation, labelling and medicating of people, I’ve no doubt saved a lot of people too. The manual can be a contentious subject. Illness is part of the human condition and the reality of life and death. It’s not something to be looked down on.”

The band’s album ‘NEW AGE PARANOIA’ seamlessly brings together stories, beats, guitars & noise in an inspiring collection of kaleidoscopic reflections about right & wrong, dark & light, joy & pain, sin & shame – all at once sobering & yet intoxicatingly dream filled.

The single to be taken from the album ‘RECLAIM THE NIGHT’ is a powerful soundscape,filled with electronic beats and synths combined with thought-provoking lyrics, creating a mesmerising and enticing atmosphere inviting the listener into another dimension, another world where you can be set free of shackles to reclaim and entertain yourself in joyous abandonment without fear or judgement. 

The accompanying video to the single is unleashed on the world today and it’s everything you would expect from this totally unpredictable outfit.

‘Reclaim The Night’ is a hypnotic, groundbreaking track from The DSM IV, featuring a blend of pulsing beats, mesmerising synths, and intriguing lyrics. With its innovative soundscape and hypnotic melodies, this track has a mass appeal across the genres and decades.

As Clash magazine astutely observed, this band bridges the gap between the primal garage punk of The Stooges and the screeching futurism of Suicide. There are clear influences from these artists, but The DSM IV put their own spin on those sounds, creating something that feels both classic and cutting-edge. In short, this is a band that defies easy categorisation and that I feel is a very good thing!

In the official music video to the track the story follows the band walking the streets while boxing and being caught on fire ….and on a night out at a raucous Liverpool pub, where they perform the single ‘Reclaim The Night’ amidst an intriguing array of colourful characters, featuring bins on heads, latex masks, a playing card and a fez making various memorable appearances throughout coupled with the pure cinematic brilliance as scenes and scenarios cut back and forth, leaving the viewer to decide between the dream and the reality.

The video perfectly captures the infectious energy of the song and the band’s performance. “THE DSM IV make music for the people…living in strange times. Poetry in motion. Nasty & Nice Tunes……with lashings of magic & just a spoonful of spite.”

Upcoming Gigs

22.09.23 – Shacklewell Arms, London 

23.10.23 – Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh 

02.11.23 – The Tin at The Coal Vaults, Coventry