Liquid Death – Sparkling Water

If the character you want in a sparkling water is minimal, refreshing… funny… I guess you have to go all-in with the packaging. This company does a good job—just the name, of course, and the goth font, the can presentation, and art. Back in the early Eighties, when my friends and I played in bands and published zines, at one point we poked fun of bands and zines who featured gothic art with rotting skulls. My friend Keith was especially relentless, as he could be, about the “rotting, dripping skulls”—and this became a kind of shorthand. The melting skull drawing on this can is exactly the style of rotting, dripping skull I remember from back then—so that made me laugh. Then, their logo, “Straight from The Alps”—I was thinking was a reference to “Find a stranger in the Alps”—but seeing how it claims to actually be from Austria, maybe it isn’t—so I’ll leave that particular can of worms sealed. Though I’m not entirely sure. Anyway, this is the sparkling version of their water, in the black can with the melting gold skull—it looks pretty great. The water is fine. Their “mission” is to promote use of a more recyclable aluminum container—over plastic—so I’m all for that—and not taking anything too seriously, as well. Their website is fun and lively—but whenever I see all that video, I work up a thirst running the other way. I think the kids will like it.

11.12.22