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Who do you believe and what can you trust? Wars popping up around the world and now the revamped hostilities in the Gaza Strip…. you have to ask, when does the killing stop? Dystopiarch is the new project for Matthew McIntosh, whom you might know from A Cloud Of Ravens, and the debut single is “Like Hell.” The proceeds of the single will be donated to civilian victims of the Middle East conflict through International Rescue Committee.

From the opening speeding rhythm, combined with the pulsating synths, are simply attention grabbing. McIntosh’s vocals are strained and at times breathy, compelling you you to listen to the lyrics, which are about modern living, where we have lost contact with the natural world, preferring so see perfection on a screen, and just let the Earth burn. A literal hell.

There is a wonderful juxtaposition between bright and dark synths, the driving rhythm that thumps along and those rather Imperative vocals, that make up “Like Hell.” The style of music invokes thoughts of cyber-industrial with post-punk leanings, due to the electronics that play against each other, creating both feelings of claustrophobia and euphoria. It is catchy, thought provoking and proceeds are for a great cause. Those alone are great reasons for people to get behind this Dystopiarch track, for life is not meant to be “Like Hell.”

Like Hell | Dystopiarch (bandcamp.com)

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Hard to believe, but it has been five years since the release of Kill Shelter’s debut album Damage on the label Unknown Pleasures. So, December 1st will see the special limited edition of the reworked album, called Damage (V), where tracks that have the (V) have been re-recorded, whilst the others have been remastered by the man himself, Pete Burns at the Shelter Studio. Anyway, before we get to the album, the single “In Decay (V),” was dropped at the end of October, featuring Antipole and Delphine Coma. You may say, hey….. that was a single off the original Damage, and you are not wrong, however this is one of the (V) tracks and now it also has a video to go with it!

Ashe Ruppe is Delphine Coma and his deep, sonorous vocals seem to almost reverberate into the core of your being, as he brings to bear the desperation and disillusionment of those looking to escape across the waters. The delicate guitar strains are Antipole’s Karl Morten Dahl, and they fall like rivulets of drenching tears. All the while, Burns builds the dark and overbearing atmosphere with his driving bass.

You might wonder what the difference is between the original version and this one. For me, I am going to say that the vocals are more at the fore, that the guitar fills in more space, where as the original felt as if it there were voids to punctuate the music, and this new version is just going to take you for a sonic journey. But, more to the point, maybe you need to listen to both versions of “In Decay” in order to make your own mind up. “In Decay (V)” is just beautifully crafted post-punk, and I for one could not think of anyone better to perform it than Delphine Coma, Antipole and, of course, Kill Shelter.

Damage | Kill Shelter (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/killshelterofficial

Music | Antipole (bandcamp.com)

http://www.facebook.com/antipoleband

Music | Delphine Coma (bandcamp.com)

http://www.facebook.com/Delphine.Coma

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Drawing a spotlight onto music that might have gone under your radar is something we relish at Onyx. So, if you haven’t heard the EP Intimacy from France’s Distance H, then we are here to tell you that you might just be missing out. ManuH is a producer and man behind the darkwave/post-punk project and he invites different female vocalists to write the lyrics that they then perform for their track. Intimacy is the debut EP release for Distance H, that came out in January of 2023.

There are two tracks featuring Blue Saigon’s delightful vocalist, Ophelia. The sassy single “Bitch 16” with it’s pealing guitar work, and the dark, dirge like wonder that is the last track “Leaden Skies.” Ophelia goes from oozing seduction, to an emotional outpouring so pure and haunting.

“Waters Of Woe” is another single that features the vocal talents of Marita Volodina. It both surges and spirals down with the guitar, powerful and evocative with Volodina stirring those pools of sadness.

Liset Alea makes up the triumvirate with the ultra smooth ode to lover’s promises “Time To Rush,” that lilts and caresses your ears. The last track is “Twilight” and it is glorious both with it’s female vocals and musically with the effusive shoegaze ephemera.

I have to say that it is rather brilliant concept to collaborate with female vocalists, because not only is there some damn fine singing, but also the lyrics are written by them and are therefor so much more pertinent and poignant, giving the listener a glimpse into fragments of fragility, passion, longing, sadness and a core iron inner strength that runs throughout. ManuH (guitar, synths), is the music mastermind creating swirling, jangly accompaniments, however the icing is the fact that he even has women leading the way on drums and bass, this being Amélie G and Zoé H respectively. There is a lot of reverence in Intimacy, and maybe this is because ManuH, and in turn Distance H listen to the feminine heart.

Intimacy | Distance H (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/DistanceH

https://instagram.com/distanceh.music

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French band, Divine Shade, recently toured with Gary Numan, and are now back with a new single, “Oublier,” which features Steve Fox-Harris, who also happens to be the guitarist for one Mr Numan.

The electronics whirr and drone, dark and brooding, setting the mood for the spine tingling vocals in French. The synths build us, inevitably, towards the growling guitar, that breaks out and fills the corners with sound.

What is the premise of tout oublier? It means to forget everything, and this case to let go of all the pain and hurt in order to heal. This is seductive darkwave, beautifully packaged, with the deft hand of Fox-Harris driving the track home. Divine Shade is entrancing you let go with “Oublier.”

Oublier (ft’ Steve Fox-Harris) | Divine Shade (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/DIVINESHADEofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/divineshade/

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Need a little extra spooky in your life since the aftermath of Halloween? Then we can offer you an extra bit of stalky stalker in the form of Ian James’s new single, “Come A Little Closer,” out on Blue FX Records.

Ah, the dulcet tones of James’s vocals creep up on you like a sexy time Jason Vorhees, with his favourite knife. The music conveys an electronic and consistently funky, going to get you honey buns attitude, rather than the old fashioned plinky plonky norm. So, “Come A Little Closer” darling, and let Ian James croon sweet icy nothing’s into your ears. Lovely!

Ian James – Come A Little Closer | Blue Fx Recording Artists (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/IanJamesMusicUSA

https://www.facebook.com/bluefxrecords

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Out on Infacted Recordings, is the latest single “Harbour” from J:dead, where Jay Taylor has enlisted Aesthetic Perfection and genCAB for remix duties. This is officially the last release for J:dead for the year 2023, but in 2024, we can expect the unleashing of the thematic EP ROOTS, which will contain seven original tracks, including “Harbour,” plus 8 remixes.

©Thomas Fritsche, Nightshark Photography

“Harbour” has this rolling flow whilst also laying down dance rhythms. An electronic melding of the many faces and personalities we are and show others, topped by the molten vocals of Taylor. The Aesthetic Perfection mix is filled with a bright jauntiness that the progenitor of industrial pop, Daniel Graves is famous for, while David Dutton of genCAB’s version is slower and darker, like you can feel the shadows enveloping you in a cocoon and only the vocals can drag you to the light.

The line ‘look hard and you will find me, lonely I will never be‘ doesn’t refer to multiple personalities but rather all the different facets that make us up as humans. We are not one thing such as a joker or the introvert, which would leave us as one dimensional aberrations, instead of the wondrously complicated creatures we are. As always, this is a polished track with two stunning mixes and if you want to know what you will be getting in the EP, then “Harbour” is an excellent place to start. I have already had the pleasure of hearing the original tracks and can promise that you are not going to be disappointed, yet that is for another day………..

Harbour | J:dead | Infacted Recordings (bandcamp.com)

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Music | Aesthetic Perfection (bandcamp.com)

Music | genCAB (bandcamp.com)

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You might say Witches Falls could be one of the most coolest names a place could be called and indeed it is a real locale, situated on Tamborine Mountain, in Australia. Gold Coast based Chiffon Magnifique, brain child of Jed A Walters, have sprung forth a darkwave single, also named “Witches Falls,” with an equally creepy video set in said area.

Echoing and ringing post-punk guitar on this track is really beautiful, setting the swirling tone, that sweeps you along for the ride. Walter’s vocals, deep and longing, beseech you for understanding, for one that finds the modern world, at times, so overwhelming, they need to retreat to the calm that is the quiet arms of the natural world. The video conveys the self doubt in a mind clouded in a tormented perception that they are forever alone and unwanted. The house full of curios, changes to the city (Vinnies’ Dive Bar), before a furious night drive to the Falls, and their majestic ancient rain forest, in which the “Witches Falls” resides.

What could possibly top this great track? Maybe the knowledge that in 2024, we can expect the debut album named Anxietika, which, with all the current singles, you know is going to be punching well above its weight with all the gothic goodness Walters puts into his music. The man is seriously talented and very heavily involved in the dark alternative scene in South-East Queensland and I cannot stress enough to watch this space because Chiffon Magnifique are just starting to hit their straps, so find your way to “Witches Falls.”

Witches Falls | Chiffon Magnifique (bandcamp.com)

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