Proud goth, ex DJ and music reviewer

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Label, 4000 Records, on September the 1st, saw the debut release of post-punk, Brisbane band, Start Together, which also, is sadly, their farewell album, called Founder In Oddity. The line up for the recording of the album is Gerard Lawrence (guitar, vocals), Emma Walton (bass, backing vocals), Demetry Malahoff (guitar, synths) and James Boothroyd (drums).

Photo by Madeline Randall

“Impostering The Nascent” or pretending to come into existence, is the jangle shoegaze filled starting instrumental that introduces you Start Together, wandering from brusque to enchantingly dreamy. One cannot help if the heart cares, and so there is the sweet “Squire Jefferson Care Instructions“, as the music cries out, while we are introduced to the dulcet vocals of Lawrence. You might think the track “Lookfar” is a quiet affair, but you are plunged into peeling walls of guitars for the chorus and vocals that are filled with longing, and the poetic lines ‘Assemble me Tireless moil And mark An incendiary soul‘ are simply golden.

There is a joy in the music of “Separate Beds,” yet the lyrics bely this with a certain amount of cynicism, while I hear echoes of The Strokes mixed with The Church. Another instrumental in the form of “Skeptics,” in truly entrancing as the music dances around your ears, propelled by the rhythms conjured by the drums and delightful light guitar that graces your senses, and drops into a murky morass of sound, changing up the feel. Last track is also the title track, and befitting this role, “Founder In Oddity” encompasses the essence of Start Together’s poppy hooks with the robust guitars.

Not the first time 4000 Records has brought us a release that marks first and last album of a project, and yet we should be eternally grateful, because they have captured the crux of Start Together, as well as fellow defunct Meanjin band, Balloons Kill Babies, giving us heavenly slices of glorious brilliance. Start Together has given you post-punk, drenched in shoegaze goodness and Founder In Oddity deserves your utmost attention.

Founder in Oddity | Start Together | 4000 Records (bandcamp.com)

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Ashes Fallen are a band that have been releasing music, in the goth rock/post-punk style since 2019, and September brings us the offering of a new album, Walk Through Fire, recorded at The Chapel 1898. Members are James Perry (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard, drums), Michelle Perry (keyboard, vocals, percussion) and Jason Shaw (guitar). If the name James Perry seems familiar, then you would be correct as he is also a member of industrial rock group Deathline International.

Photo by Kevin Vonesper

Your pointy buckle boots are going to be knocked off just from the opening track. “Damn Me” is steeped in guitar fuelled angst, while the chorus of “The Last Mistake” is punchy with a punk vibe, though shrouded in gothic peeling synths. Southern gothic is alive and kicking with “Reborn In The Cleansing Fire,” as you are immersed in the Fields OF The Nephilim like drawling guitar and ride across the high plains of self destruction.

“Remember Who You Are” is a really glorious track in my humble opinion, between chiming synths, clean guitar, and the soaring vocals in the chorus, just make this so dynamic and anthemic. The idea that everything is far too busy busy oozes from the “New Normal” as the majority in the lower socio-economic strata struggle with less money and higher expenses.

Social media has made a mockery of what is normal in many ways, and this is reflected in “Anxiety Society” and the recognition 6 representations. A festering wound will become a “Scar” and though there is a lament within this track, there is still a whisper of hope and there is a hint of Killing Joke’s “Love Like Blood” in the guitar work.

Even in the face of doom, real love is often all we have to hold onto and “At The End Of All Things” is an ode to this love without condition in the face of insurmountable odds, bleak and yet heart touching. The last track is another brilliant number in the vampiric vein, “The Blood Is The Life,” as the delicious synths and evocative vocals drench you in dark delights of the creatures of the night.

This is an album with a lot of commentary on modern living and is politically charged, which for me is great to hear because music can often express ideas and emotions far better than other conduits. The rage in “Remember Who You Are” is palpable, as the band observes the erosion of basic human rights….even autonomy over our own bodies. Ashes Fallen are definitely nailing the post-punk ideal of music that matters, and with each release, they just keep getting better, so please check out Walk Through Fire.

Walk Through Fire | Ashes Fallen (bandcamp.com)

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Just when you thought you might finally be safe from space invasion and laser beam, pew pew extermination, you find more DEATHCOMET in your life, and he’s back with album DEATHCOMET 16!! Hmmmm…. the last one we reviewed was DEATHCOMET 14. Sooo, it seems we skipped an album, however, that just means more for your experimental electronic listening pleasure, from the New South Wales region of Australia.

I find my teeth are set on edge listening to the disturbing drone of “new hunt for alien life” which stops and becomes the guitar torturing oddity, “desperate attempt,” as it tumbles over itself, creating a tubular vortex of sound. A looping guitar screaming greets your ears, perpetuating an overload for the ten minute long “neptune belial,” as you wait for the subtle changes in pitch, but this does nothing to prepare you for the track “satanic dimensions,” where you are almost assuredly hearing the anguished voices from the pit itself, as the harsh noise eviscerates your senses.

“all systems go” continues from where “satanic dimensions” left off, however it has incorporated an eerie demonic electronic choir, which is driving the unholy star drive straight into the inferno that is “cosmic ball,” yet another track clocking in at over ten minutes. The psychedelic effect of “masks” really hits you after listening to such constant noise, and it feels as if the aliens really are invading your brain, which leads in nicely to the last track, “aliens calling“. Yes, finally the little grey guys are melting your brain with their sonic vocals as everything burns to the ground.

DEATHCOMET 16 is experimental noise that starts by rubbing your brain against sand paper, and then just builds into a new world order, intent on cellular annihilation, so the alien hordes don’t have to worry about cleaning up the carbon mess. Alien industrial metal in the form of DEATHCOMET is a mighty powerful thing.

DEATHCOMET 16 | DEATHCOMET (bandcamp.com)

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SEVREN NI-ARB (synthesizers, computers, programming, vocals) and
ESTEFANÍA (vocals) are X MARKS THE PEDWALK, and the Munster electronic aficionados have dropped the first video “Fading Waves,” that heralds the coming of their latest album, Superstition, which is due out in November on the label Meshwork Music.

Paramedics race to save the life of a young man, laying on the ground. The music’s rhythm heightens the ambulance crew’s attempt to restart his heart, as it fades away and flatlines. The casualty joins the multitudes that these courageous first responders cannot always save. There is something sublime about the play of synths and vocals, beautifully tinged with thoughtful sadness. X MARKS THE PEDWALK, as always, are masters of the synthpop genre and “Fading Away” is aimed straight for your heart.

Superstition | X Marks The Pedwalk (bandcamp.com)

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X MARKS THE PEDWALK | SUPERSTITION | meshwork music (meshwork-music.com)

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Berlin based NIGHT NAIL have a new album, Fates Explained, out in November on Metropolis Records, but September sees the post-punk project dropping the first single, “Narcoleptic Dream Catcher.”

The wonderful jangle of guitar fills the air and is joined by the trickling sighs of Valentina Veil (VV & The Void), which help set the tone of the track. Pete Burns of Kill Shelter fame, graces us with the meaty bass lines that support NIGHT NAIL’s entrancing vocals.

Produced, mixed and mastered by the ever busy Burns, “Narcoleptic Dream Catcher” sweetly drips post-punk goodness, that would easily get a gothic two step going on the dancefloor. Both delicate and swirling like the motes of smoke of extinguished candles, this phantasmagorical NIGHT NAIL single, does not deserve to be a sleeper.

Fates Explained | NIGHT NAIL

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GIVE/TAKE are the US based label bringing you the new single from Grammy Amplifier nominated artist KPT (KEPT), whom is one half of DEATHDANCE. The new single is called “Collared,” from the Minneapolis based dark electronic musician, who has worked with the likes of En Esch, My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult and Martin King of Test Dept, but to name a few.

Photo by Jason Larkin

An eerie static load grates your ears, swelling like a tsunami far out to sea, building in destructive force. A noticeable click click holds its own until there is an explosive release, frenzied and consuming. A tension between the electronic elements threatening to rip at the seams and yet still holding together, joined by the rumbling vocals, just perceivable above the tumultuous mixture of textures.

“Collared” is about the sexual ownership of another and exploring that dynamic of dominator versus submission. Aggressive control of the buzzing electronics is tempered by the flow of power… just as a good psychosexual relationship should be. KPT have created a vast and engrossing track with an equally delightful video.

https://kptfrsh.bandcamp.com/album/collared

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We are lucky at Onyx to have the premiere release of the video with single “Luftmangel,” from Vlimmer on the Blackjack Illuminist Records label. Berlin local, Alexander Leonard Donat is a man whose energy knows no bounds, as this new single does not appear on the brand new album, Zersch​ö​pfung, that dropped at the end of August, but rather a track that did not vibe with the rest of that particular album, yet worthy of its own release.

Donat’s vocals, as always for me in these recent releases, really make his music a bit special and there is no exception in “Luftmangel.” The bass laden electronic undertones, serve to highlight the throbbing and pulsating synths, a juxtaposition of heaviness versus buoyant light. Those dark accents just make your senses quiver in delight and you can hear a harkening back to early Gary Numan.

‘“Luftmangel” (German for “deficient air”) is about my grandmother and her final days. She didn’t opt for any life-prolonging measures when she was diagnosed with pneumonia on top of feeling absolutely exhausted due to decrepitude. One day before she died, lying in a hospital bed, she told me that she had a nice life and she was ready to go, which was pretty overwhelming for me. I was the last person ever she had a conscious conversation with, and I’m grateful for that. The song was initially written for the “Zerschöpfung” album, but at the end it didn’t fit the mood and, with a heavy heart, I decided to throw it off. However, to me it has some kind of old school, original Vlimmer vibe circa 2017/18, and I’m happy to release it as the new single.‘ – Alexander Leonard Donat

It is those dark tones that gives us the foreboding of something emotionally overwhelming and watching a loved one leave this realm is a sadness we bear and yet there is a gratefulness in being privileged to having them in your life. “Luftmangel” comes to us all, but there is so much beauty to behold in a human life and, indeed, in the single from Vlimmer.

Music | Blackjack Illuminist Records (bandcamp.com)

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In another era, Diane Dubois and Kevin Hunter, were part of the UK goth scene, that parted ways in the 80s, and fortuitously reclaimed that friendship during the covid pandemic, forming the project Lunar Paths. The end of August saw them release their latest independent single, “BURN“.

The looping and abrasive electronic samples and synths set the background for the echoing vocals of Dubois, as she goes from whispers to full throated and delicious croons. All the while, Hunter’s rhythms set the pace ranging from tribal through to thumping out the driving time signature.

I can’t deny that this Lunar Path track, while very experimental in nature, definitely reminds me very much of early Siouxsie and the Banshees, who also were extraordinary pioneers of post-punk music. “BURN” was written by the duo as they conversed about the fires raging in Greece, where Dubois has a home. An idea about the world on fire has given us a track that can set you ablaze, from Lunar Paths.

BURN | Lunar Paths (bandcamp.com)

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Tyler Burgee, from Maryland, is a young man with a huge amount of talent, creating his own version of dark alt rock, crossed with trap. His EP, Leave The Line was an independent release in July, consisting of three tracks.

You can taste the darkwave rolling off the first track and single “Four Fools“, between the programmed drum machine and the understated guitar, that echoes in this shadow place. Burgee’s vocals then add to the swirling, almost shoegaze feel. Yearning for that which has passed or can never be, seems to be the theme of “First A wall, Then A Maze“. There is an all consuming melancholy imbuing this track, with the single finger key playing and strumming guitar. “Something I Did” has a heavy guitar dancing between vocals. The vocals almost sound garbled or distorted on purpose, giving them an eerie quality, like something is not right with the status quo.

Darkwave elements mixed with the more modern emo aesthetic, and flirting with shoegaze is how I might describe the EP. Tyler Burgee has a sound that is evolving with each track and you can hear the experimentation in Leave The Line.

Leave the Line | Tyler Burgee (bandcamp.com)

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The goth-synthpop princess, Miss FD launched the single “Distractions” in August, out on the label Quantum Release Records. Not only does Miss FD compose, sing and produce, but she always has something interesting to impart through her music.

Synths wail like sirens, for there is an emergency at hand. The urgency is free flowing and Miss FD’s vocals leave you with no uncertainty that you proceed at your own peril. There is a gruffness, wanting to draw your attention as the driving rhythm gives you focus from the distractions of the everyday.

A cry out to humanity, for the sake of the planet to recognise the fact people are causing mass effect destruction, that will take themselves out and a good chunk of the creatures we share the planet with. Miss FD is channelling the voice of the Earth, because it cannot, but you can be sucked into her “Distractions“.

Distractions | Miss FD (bandcamp.com)

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Miss FD : Gothic, electro-industrial, synthpop, and oontz.

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