Proud goth, ex DJ and music reviewer

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Those two electronic guys from London and Denmark, who go under the guise of Perpacity, have released the epically named single, “Ragnarök” , as of the 3rd of March. Ian Harling and Martin Nyrup have announced that this will be the last single off the soon to be re4leased album Discordia.

Remember I said epic, as “Ragnarök” means ‘doom of the Gods‘ and is a predicted event in Norse mythology, of the destruction of worlds of men and the Gods. A mixture of future pop and something a bit darker, an echoing back to a time in history when the Gods walked the lands. Visions of the end of time that swirl in electronic motes, like flurries of snow, while the vocals dance between the icy fingers of death. The b-side is “Halls Of The Fallen” is a slower affair that speaks of the warrior’s last day before they fall in battle and then taken to Valhalla. The promise of eternal life, though they must leave all else behind, and this is reflected in the sinuous nature of the music. Building to the moment of lament and glory, and perhaps it is a Valkyrie we can hear in the march towards the appointed fate..

You might think that mixing a tale that is around a thousand years old, with electronic music, might be a bit cheesy, but this is not the case. Perpacity has pulled this off beautifully, weaving the electro with the mystical, exhibiting skill of the Sibyl that prophesised the coming of “Ragnarök“.

Ragnar̦k РSingle | Perpacity (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/perpacity?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Perpacity music

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There is exciting news on the horizon as Norway’s Antipole, aka Karl Morton Dahl and UK’s Paris Alexander have released the new single “Perceptions” which is off their new collaborative album Crystalline, slated to drop on May 12th on Young And Cold Records. It will be out on digital, CD and lovely vinyl.

The clack of the drum machine and sensual synths wake you out of your stupor, beckoning your eyes to open. The guitar rings in beautifully and heralds Alexander’s smooth vocals as the music waxes and wanes with his whispers, infectious and leaving you wanting more.

It is so nice to hear these two working together again, and we have a whole album to eagerly await. There is just something sublime about not only this style of darkwave but how gorgeously Antipole and Paris Alexander have crafted “Perceptions” into a coldwave track that sucks you in until the end.

Crystalline | Antipole & Paris Alexander | Antipole (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/antipoleband?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/paris.alexander.5623?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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The Drood are a US based band, on the label eMERGENCY heARTS, that we are not unfamiliar with, and their single “It Must Needs Wither” has received ‘the treatment‘, also known as the remix from fellow American project Dead Voices On Air which is Mark Spybey. A founding member of Zoviet France and Download with cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy…. honestly you should look him up to see the other artists and acts he has been involved with because it is a lot..

This remix has the ambience of the 60s at Venice Beach at the time of the Mama’s And The Papa’s, with a similar vocal arrangement, though the beginning is far more an electronic and ethereal soundscape, tinged with a timeless longing, that seamlessly blends with the singing. “It Must Needs Wither” is based on Shakespeare’s “Othello“, and it is dedicated to those we lost due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a beautiful remix that is haunting until the last note, so check out the Dead Voices On Air remix of The Drood track “It Must Needs Wither”.

It Must Needs Wither (Dead Voices on Air Remix) | The Drood, Dead Voices On Air | eMERGENCY heARTS (bandcamp.com)

https://thedrood.com/facebook

https://thedrood.com/

https://deadvoicesonair.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/dvoaspybey?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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Here is an interesting curve ball. UK industrial musician MATT HART has released the single “TO THE CORE” in a remixed version by Daniel Graves of Aesthetic Perfection fame. The original single hails from the BELOW THE TERRA PT. 1 album, which is part of an epic opus about humans forced to flee underground by alien machine foes, intent on their demise.

Graves has a very distinctive voice and you cannot miss his dulcet industrial pop tones. You might think this is an easy breezy, pop til you drop dance number…..but you are only right to a point and have been lulled into a false sense of security, when it all drops the down for a bass beat heavy chorus. So you are on a roller-coaster between succulent sweet crooning and grating chanting as the big push goes on, to dig down to the hot core of the planet, with with a charged up dance track.

Will the humans survive the onslaught? That is for another release but I would be a fairly happy little human bean (being) hearing more collaborations between HART and Graves. The Aesthetic Perfection remix featuring Daniel Graves, has polished MATT HART’s gem, “TO THE CORE“, into a diamond.

TO THE CORE (AESTHETIC PERFECTION REMIX) | MATT HART (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/djmatthartuk?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.instagram.com/matthart3808/

Music | Aesthetic Perfection (bandcamp.com)

Aesthetic Perfection (aesthetic-perfection.net)

https://www.facebook.com/aestheticperfection?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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If you don’t know who VNV Nation is, then you probably have been living under a rock for many, many years. It seems an age since they last released anything new, touring at the big festivals but Metropolis Records (US) have released their first single, “Before The Rain“. It has also been announced that a new album is on the horizon, already named Electric Sun, slated for release on the 14th of April, which is good news for the faithful. What does it sound like? It sounds like VNV Nation with the ever enthusiastic Ronan Harris at the helm. So strike up the lighters……..

https://www.facebook.com/VNVNation?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Music | VNV Nation (bandcamp.com)

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Finnish goth rockers Lamori, have released the single “Dark Messiah” off the soon to be released, fourth album, Neon Blood Fire on the label Wormholedeath Records. The band has been around since 2009, with members Matias Juselius (vocals), Marcus Pellas (guitar), Mikael Westerlund (bass), Jens Wickholm (keys) and Emanuel Sanchez (drums).

The keyboards are your guide in this track, the light on the path of heavy guitar and thrashing drums. The vocals range from plaintive through to growling hellfire, as the track wends its way through the theme of holding onto hope even when darkness and death surround you, as there must be some grand scheme to it all.

This is my first time listening to Lamori and they are like an amalgamation of 69 Eyes meets Deathstars, with the vastness of Amorphis thrown in for good measure. There is a grandiose epic swell that sweeps you along, in a way those from Nordic climes can evoke so well. Lamori holds the heart of the “Dark Messiah“.

https://www.facebook.com/lamorimusic?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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The Troll Finder General aka the big TFG, is back with Phobos Reactor and their double the trouble remix called “DELIRiuMX“, where we believe the MX stands for mix and not Mexico. But speaking of Mexico, that is where No Devotion Records the label is also based. Annnd life goes full circle……

“Kangastuksia” gets the Finnish Oldschool Union RMX and true to the name, it gets the old school stompy action going with Mac Hine guiding the wubbing delights about going a bit crazy after a night on the turps and the mother of all hangovers. Then there is the decent into whirling synth induced dizziness with the second version of “Kangastuksia” from yet another TFG comrade in arms, Australia’s General Kangaroo SGS, who also moonlights under pseudonym Ant Banister.

The theory is to fix a massive hangover, is to keep drinking, which is for most of us, probably a very bad idea and for the character in this scenario, something to regret later but at least he got two big remixes for his trouble!

DELIRiuMX | PHOBOS REACTOR Feat. TFG ( TONTTU ) | No Devotion Records (bandcamp.com)


oldschoolunion.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/MantravisionProductions

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Arctic Lights from County Cork in Ireland, have released the new video to the single, “Holy Joe“. If you want to know about the track, then you might have to read the review or watch the video….. or even better, do both! All I will say that this track reminds me of the off the wall style of the beloved Love & Rockets………

Holy Joe | Arctic Lights (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/ArcticLightsCork?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://spoti.fi/3IyHkUK

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Last year, we reviewed the industrial EP, The Alarm by French duo The Shadow’s Gone Out. The guys have just released a video for this billowing dirge and klaxon filled title track, which wavers between violent protest in the streets and near oblivious behaviour. So please enjoy The Shadow’s Gone Out with “The Alarm“.

Final Alarm | The Shadow’s Gone Out (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/theshadowsgoneout?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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From the gothic wildlands of San Jose, Costa Rica, Ariel Maniki And The Black Halos are back with the single “Supernova“. It has been bat stamped from the label Deepland Records, a precursor to the new album, FRACTALS, which is slated for release at the end of March, 2023.

There is a low ground swell that bursts forth, shimmying drums, cheeky synths, and the guitar chiming out before delivering you into vocal arms of Maniki. The brightness of the guitar work enhances the deep, melodic drawl of the vocals.

If you suffer from epilepsy, then you should probably steer clear of the video, but otherwise, drench yourself in the sumptious delights of both the visual and sonic. Maniki’s admiration of The Cure is easily heard, and yet there is no mimicry, just a reflection. A love so intense, it burns like a “Supernova“, eventually transforming into another celestial entity that affects everything around it. An extraordinarily beautiful post-punk track from Ariel Maniki And The Black Halos.

Supernova | Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/ArielManikiMusic?mibextid=ZbWKwL