Phillip Olympia (vocals, synthesizers, drum machines) and JakeMiller (guitars, synthesizers) are VirginBirth, a band on Never Nervous Records and hailing from Kentucky. They released the single “Break Down the Air” on November 1st, which is the first single off the album Total Annihilation that is planned to drop in early 2025.
Out in the lawless cities, where society has broken down and survival post apocalypse is all consuming. This is what might happen if you had to live in a world ripped apart by nuclear war, and it is painted by the lyrics describing nuclear winter. A voice clip of a disaffected female hammers home the loss, all the while the more delicate rhythms are off-set by the heavy electronics’ droning.
Virgin Birth have said they based this track off the British movie Threads (1984) that is set in an alternative timeline where is nuclear war has ravaged the planet and the survivors scrape through in a brutal environment. Let us hope it never comes to this is the take home message, but you can still enjoy the brooding “Break Down the Air.”
David Brichard is the vocals and Frédéric Hyat the guitarist for Belgium electronic band Dresscode, who released the single “Get Rid of Fears” in October. In the video is FlorianGilot who plays live with Dresscode.
Do our fears freeze us into being unable to act or live? This is essentially what the track is about, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Those first notes strike in and as we go on, I am starting to think some of that might actually be the guitar being plucked. The singing is congenial until we hit the chorus, and then they erupt into a far more glorious and harmonious raising of the voices at end the track. “Get Rid of Fears” finishes for me far too soon as I was really getting into, and then it ended, even though it is approximately three minutes long. Ah well, I love the whole finishing with a bang, and Dresscode have made this track smooth and it subtly ends up sucking you in.
November has seen the release of the split single from SchkeuditzerKreuz (Aust) and DecideToday (USA), with the vinyl on Nambour label Bad Habit Records, in the wilds of the Sunshine Coast, North of Brisbane.
“Last year, mid-winter, I did a quick tour run up to Bellingen and Lismore (NSW, Australia). The Lismore gig was something we booked in a Hall out of town and was kind of a make-up gig for one that got scuttled by the plague a couple years earlier. On the bill was Sniffer Dog and Toecutter – someone I had met in Melbourne when he played with Dark Horse, and someone I was keen to make noise with again. At that gig he said to me “you have to meet my friend Robert – your music, your attitude, your touring all match each other so well” and he gave me the contact. So, I reached out and Robert jumped straight in.” – Kieren Hills/Schkeuditzer Kreuz
Schkeuditzer Kreuz
Decide Today
The one track from d-beat, synth-crust master, Schkeuditzer Kreuz, is the cloying “Choke,” and this slower track feels like the air is being dragged out of your lungs. It lurches zombie like at times, and then becomes full of rage and destructive conviction as Hills lets us into his head and what clinical depression can be like when it isn’t a good day.
Decide Today has two tracks, with the first being “Revolutionary Reason (WorldwideIntifada),” and you can smell the sweat in the swarming mosh pit as the beats come in thick and furious. The indignation is palpable with a whole bunch of cleverly cut sound clips strung together, culminating in the powerful hushed tones that the genocide of the Palestinian people is wrong. The second track “The Shit Punx Hate” hits you full throttle, making you start, and then you are serenaded by the list of things that punks dislike such as racism, authoritarians and Nazis, while the rhythms have nail bombed into your psyche and pierced your head.
“Toecutter must have met Kieren and insisted we start talking. Our common ground in music, and the culture surrounding it, was immediately evident. Earlier this year Kieren proposed the split 7” via Bad Habit, which of course I had to say yes to such circumstances, and I mentioned also wanting to get back to Australia at some point. The next day Kieren asked if I was for real, and started planning the tour. I am incredibly thankful to my new friend, Borg at Bad Habit, and Dave (Toecutter) for getting us connected.” – Robert Inhuman/Decide Today
Baron Von Borg is the bloke that runs Bad Habit Records, who is a punk, a punk musician and a connoisseur of music from the top of his head, to the tips of his toes and someone I have a lot of time for. It isn’t surprising that he is in the middle of this whirlwind.
This is a marriage of ferocious punk attitude, punching with a fist full of electronics.
Boston based dark electro project Pneumagnosis has collaborated with Dissonance on the single “Let The Flowers Fall.” Cat Hall (Dissonance) has contributed vocals and lyrics while the music was composed by ScottTheleman (Pneumagnosis).
The electronics bleat and dance while Hall sings about finding the courage to walk away from a relationship, without trying to fix it or ponder what you did wrong. Her vocals waver and bound back in a cacophonist choir around the techno rhythms, which punctuate the wisdom of the words. This is a nice little collaborating trance inducing dance track between Dissonance and Pneumagnosis, in “Let the Flowers Fall.”
SEVERIN NI-ARB of X-MARKS THE PEDWALK has joined forces with his son LMX, and the collaboration resulting in the electronic project DUOPHONIC NOISE CONSTRUCTION. The single “Trauma,” has been released on the MESHWORK MUSIC label.
From when the rhythm kicks in, this is going to be a dancefloor killer. Looping electronics with NI-ARB’s vocals low and visceral, are at complete odds with the more dulcet tones of LMX, that create a dawning break in the overall frenetic pace.
There is something a bit old school about “Trauma” and maybe it is that connection to X-MARKS THE PEDWALK, yet the influence of LMX is felt with the more modern vocal style. It is a kin to talking about rough and smooth or steel and silk, and it works so very well together.
US label Re:Mission Entertainment dropped the latest album from Warm Gadget called Sorrows. Tim Vester (vocals, lyrics, samples) and Colten Williams (guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, production, vocals) are the main components of this machine and they are joined by Page Hamilton (guitar), Austin Williams (bass), Davey Hemm (bass) and Dani Scythe who added additional drum programming on “Digging.”
Sit down and buckled up as they smash you with “The Masses,” which is the bouncing metal influenced first single, with its angry guitars and even angrier Vester, screaming out his disappointment with the world. “Annoyed” is yet another single and I have to say that the Nine Inch Nails game is strong for this track, and the Dread Risks‘ remix just ramps it up even further. It is contentious and instantly likeable.
Going with the single theme, “Debutante” is yet another, featuring not only the corrosive vocals of Vester, but joining him, with far more buttery tones is Page Hamilton of Helmet fame, carving up the track with his screaming hot guitar. I especially liked “Like Bats,” with its brazen chorus, tempered with the idling intermediary pieces. It kind of harks back to Stone Temple Pilots with the tone and harmonisation.
With tracks like “Annoyed,” you are dragged back to the flourishing 90s industrial rock scene that was exploding out of the North America at the time with bands such Ministry, NIN and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. WarmGadget might be paying homage to those that influenced their sound with Sorrows, but this does not mean they are sticking to a formula, as they write music that suits their taste. So far, this has to be my favourite release of theirs to date. Music with a social conscious and it also slaps hard.
Religion and governance should never be mixed, but in the US currently, it is hard to see any evidence of common sense versus religious fanaticism. “Dead Gods” is the latest single from Vision Video, off their new new album Modern Horror, where Athens based Dusty Gannon and co. rage against the pricks.
PHOTO BY JEREMY SAFFER
A dissonance of guitar heralds the beginning and one cannot help but revel in the heavy post-punk bass. The synths strike like a high organ peeling while the giving of hymns in holy prayer, except they have the silken vocals that are calling out the double standards and misogyny that nationalistic Christians hold before them like they are actual scripture.
“Dead Gods” is catchy…. no it doesn’t break new ground, but it doesn’t need to do so. Gannon’s singing the chorus is still stuck in my head and you should take that as a good sign of a great track. You can hear the influence of The Cure and Chameleons, and as I always say, we need songs that unify the dark scene and politically push all the wrong people’s buttons.
October is always a good month for dark alternative releases and Berlin based VV & TheVoid dropped the single “DEVOTION(Release the Bats – Halloween Remix).” ValentinaVeil is the VV (vocals, guitar, synths, programming) with Brandon Robert (bass guitar) and Phillip Haut (drums) making up VV & The Void.
Ringing, twisting and echoing envelops your senses between the dreamy guitars, billowing synths and VV’s romantically clandestine vocals. The bass deep and drone like, holds the ethereal rest of the track from floating away as it gradually becomes a wall of melodic noise.
The band is originally is from Melbourne, and any Australian goth type will tell you that “Release the Bats” brings forth the vision of Nick Cave and The Birthday Party and even though “DEVOTION” is not as punk, there is a rawness to them, like an open wound that never heals and they are wallowing in that experience. You can enjoy drowning in the experimental shoegaze of VV & The Void with “DEVOTION (Release The Bats – Halloween Remix).”
For the last few years, New Jersey, US, for a few days, increases their population of goth types dramatically, as the Sheraton in Parsippany hosts the Dark Force Fest. This festival was created by the people who bought you the social platform, Vampirefreaks, and the lineup of bands for 2025 have been announced.
There are thirty-five bands on show with a mixture of both overseas and local talent ranging from the synth-industrial of Sweden’s Covenant to TRAITRS from Canada with their dark post-punk, through to US industrial-metal artists Orgy. We spoke to Jet VF to find out what drives him to host these gothic/industrial events and who is playing in 2025.
You are the founder of VampireFreaks, which I believe was a social forum online and evolved into a business. I am going to admit that I am older and missed out on the VF phenomenon, so can you tell me a bit more about how this all came about?
VampireFreaks was a social networking site from the years 2004 – 2020. In addition we’ve been running our online clothing store since 2001 which is still up and running. We currently ship out about 7,000 orders a month around the world from our warehouse in Pennsylvania!
Do you think the dark scene has changed much from the late 90s and do you think it is for the better, worse or just different in your experience?
There’s definitely been some big changes. I grew up as part of the nyc goth club scene in the 90s – 2000’s and at that time there was an event to go to every day of the week and we had more alternative shops to visit, the nyc scene was really thriving.
Nowadays there doesn’t seem to be as many events, but I do appreciate the events we do have. Dark Force Fest has grown to be the largest event in the area, and we look forward to it all year. Goth/industrial music has also really progressed throughout the years, there’s some great new bands, so it’s an exciting time for music.
Jet, you have been described to me as the impresario of Dark Force Fest, which kind of looks like a holiday for goths, including a lot of bands. What inspired you to start this particular festival, and how hard was it getting it off the ground?
I’ve been doing events since 2000, starting off with small club events that would only get a handful of people. Over the years there’s been a lot of ups and downs, a lot of successes, and a lot of failures. Event promotions can be tough. For the first few years, I would consider an event a success if we didn’t lose money. I’ve done events that lost so much money it would make a grown man cry.
Doing events for over 20 years has really just been a growth process and a learning process. I’ve done a ton of club events and concerts, as well as a few other festivals / conventions. Dark Force Fest has indeed been a learning process and built upon the lessons learned from previous events.
JET VF
There are 35 bands on the 2025 line up but could this number grow?
The lineup is currently finalized but we will be announcing 2 bands for the Thursday night pre-party.
Tell us about who is headlining the festival?
Friday, we have The Birthday Massacre from Toronto, CA. They’re a favorite among our crowd, and we’ve had the pleasure of working with them on a few occasions they’re really great talented people
Saturday, we have Orgy, the superstar industrial-rock band, who reached platinum status in the 90s. Their cover of ‘Blue Monday’ was all over the radio in the 90s.
Sunday, we have Covenant from Sweden, with their huge catalog of industrial club hits.
There are a lot of electronic bands such as Covenant, Suicide Commando, and [SITD], to name a few. Do you think this style of music is very popular due to the party/dance like atmosphere?
We do a good amount of electronic / EBM bands, yes I think the high-energy electronic music is great for a live performance. We do mix up the musical styles though so there is a pretty good range of dark styles we are representing.
You also champion smaller acts and bring them to new audiences. Who are some of these smaller bands?
A few of the newer bands include: Dancing Plague- Their sound is super catchy and different, the bass in these songs just vibrates your bones and the guy has a super deep baritone voice. Occults – These guys are pretty new but their music is really good and super professional sounding, I think they’ve got a lot of great potential. Panic Priest – Awesome synthpop band from Chicago, some of his songs sound super familiar and infectious Circuit Preacher – gritty industrial music that reminds me of some of my favorite industrial sounds from the 90s but with an original modern twist to it Corbeau Hangs – amazing post-punk band that is really gaining momentum Contracult – heavy industrial rock band from California with nice production on it. Fun fact – the guitarist is Travis Bacon, who is Kevin Bacon’s son.
Held at the huge Sheraton Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey, how many stages are there on-site, and how much easier is it to run everything at the one venue, including rooming patrons?
It’s 2 stages with alternating schedules. We also have over 100 vendors and 2 other rooms where we host panels, presentations, drag shows and sideshow performances. It is nice having everything in one building so that attendees can easily bounce between different areas.
It isn’t just bands, though. There are also stalls selling all sorts of gothic wares. What can people expect in the market?
We have a really good variety of vendors including taxidermy, oddities, clothing, jewelry, art, housewares, skull bowls, coffin furniture and more.
You are obviously a huge music fan, so which bands really excite you that they are coming and who do you absolutely need to catch, even with your overseeing the running of the festival?
I’m really excited for all of the bands on the lineup. I’ll be running all over the place during the festival, but I always make it a point to at least catch 1-2 songs of each band, so that’s the goal! Most of the bands playing next year have never played the festival before, and I haven’t seen a lot of them before, so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing some new stuff! Some bands off the top of my head that I’m looking forward to include:
TRAITRS – these guys have really been gaining popularity lately, and they have some songs that sound just like a modern version of The Cure, which is amazing.
Calabrese – they’ve got a unique horror-punk type style, which I think will bring some fun energy to the event.
Razed In Black – industrial legends from Hawaii, I haven’t seen them perform in so long, and these guys are just the best.k
Haujobb – This band was really influential for me in the early 90s when I was just really getting into industrial music, and Daniel Myer is so talented.
The Birthday Massacre – These guys were the #1 band on the Vampirefreaks social network back in the day, so we’ve really had a cool history with these guys.
Aesthetic Perfection – We’ve worked with these guys a few times, and it’s just always been a pleasure. It’s been awesome to see Daniel grow over the years.
Klutae – This is Claus from Leaetherstrip’s other band, everyone loved Leaetherstrip so much last time, and we had a bunch of requests for him to come back.
What do you think it is about the gothic/industrial scene that keeps you co-ordinating these events year in and out?
I’ve had a realy love for the goth/industrial scene as a young teenager. The music, the fashion, and most importantly the people who are so welcoming and friendly. We’ve really built an amazing community and I just love bringing people together.
I am rather curious as the description on your website says you are helped by your weird wifey for lifey, but also your black cat. What is the name of this god-like creature, and how much say do they have?
My cat is named Skelly, she’s the queen of the universe and she gets treated like royalty. She’s very majestic and loves to grace me with cuddles.
When do you start planning the next Dark Force Fest?
Basically a few weeks after the last one is over. I spend the whole year planning this event out to get everything right, there’s a lot of moving parts involved.
If you could have any act perform at DFF (alive or resurrected with necromancy), who would you pursue?
My all time wishlist band would be The Cure but I was also thinking it would be cool to get Marilyn Manson!
What will you folks from VampireFreaks be doing next to top all this?!
Dark Force Fest gets bigger and better each year so we’re always looking to top previous years by improving the lineup and adding fun new things to the event!
Thanks for your time and see you at Dark Force Fest
As part of their spooky season, Kentucky’s Who Saw Her Die? religiously drop in October a few singles, and the latest is another horror movie inspired release in the form of “Pleasure and Pain” and “One of Us.”
If you haven’t guessed before, “Pleasure and Pain” is exactly how a cenobite from Hellraiser is going to love you and this is the premise behind the single. The version the band have put up first is the EBM mix and I have to agree in their choice as it really has that classic sound of Hellraiser’s weird modern techno wonder, plus that wandering synth line, matched with the spiritual abyss in the vocals, that vary from seduction to anguished.
The second track goes a bit more old school in the way of The Body Snatchers in “One ofUs.” It is a retelling of the motives of said snatching aliens, a morose dirge that is actually sympathetic of the horror baddies.
Even when October is done and dusted, there is always Halloween to be enjoyed for the rest of the year in tunes like this. To quote The Divinyls, ‘there’s a fine line betweenpleasure and pain,’ so why not choose both with Who Saw Her Die? They have such wonders to show you.
Onyx Music Reviews 