“ColdHeart” is the debut single from VoxUmbra, a darkwave project started in 2025 by Tiffany in Seattle, USA and Florian from Amiens, France. A song for those who want to lose themselves in an ancient forest and live with the sprites, for the world of men can be cruel.
Tiffany’s vocals are the first to gift our ears, with a lilting quality that adds to the romantic ambient quality of the music. Like in a dream, Florian chimes in with the vocalised lament of the psychological damage done. Both singers are mesmerising in the way they compliment each other.
The accompanying video is beautifully made with pagan/wiccan overtones. The feminine is delicate and otherworldly, while the masculine is more forceful, yet questioning, but what ever is happening, you are focused utterly on the singers of VoxUmbra. The music itself is simply there floating in the background for atmosphere. The debut “ColdHeart” is a magical darkwave introduction to VoxUmbra.
Montreal’s SEXSOMNIA is made up Philip Faith (vocals, keyboards, bass, drum programming), Pat Gaudette (bass) and Michael Rien (keyboards, percussion), a blend of darkwave and electronics with a generous hint of taboo. Following up the release of their single “Forbidden,” SEXSOMNIA dropped in August, the EP also called Forbidden.
“Forbidden” and “Forbidden (Shadow Mix),” are the gateway to the EP, your pass into the world of potential pleasure via the sensuous tones of guest vocalist, Marita Volodina, with her sumptuous lip-service to extasy, and Faith’s more abrasive utterances.
IsabelleYoung can be found lending her voice to “Vapor,” an utterly danceable track with rolling rhythms and post-punk bass guitar. Young’s vocals bring the exotic into excitingly charged song, which still is ethereal in quality. “Nigrum Viduam” features guest vocalist JacintheBenoit, and has been remixed by MartinBowes, best known for his project ATTRITION. The Set You Free Mix takes this track that was released previously on the album Transcendent, making it feel grittier and more subversive, adding a harsher edge.
The ladies who have given their vocal talent on each song, definitely imbue their track with an essence of prohibited indulgence, be it heavy, airy or somewhere in between, but always sensual and done beautifully in conjunction with the music. SEXOMNIA are daring you to live on the edge a little, so you might find pleasure in the art of the Forbidden.
Philip Faith (bass, vocals, keyboards, drum programming), Pat Gaudette (bass) and Michael Rien (keyboards, percussions) are the members behind Quebec project SEXSOMNIA, who will be releasing their newest EP, Forbidden, on the 25th of August. For now though, SEXSOMNIA have dropped a single and video from said EP, which is the Shadow Mix of “Forbidden.”
Marita Volodina is the guest vocalist, and she is bold and sensual. Wavering between singing and spoken word, the eroticism drips from each word and every breathy sighed ah. Nothing is hurried, the rhythms constant and the electronics contain the prohibited, while the bass draws us in. Faith’s voice is the gritty foil in the chorus against Volodina’s.
The video is an expression of what “Forbidden” is for many, full of latex and blindfolded, as all the senses become carnal, delving into the realms of fetish. The sexual taboos of pushing what is not considered normal as the lyrics say ‘Look! but don’t touch, Touch but don’t taste, Taste, but don’t swallow.‘ Theremix was done by Faith and I think “Forbidden” is going slow burn on the dancefloor in the most delightful way.
MeaFisher may no longer be a vocalist for LordsOfAcid, but she is back with her new project Me And My Nightmare, and what better way to celebrate than by dropping the single, “DevilInside” featuring the vocals of EnEsch (Slick Idiot, <PIG>, Pigface, ex-KMFDM) Just when you thought your industrial dreams were fulfilled, DannyLohner, guitarist for Nine Inch Nails just happens to be on the track as well.
Techno inspired synths and rhythms complement the purring vocals of Fisher, when she isn’t letting that devil out in the chorus. Esch brings the demonic to Fisher’s fallen angelic, with his gravelled vocals, and Lohner’s guitar work drives home the grittiness below the sheen of the electronics.
There are also two remixes that go with the single, including one by SebastianKomor (Icon Of Coil, Strategic Command, Zombie Girl). I can see Fisher going from strength to strength, if this is the calibre she is serving up. Have to admit I did first first think of the INXS song of the same name at first, though no fear as this is a completely different beast or should that be devil? Come join Me And My Nightmare and find the sensual “DevilInside.”
Leeds goth rock band, ZeitgeistZero, released their debut self titled album back in 2005, and since then have dropped albums very regularly. 2023 brought forth the current offering of Meddling With The Forces for this trio on the label Bat-Core. Mixing was conducted by CorinZero and StevenWhitfield (TheCure), while the mastering is by TimHay at AutumnGiantMastering and the whole shebang recorded at InnerSanctumStudios.
Initial track, “Go To Hell” sets up the mystical stage, and what you are in for with ZeitgeistZero. It is a mixture of swirling darkwave electronics, with powerful female vocals and a heavy dose of dance rhythms. With hints of InkubusSukkubus, it is time to “Set The Monster Free” with dashes of grinding guitar and sparkling synths, before we are faced with the far more rock heavy “Satanic Sex Witch,” that echoes and reverberates as she stalks you with a very pleasant ending. If a sex witch is your undoing, then at least you can stay in touch with a “Séance,” which might be more fun than using a mobile phone and is a spooky cute proposition from the band. None of this is possible however, without tapping into one’s “Psyche.” This is a much slower track, revelling between the sheets of ether world, floating through.
There is something quite delightful in the slightly chaotic disjointedness of “NightPeople,” as it is almost teeters on industrial ground both musically and for repressed aggression. Those children of the night is what we are all about. Continuing on the harsher side of electronics, the beginning of “Scream” greets your ears with grating noise, before rocking you with the outbursts of guitar and lulls of anticipation. The single “ToxicTwist” is designed to whip you up with its punk attitude and play between synths and guitar, about a relationship with a less than desirable toxic human. “PlasticDiamonds” look flashy but are worth nothing and the same can be said for people who act like fake jewels, where not everything that glitters is worthy, unlike this song. Final track is the lower, slower and heavier “TheUnwantedOne,” that smacks slightly of ConcreteBlonde.
ZeitgeistZero might be MeddlingWithTheForces, but you know this is not the first time they have travelled this gothic road. They are accomplished musicians with a back catalogue that I would highly suggest you check out. The album is full of ghoulish delights, whether they be musical textures or supernatural subjects. Witches, monsters and goths…oh my.
What is on the slab you might ask? I may reply, well, Melbourne label, SpookyRecords, have released the single with video, from Velatine, called “All I Want“. Velatine is a darkwave duo, also based in Melbourne, Australia and this single is off the album I Won’t Be Civilised, that was released in February.
Photo by Jurgis Maleckas
From the beginning, a sense of despondency is within the electronics, before the vocals take you away, dragging you towards a world of solitude. The synths are beautifully layered with the vocals, echoing and giving an air of melancholy mystery.
The band is composed of Maggie Alley and Loki Lockwood, and the video they have created for the track, is full of shadowy Hitchcock noir, as Alley gets Lockwood to drive her around, before making him dig his own grave. “All I Want” is smooth and chic like a rich dark wine from Velatine.
Alexander Leonard Donat... teacher, marathon runner, musician, man behind the label Blackjack IlluministRecords, co-conspirator for several musical acts, driving force behind his own project Vlimmer and very possibly a crime fighter by night (just saying Vlimmer man has a certain ring to it!). November saw Vlimmer’s second, full length album, Menschenleere, enter the watery light of day.
The first tastes of forbidden fruit came our way in the form of the two singles, the rhythm filled darkwave tendrils of “Erdgeruch” and the wondrously 80s inspired eccentricity of “Kronzeuge“. There are such gems hidden within, such as “Mathematik” with its giddy synths that remind me so much of the electronic trailblazer, John Foxx, even more so for the fact his backing band were The Maths.
“Noposition” has a magical trance like quality within its warm embracing beats, while “Schwimmhand” leaves you not only amazed by the sheer brilliance but also experiencing tingles through your extremities. Even the title track has an ancient feel, whilst playing with time signatures. “Menschenleere” is vast and echoing in the chamber of what might not be a pained reality.
Yes you can dance to Vlimmer, but for me, there is something akin to multiple storylines. Each track is crafted just so, this one with a more science fiction vibe, another with more sombre tones and yet another with a spinning glorious shoegaze vision. All held together by Donat’s vocals, be they happy, sad or even imploring.
Vlimmer is the centre of this world he has created, and has the knack of spinning his musical tales that capture us up into this web of darkwave delights. Even better is the fact that Alexander touches back to the styles that have influenced him but he never let’s them consume him, rather experimenting to create tracks that encapsulate his music journey. Beautiful, fragile and ashened songs to drink, dance to, and watch the moon…Menschenleere(Deserted)
December is the time to catch LunarPaths new single, “Shine“. The transatlantic darkwave duo are back after the launch of the EP, Fuse.
There is a crunchy, broken glass like texture in the rhythm at times from the electronics. The vocals are beautifully clean and clipped, holding your attention, until they drift into another dimension, sliding you with them.
Currently, I cannot put my finger on what exactly but this track reminds me a lot of Siouxsie And The Banshees, around the time of A Kiss In The Dreamhouse (1982). Lush, charismatic and experimental might be some of the reason why. The way they have distorted the rhythm, giving it a modern industrial feel, mixed with the gorgeous singing. “Shine” is possibly my favourite Lunar Paths’ track to date yet.
Ludovic Dhenry is back with his darkwave project, Eleventh Fear and a new EP. Out on Neris Records, the EP is called Waldhexen, and released on the 29th of November.
From the outset of “Waldhexen“, the build up alludes to a electronic trip of beat filled ebony darkness. The hissed whispers are the promise of portent. The flickering and stalking atmosphere of “Wald der Seelen“, has those beautiful synth chords that choke the air around you like a smoke imbued room. Tod basically means death and maybe death is awaiting you in the track, “Wie im Tod“, as it slowly creeps through and it is followed by “Waldhexen“, the remix version with its far more dance floor stylings, which sounds amazing.
As far as gothic electronic projects go, Eleventh Fear is really interesting, with the use of German lyrics by the French Dhenry, that gives the ambiance of a movie like Metropolis mixed with dulcet tones of Voldemort concocting a dangerous spell. You might need some Waldhexen in your life.
Covid decimated the music festival scene, around the world for 2020, 2021 and a good chunk of 2022. Things are coming back to normal and in fact, you can add a new festival to endeavour to attend. Dark Force Fest will kick off in 2023, over three days, March 31st to April 2nd, in New Jersey, USA.
The event is being run by VampireFreaks, at the Sheraton Hotel, in Parsippany and this is not the first time the venue has been used by the VF crew. The hotel was built like a castle, including crenulations (just in case you find yourself in a siege situation with all those goths).
There will be over 100 vendors, to buy things that make your little dark heart happy, clubs, costume competitions and sideshow performances. However, the most important thing is the music… there will be 30 plus bands/artists ranging from darkwave through to industrial. A chance to see pioneers such as Das Ich and Suicide Commando, big hitters Combichrist, Solar Fake, HEALTH, EmpathyTest and ACTORS plus brilliant acts like MORIS BLAK, Third Realm, Bootsblack and Rabbit Junk.
That is a whole lot of music and an amazing line up, so you are spoilt for choice. As the inaugural show, you want to be able to say you were there for the first ever…. unlike myself, stuck in another country, half way around the world, who will have to live vicariously through others, and the buckets of fun they are having. (Insert gothic weeping).
Onyx Music Reviews 