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Karen Righeimer (low bass / vocals) and Ivan Russia (high bass / vocals / drum programming) are the Chicago based, post-punk band BELLHEAD, and April brought with it the release of the latest EP, Threats.

They say good girls go to heaven but bad girls go everywhere, and in “Threats,” the woman is most definitely a bad girl. She takes what she wants and creates trauma without a single thought of regret. The music is sassy and unyielding with Russia telling you about this she devil that is trying to break his heart. “Heart Shape Hole” is about revenge, invoking a vengeful old testament God. The vocals are grim and grimy, but then there is this line with lyrics, that just hits you and I am reminded of The Rolling Stone’s “Shine A Light.”

There is murder afoot and those bass guitars simply reinforce the intent of bringing to an end the misery and pain. Righeimer’s singing about the “Shutters + Slutters” giving the dual tone of raggedness. A modern day song about a cowboy that still is looking for his wild west, being hard riding, hard drinking and a dead shot with a death wish. The music grinds out the dust blown tale of the contemporary gunslinger for “No Dead Horses.” The track “Double Jeopardy” has this amazing stalking feel about it, like it knows it can swan around and not get caught because it is so cool. All the ways you can go and no one will ever know what happened, but it is a cool soundtrack, so what a way to go.

So, there are no love songs but what do you expect from a title like Threats, and it is about the archetypal types you might come across in Vegas…. okay, I have never been to Vegas but this peaked my imagination. The EP also has two remixes with one being the title track, mixed by the mighty Stabbing Westwards and Clubdrugs doing their thing with “Hole Shaped Heart.” BELLHEAD really do kill it with the double bass guitar, where it always gives their music an air of grunginess, being soiled or less than savoury, but then you hear those moments of the high bass that add a touch of lightness. Is it industrial, is it post-punk or gothic rock? That is up to you, but you will enjoy all of BELLHEAD’s Threats.

 Threats | BELLHEAD

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Based in California is the project Pieti, a collaboration between musicians The Vandalorum (all instruments) and Krauhl (vocals and lyrics), where they create darkwave, influenced by dungeon synth. Their latest release is called Wedding Photos, comprised of eight tracks.

The guitar work in “Martyr,” sparkles and flows in a gorgeous way, leaving you mesmerised by the simplistic joy it brings. The vocals definitely remind me of Interpol’s Paul Banks both in tone and pace, which are propelled by the lovely deep bass. The synths break through and there is something about this track that grabs your attention completely. Love can cause a person to do many things in order to gain for themselves “Eternal Bliss.” Again there is that great post-punk styled bass and the earnest vocals of Krauhl, as the song keeps the foot tapping along.

Another stand out track is “Reservation,” and it is a myriad of ideas and emotions. The lyrics, ‘Red leather, black tie‘ give the illusion of sexual temptation or tension, and within it, a lamentation that tugs at your heart. The luscious “Clever Disarray” is far more laid back and sinuous affair, that starts off with a recording of a woman, which is apparently how the females in a jail were communicating with each other, that belonged to The Vandal’s grandmother. The vocals and synths convey a defiance and sadness, plus that guitar has an almost Mediterranean feel.

The album was recorded between 2023 and 2025, and seems to draw from life and family, whether this is blood relations or the families we create, hence the title Wedding Photos. The music itself is heavily rooted in post-punk and darkwave, with the rhythm held together by the bass and drums, while the guitar is just what makes it all perfect, equally important as the vocals in creating the atmosphere. The judicious use of synth just lends to the texture of each track. Pieti have dropped us a gem in Wedding Photos.

Wedding Photos | Pieti

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We have the pleasure of introducing a new gothic band from Berlin, called Sorry We Weren’t Here Before and their debut single “Vibrations Will Told,” out on the independent German label Agoge Records. Members of the band are Robert Koric (vocals), Sandy Pötzsch (bass), Gianmarco Bellumori (guitar) and Drum machine (whom I am calling Boom Boom because I can!).

There is something about this track that makes me think of different periods of goth music. The guitar has that 80s jangle and the vocals waver between the guttural sound of the 90s and melodic current style in the chorus. The verses hold a discordancy that is resolved in the chorus, highlighting the spiritual content.

With the lyrics talking about souls and vibrations, it makes me think this track is about a belief in a higher realm of conscious, where others can feel your emotions and get hints of your thoughts. This is a solid first single from Sorry We Weren’t Here Before, so find that special person and send them “Vibrations Will Told.”

Vibrations Will Told | SORRY WE WEREN’T HERE BEFORE | Agoge Records

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Toronto based Jay Draper (The Scarlet Fever) has released the album, spookily titled Dollhouse, as Jay Draper & the Subterraneans. Draper has been joined by guest musicians, Cat Samuels (L’autre Dame/The Scarlet Fever), Ursule Marion (SU), Chris Jensen (Poor Violet), Sinéad Rua (Animal Party), Francesca Copelli (Attaloom) and Chris Woodacre (The Scarlet Fever).

One of the jewels of this album is the single “Self Control,” a cover of the 80s hit, best remembered being sung by the late Laura Branigan, though originally it was released by Italian Raf. Draper has slowed down the track, and due to its inherently dark undertones, this works so well, with the incorporation of electronics giving the song the feel of futility, and indeed “Self Control” was used in the 2024 horror-mystery movie MaXXXine. Try not to be caught up in the powerfully emotional swirl of “Just A Dream,” that grabs at the heart strings.

In this vein, you can enjoy the sinister, yet delightful, creeping terror that is “A Death in the Dollhouse.” The post-punk jangle of the guitar and Draper’s ringing clear tones are pure joy, evoking memories of The Mission or Play Dead. I really cannot emphasis how delightful it is to hear the charming guitar work that echoes back to the 80s, which is perfectly showcased in the track “Only Hope,” that holds your attention as Samuel’s vocals entwine with Draper’s in the chorus and sweep you away on a wave of euphoria.

Dollhouse is just this poetic balance of dark romance and stark realism, mixed with great tunes. Filled with lovingly crafted songs, there are great strains of guitar, finding perfect resonance with the synths and rhythms. Jay Draper & the Subterraneans invite you into the gothic dream of the perfect Dollhouse.

Dollhouse | Jay Draper & the Subterraneans | Jay Draper & The Subterraneans

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If you have ever wondered about how you pronounce Danish project M73? Let me enlighten you that it is said ‘EM SIEBEN DREI.’ John R. Mirland is the mind behind M73, the electronic/industrial juggernaut on the record label LÆBEL, and the latest single “Move One” heralds the soon to be released third album, All Messed Up And Nowhere To Go.

The clattering electronic beats and rising synths are offset by the vocals of Mirland, and then by his lone electric guitar crying out. The lyrics seem to speak of being unable to settle down, constantly on the move, and the music video, shot in Athens, is pure class.

“Move On” is not one of those in your face tracks, yet it is dance orientated and oozing what one could describe as European cool, which is this unexplainable and inextricably smoothness mixed with slow burn. Such a perfect song for the city at night and an excellent way to introduce us to what I suspect is going to be a cracker of an album from M73.

Move On | M73

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There is a finality with the release of the new single “Stars At Night” for The Funeral March of the Marionettes. This is the last music video single off their last ever album, It All Falls Apart, since frontman and original member Joe Whiteaker, succumbed to cancer.

“I wasn’t much into post-punk or goth rock before I met him, but I quickly became a fan of The Funeral March. What Joe and company were doing spoke to me in a way other genre bands didn’t. That I got to join the band and participate in creating some fantastic songs is a real gift, one I’ll always cherish.” – Darius McCaskey (The Funeral March)

Whiteaker is joined by Ria Aursjoen (Octavian Winter/AURSJOEN)on vocals for this track, her singing angelic in its mirroring . You hear the influence of the early 80s gothic guitar and it is magnificent, making your chest swell with joy for this alone. Having William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate/Faith and the Muse) on production takes the sound to another level.

The music video was created knowing Whiteaker was ill, and yet, for me, it is wonderful to have him immortalised forever with a great track like this, and anyone that had dealings with Joe will tell you that he was a truly honest and delightful human. The single is full of soul and indeed as bright as the “Stars At Night,” leading you to The Funeral of the Marionettes, and that can never fade away.

It All Falls Apart | The Funeral March of the Marionettes

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Gonzalo Schwindt, based in Germany, and Karl Morten Dahl from Norway are no strangers when it comes to working with each other musically. Schwindt is Deus Ex Lumina, releasing the new single “Facade Of The Decay,” while Antipole (Dahl), has brought to bear his wonderful guitar work.

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The echoing guitar of Dahl is a perfect intro into the track and leads us to Schwindt’s mercurial deep tones. The lyrics ‘Every silent ache I keep, Every buried memory, And I’ll pretend that I’m okay, (With) This facade of the decay‘ elude to dark secrets and great losses, and still there is a romanticism. The interplay of synths with guitar is sublime.

The music video is a wonderful addition, emphasising an austere loneliness in one’s own memories, pretending that everything is okay. “Facade Of The Decay” is definitely one of those songs that you feel never goes long enough, only to be surprised it goes for three minutes, and I can only put this down to the amount of pure enjoyment you get listening to Deus Ex Lumina and Antipole play together.

Facade Of The Decay | Deus Ex Lumina

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For some of us, we live our lives through art, seeking beauty in what others reject due to dark subject matters. Melbourne’s Velatine are still among the living, spreading their magical gothic music, though there are some that would say one foot in the grave with the latest single “Til Death We Do Art.”

The purpose filled guitar has that southern gothic twang, as if we are going to have a duel at 12 paces as the clock strikes midnight, backed by the mourning tones of the synths, and this is a song about mourning, with the first dulcet tones giving us the lyrics ‘when the funeral is over.’ A loss of an artistic twin flame and partner, with the ache of the vocals, like a knife twisting in your heart. That turn of phrase that makes up the title, ‘til death we do art‘ is equally devastating as it is a gorgeous tribute to a lost love, encapsulated in a chorus that rises like a phoenix from the ashes.

Loki Lockwood has partnered up again with singer Nocturna for this heartfelt darkwave song, with a personal origin. Lockwood recounts how a female friend in Ukraine, an artist, lost her other dark half to the unjust war raging there. How do you reconcile the loss of a lover, a muse and a best friend? “Til Death We Do Art” is about that grief but also the wealth of wonderful memories, so Velatine have created the perfect track full of sadness and gothic grace

Till Death We Do Art | Velatine

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Sweden’s Scheitan, started off as a black metal band, back in 1996, but now in 2025, it is a far different beast. With one remaining member, Pierre Törnkvist, over the years, Scheitan’s sound has become gothic rock, and the latest single is called “Heaven Tonight,” out on the Greek label The Circle Music.

PHOTO BY DANIEL HOLMGREN

Woo, this could honestly be disco gothic rock with the energy of this track, ready to whisk you off to the dance floor. The thudding rhythms, the liquid vocals and the swirling electronics mix together. The lyrics are heavy with meaning, with the chorus either speaking of wanting something forever or a night of a perfect climax.

‘I will love to keep the fire alive
While I know that I’m just waiting to die
I will touch you in the heat of the night
Oh, it’s a firefight / I’ll be in heaven tonight‘

I really like this track and it has this odd cadence that makes me think of the 80s track “I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight” by Canadians Cutting Crew… not that is a bad thing either, as it was a track about petite le mort or the little death that is an orgasm. Scheitan are looking for the perfect gothic love with “Heaven Tonight.”

Heaven Tonight | Scheitan

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Fans of The Birthday Massacre have been waiting with bated breath, for the release of a new album, and it seems they don’t have much longer to hold on. Pathways will be out on the label Metropolis Records, however for now, you can immerse yourself in the new single “Sleep Tonight.”

There is a nice, harsh edge to the electronics to compliment the guitar. Chibi’s vocals are so much of what defines The Birthday Massacre’s sound, both sweet and strong… and occasionally creepy. For “Sleep Tonight” she is like an angelic dream, haunting, next to the weighty drum beats and raucous guitar, that hints at the promise of violence.

I remember first seeing The Birthday Massacre on a German music compilation video and proceeded to find the first album, and I thought it was amazing that these kids where putting out some great songs. Yeah, we won’t go into how old I feel now, but this band have never lost sight of their purpose in life and it has kept them accountable when creating music that is artistic and pleasing for themselves. “Sleep Tonight” proves that the wait was worth it, so bring on Pathways.

Sleep Tonight | The Birthday Massacre

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