It is always lovely to hear the guitar artistry of KarlMortenDahl, aka Antipole, and he has joined forces with German based DeusExLumina, the darkwave project of GonzaloSchwindt, for the single “Destroy.”
Dahl’s guitar is ghostly and ephemeral, a presence in the background and melding into synths which glimmer star like from the murky memories that are uttered on the lips of Schwindt. The vocals weighted, sonorously deep and smooth as liquid black velvet.
It is undeniable that there is an 80s electronic, almost coldwave electronics sound to “Destroy.” There is a gentle fragility within the music though the lyrics more than hint to some sort of violence. “Destroy” is a beautiful act of dancefloor tragedy by DeusExLumina & Antipole.
Hard to believe, but it has been five years since the release of KillShelter’s debut album Damage on the label UnknownPleasures. So, December 1st will see the special limited edition of the reworked album, called Damage (V), where tracks that have the (V) have been re-recorded, whilst the others have been remastered by the man himself, PeteBurns at the ShelterStudio. Anyway, before we get to the album, the single “InDecay(V),” was dropped at the end of October, featuring Antipole and DelphineComa. You may say, hey….. that was a single off the original Damage, and you are not wrong, however this is one of the (V) tracks and now it also has a video to go with it!
AsheRuppe is DelphineComa and his deep, sonorous vocals seem to almost reverberate into the core of your being, as he brings to bear the desperation and disillusionment of those looking to escape across the waters. The delicate guitar strains are Antipole’sKarlMortenDahl, and they fall like rivulets of drenching tears. All the while, Burns builds the dark and overbearing atmosphere with his driving bass.
You might wonder what the difference is between the original version and this one. For me, I am going to say that the vocals are more at the fore, that the guitar fills in more space, where as the original felt as if it there were voids to punctuate the music, and this new version is just going to take you for a sonic journey. But, more to the point, maybe you need to listen to both versions of “In Decay” in order to make your own mind up. “InDecay (V)” is just beautifully crafted post-punk, and I for one could not think of anyone better to perform it than DelphineComa, Antipole and, of course, KillShelter.
Drawing a spotlight onto music that might have gone under your radar is something we relish at Onyx. So, if you haven’t heard the EP Intimacy from France’s DistanceH, then we are here to tell you that you might just be missing out. ManuH is a producer and man behind the darkwave/post-punk project and he invites different female vocalists to write the lyrics that they then perform for their track. Intimacy is the debut EP release for DistanceH, that came out in January of 2023.
There are two tracks featuring BlueSaigon’s delightful vocalist, Ophelia. The sassy single “Bitch16” with it’s pealing guitar work, and the dark, dirge like wonder that is the last track “LeadenSkies.” Ophelia goes from oozing seduction, to an emotional outpouring so pure and haunting.
“Waters Of Woe” is another single that features the vocal talents of Marita Volodina. It both surges and spirals down with the guitar, powerful and evocative with Volodina stirring those pools of sadness.
LisetAlea makes up the triumvirate with the ultra smooth ode to lover’s promises “TimeToRush,” that lilts and caresses your ears. The last track is “Twilight” and it is glorious both with it’s female vocals and musically with the effusive shoegaze ephemera.
I have to say that it is rather brilliant concept to collaborate with female vocalists, because not only is there some damn fine singing, but also the lyrics are written by them and are therefor so much more pertinent and poignant, giving the listener a glimpse into fragments of fragility, passion, longing, sadness and a core iron inner strength that runs throughout. ManuH (guitar, synths), is the music mastermind creating swirling, jangly accompaniments, however the icing is the fact that he even has women leading the way on drums and bass, this being AmélieG and ZoéH respectively. There is a lot of reverence in Intimacy, and maybe this is because ManuH, and in turn DistanceH listen to the feminine heart.
You might say Witches Falls could be one of the most coolest names a place could be called and indeed it is a real locale, situated on Tamborine Mountain, in Australia. Gold Coast based ChiffonMagnifique, brain child of JedAWalters, have sprung forth a darkwave single, also named “WitchesFalls,” with an equally creepy video set in said area.
Echoing and ringing post-punk guitar on this track is really beautiful, setting the swirling tone, that sweeps you along for the ride. Walter’s vocals, deep and longing, beseech you for understanding, for one that finds the modern world, at times, so overwhelming, they need to retreat to the calm that is the quiet arms of the natural world. The video conveys the self doubt in a mind clouded in a tormented perception that they are forever alone and unwanted. The house full of curios, changes to the city (Vinnies’ Dive Bar), before a furious night drive to the Falls, and their majestic ancient rain forest, in which the “WitchesFalls” resides.
What could possibly top this great track? Maybe the knowledge that in 2024, we can expect the debut album named Anxietika, which, with all the current singles, you know is going to be punching well above its weight with all the gothic goodness Walters puts into his music. The man is seriously talented and very heavily involved in the dark alternative scene in South-East Queensland and I cannot stress enough to watch this space because ChiffonMagnifique are just starting to hit their straps, so find your way to “WitchesFalls.”
Berlin based NIGHTNAIL have a new album, FatesExplained, out in November on MetropolisRecords, but September sees the post-punk project dropping the first single, “NarcolepticDreamCatcher.”
The wonderful jangle of guitar fills the air and is joined by the trickling sighs of ValentinaVeil (VV& The Void), which help set the tone of the track. PeteBurns of KillShelter fame, graces us with the meaty bass lines that support NIGHTNAIL’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 NIGHTNAIL single, does not deserve to be a sleeper.
Should you go into the woods, you might not come out the same….or then again, maybe not at all. Californian deathrockers, BlackHeroinGallery have just released a promo video for the track “TakeThisRose“, which is off the album AFeastOfBats, that was unleashed in 2022.
“Death is seeking out her mark, trying to trick the carefree artist into taking her gift: a rose. She uses a surrogate in place of herself, who stalks the artist through the forest, trying to get him to take the rose, even using spells to will his compliance, or trick him with the poisoned rose in a gift box. Ultimately, she will take him to meet the ferryman.” – Eyajo Joseph
And indeed, the music video is like watching the black and white silent movies, with a goth rock soundtrack. There is also an air of the German Expressionist movement, which would eventually lend itself to the progression of American noir cinematography. The track, “TakeThisRose” is atmospheric and spiritually charged, as if the ghosts of the past are watching on, waiting for the inevitable fall of the unsuspecting soul, by the cold hand of Death herself.
Athenian post-punk project ReflectionBlack’s inception was in 2022, with the EP EnteringDreamtime. March of 2023, saw the debut album released on SwissDarkNights, titled ominously, LastStopToNowhere. ElisAlex is the man behind ReflectionBlack, who previously cut his musical teeth in the huge Greek black metal scene, with the bands Ravencult and Nigredo.
“With Last Stop To Nowhere I can say that I have made an album that I am truly happy with. One record, eight tracks, each one different from each other but still forming a very consistent big picture without any fillers. One should expect quite a few surprises in the album, from catchy riffs to heavily layered atmospheric synths and even guitar and saxophone solos. When it comes to the album’s lyrics, themes such as sleep, death, dreams and the occult are being explored extensively. In the end, most of the lyrical themes come down to a general context of mental and spiritual escapism with the questioning of current realities of all forms.” – Elis Alex
The first thing you notice in “Post Sleep Trauma” is the clinking sound like a hammer in a cavernous void, that is until there is a whirl of guitars to join the rhythm, along with bright synths. Alex’s vocals smoothly light up the track with their dark mourning of not wanting to see any dreams in his sleep.. The guitars chime and sparkle but there are “No Stars In The Sky” for this mesmerising and soaring apocalyptic piece, with the heavens being consumed by a black hole, but the chorus is far more riveting.
In amongst the gloom, true love always shines eternal, and this is the theme for “Under Your Shine” as it reverberates with the melting lyrics/vocals and consuming synths, entwined with the guitar. There is an 80s synthwave vibe to the title track “Last Stop To Nowhere“, bound on a ship going to a destination that is likely doomed. “Call My Name” is atmospheric and is filled with that beautiful echoing post-punk jangling guitar. The track soars with conviction and longing in Alex’s singing.
The entrancing “Let The Spirit“, delicately picks you up and bears you along on strong and gentle hands. The bursts of synths are truly magical and one could almost believe those spirits have been freed. When you sleep, there is a vividness not experienced in real life which is explored in the dreamhouse of the track “Yet Unseen Colours“, like a prayer for more than what reality can give. “Why Believe” is the final track, and what a track to finish with. Brooding, as if the angelic and devilish sit on each shoulder, pushing their agenda. Again there as the spiralling guitars that are forever drawing you in.
ElisAlex just has this voice to die for. Smooth, evocative and sensual. The music he creates takes the wonderful saturated guitar sound, made popular in the 80s with such bands as TheCure, MarchViolets and TheMission, and then it is mixed in with the modern synths, to give each track a wonderful dark velvet sumptuousness. All this is topped off by those vocals giving us some rather stunningly perfect tracks, as ReflectionBlack takes us to the LastStopToNowhere.
They say the road to ruin is paved with good intentions and maybe US band, Bellhead might know this better than many. As of May the 8th, their latest EP, aptly named GoodIntentions, was released on OppressiveSkyRecords. What makes this project a little different is the fact that there are two styles of bass being played and no lead or rhythm guitar, so you know from that fact alone that their sound is going to be something a little special. The Chicago based duo is made up of KarenRigheimer (low bass, vocals) and IvanRussia (high bass, vocals, drum programming), while they have entrusted Bellhead’s sound to regulars, audio engineer NeilStrauch (Iron and Wine / Counting Crows / Owls / Joan of Arc / Walking Bicycles / Slow Mass) and mastering engineer CarlSaff (AcidMothers Temple / Smoking Popes / Red Fang / Guided by Voices).
When you say “BadTaste“, I admit I think of the New Zealand comedy horror movie, but in the case of this song, it feels more like StevenKing’s ‘Misery‘, claustrophobic and just a tad a bit deranged in a stalkerish kind of way. The music for “IntoTheDeep” feels like really dark surf rock, that has the even darker tale of a relationship that is dragging the couple to their proverbial doom. The vocals are beautifully carried off between Righeimer and Russia. “Valentine” is both sweet and bitter at the same time. There is something poignantly timeless about this track as it wends it way through the unabashed sorrow and loss.
Oh my, Righeimer is vocally channelling KimGordon for “Apathy“. In fact, the whole song has the signature groove of SonicYouth all over it, making lassitude ever so cool. There is a cover in the track “NoBigDeal“, which was originally written and performed by LoveAndRockets, appearing on their 1989, self titled album. Honestly, I can hear why they picked this song, and I think LoveAndRockets might be a big influence on Bellhead’s overall sound. The two basses absolutely inject the funk into this cover. Last track is the delicious “DrugstoreKeri“, a raw and sleazy ditty about some bird named Keri, who can supply the drug of your choice, on the sly.
Bellhead literally rumble, causing your speakers to buzz at times, in a very good way. Having the two bass married to a drum machine makes for an ever so tight rhythm section, also giving you the melodies as well. This definitely gives the music a dirty post-punk groove to each track, and this new EP leans more into pop rock. The Good Intentions of Bellhead is fun, nostalgic and rocking… in that fabulously gloomy way.
It is cold and light doesn’t last long during the day currently in Brisbane, Australia. Creatures of the night, Killtoys have crept out, and the 31st of May tolls in the release of the new single, “Blind God“. The trio of Mick Bristow, StavTsolakides and BevanBancroft have been steadily building their own sound since 2020.
There is an amazing echoing quality and the guitar beautifully rings out, reminding me of the early 90s gothic second wave of bands. Bristow’s singing absolutely gives you the chills and in the pit of your stomach you can hear the nightmare. Yes, the terror is in the form of a night hag infecting your dreams and on another level, it is also dealing with one’s inner torment from the past..
“We’re thrilled to be releasing ‘Blind God’ to our fans around the world,” said the band in a statement. “This song is deeply personal to us, and we hope that it resonates with listeners who have experienced the same feelings of fear and helplessness that inspired it.”
The anguish is palpable and a music surges with the call and response making the track hugely anthemic, and definitely something that would go off live. Killtoys are fusing gothic rock with garage grunge, and the track “BlindGod” may just eat you alive……
I have noticed that the Germans are extremely efficient at consistently putting out great music in quick succession. AlexanderLeonardDonat is one such German. I still have to bring you the review for his new album from Assassun, but his other project Vlimmer, just brought out a new single called “Fatalidealb/wRaceForThePrize“, on the BlackjackIlluministRecords label.
There is an idealistic air of youthful golden delight in “Fatalideal“, with the ringing guitar work that is strikingly joyful. Even Donat’s vocals are light and wonderfully graceful in his native German tongue. The second track is far more electrotonic and slower than the original…yes, this is a cover. The vocals are tinged with a sense of morose as “RaceForThePrize” wends its way.
“Fatalideal” definitely holds about it, an taste of TheCure, and their more absurdly happy music. It is coated in a dreamy haze and is genuinely delightful, with the vocals absolutely in perfect form The b-side, “RaceForThePrize” was originally released in 1999, as a single by US group, TheFlamingLips and in true Vlimmer style, the lyrics have been transcribed into German. I actually had never heard the original version before, and I have to say i prefer the Vlimmer cover… so there :P. Donat is proving himself more than a capable singer and a composer of enchanting darkwave.
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