Brisbane based dark rock band, Killtoys, isn’t+ looking for your approval and instead is bringing you a tale of a vampire love story in the form of the new single “MyConfession.” Mick Bristow, Stav Tsolakides and Bevan Bancroft are our purveyors of this murky world of the undead.
There is something very 80s post-punk about this track and possibly it is the big soaring jangle guitar that is so infectious, working in conjunction with the thumping rhythm section. An immortal soul in love with a human, unsure whether to leave her be or take her into the dark embrace so she might be his forever.
Recorded, mixed and mastered at King Street Studio by Mick Bristow, and the cover art was created by powerhouse duo Jess and GaryJones of Obscure Medium Art. The band have again proven that their style never stands still and is always evolving. Quite frankly, I really love this bold sound that reminds me a lot of the early 80s classic goth bands.
Paul Devine is a wordsmith, a musician, a composer, a scholar, a historian and at heart a humanitarian. The single “Leader of the Free World” (2024) has been born from the stark reality that Donald Trump might win the next North American election, even though he tried to usurp the White House in a coup in front of the whole world and equally is one of the most sexist and slimy humans in the public eye, that has absolutely no remorse for anything he does or says.
The thrumming bass and Devine’s snarled punk vocals, sneer at the propaganda of making America great again through guns, extreme Christianity and perversion of laws. He is the leader of the free world is the sing song chant, because in the end, it as all a joke. Angry guitars and booming drums highlight the truths of how backwards things have become as women have lost rights to their own bodies and racial tension overwhelming.
Not that I think this sounded wholly like TheClash, but I think JoeStrummer is probably sitting somewhere with a smile on his dial. “Leader of the Free World” takes no prisoners and tell no lies. This is a protest, taking a stand against a rising tide of misogyny and intolerance, in the hopes that history does not repeat itself, plus it is an ace song.
Warning… this is a Guns’nRoses free zone! With that said “You Could Be Mine” is a single from Australian band S:Bahn and the second track dropped from the album LoveSongs, that will be released on the 12 of April. The band is made up of DikDetonic (vocals,guitar), KristianBrenchley (guitar), ReneSchaefer (bass) and DenisLeadbeater (drums), with additional vocals by LouiseLove.
It has been noted that the start of this track is very much inspired by the BlueOysterCult’s “Don’tFearTheReaper” and indeed it really does have that tone, however it doesn’t stay that way for long, resolving into sounding like TheSmithereens. The duet between Detonic and Love was described as Meatloaf like…. mmmm, no. It is decidedly far more like the rugged Aussie intonation of Detonic, dancing with the sweeter vocals of Love. And that might be the crux of this track. It is the Australian indie rock bar song of flirtation and after all, it is from an album called LoveSongs. “You Could Be Mine” (back off Axel).
Since the 2007 inception of Vancouver band, The Silence Industry has revolved around lynch-pin member GrahamJackson, with other musicians joining him when they are available. The single “As The Walls Close In,” is part of an ongoing project where singles will be released with art work, and each will have two exclusive ‘b-side’ tracks.
The beginning of the title track has that all-encompassing heavy bass, which I associate with early Tool, bubbling with latent tendrils of misgivings, leaning itself to a progressive rock feel. The vocals, crisp and clear, combined with that guitar work, definitely harken back to the roots of 90s gothic rock. The two ‘b-sides’ consist of unreleased versions of “Bags of Clay (Lofi Piano Version)“, which is full of slow burn longing, and “These Long Sunset Shadows ( A Dark Ambient Noise Jam),” that clocks in at just over twelve minutes and the description tells no lies. This is a melancholy at its ambient best.
Fluid and engrossing is how I would describe “As The Walls Close In,” as it beautifully mixes gothic rock with something a little more modern, and with that open door policy with other artists, that only piques my interest more. The single/EP is on Bandcamp for nameyourprice, so you have nothing to lose and the real possibility of gaining some damn fine tracks from The Silence Industry.
In the early 90s, we were experiencing the second wave of goth, and one band to grab our attention was the French group CorpusDelicti, with the album Sylphes, instantly becoming a classic. After five years CorpusDelicti disbanded, and now, twenty eight years later, they are finally back with the single “Chaos,” which has WilliamFaith (Faith & The Muse, Shadow Project) in the role of producer.
Just the vocals alone make you know that this is CorpusDelicti, as Sebastian’s singing style has not really changed. Serpentine guitar coils around your senses and the bass guitar is truly gorgeous. The chorus sends shivers down my spine with the breath taking soaring quality, that becomes almost attacking in its veracity, and the synths build the underlaying tension.
They are no longer those youngsters, but that has been replaced by a maturity and a conviction to the music. Everything about “Chaos” screams that this is the same band even down to those guitar flourishes, and I am transported back in time to when I picked up a purple covered CD, with a black and white art piece, discovering songs that became a part of who I am today. Oh how I have missed you CorpusDelicti, for now you have released the “Chaos” and we want more…..
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.
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.
Onyx Music Reviews 