Celldweller's Klayton reveals the 2nd
single from the forthcoming third album from his synthwave side
project, Scandroid. Both of the previous Scandroid albums – the
eponymous debut and 2017's follow-up 'Monochrome' – were well
received and if 'New York City Nights' is anything to go by, then
album number three 'The Darkness And The Light' looks set to be
another solid outing.
Full of retro synths,
smooth vocals and nostalgic melodies, 'New York City Lights' is a
classic slice of synthwave that keeps it's originality intact while
simultaneously playing with those familiar 80s elements that are
permanently engraved onto the pop culture soundtrack of the era.
The great thing about the Scandroid albums thus far is that
they have the feel of a movie/TV soundtrack from the era, as if any
of the tracks could be on the opening or end credits, or even in some
neon-drenched club scene. And 'New York City Nights' definitely fits
into this.
The production, as you'd expect from a talented
electronic music veteran such as Klayton is impeccable. It has a warm
analogue sound but isn't derivative of the recording style of the
time. It's still quite modern, but the retro sounds give it that
nostalgic appeal without sacrificing quality.
This is another
strong single under the Scandroid moniker and definitely whets the
appetite for the full-length release.
As it is World Goth Day
the question that always comes up time and time again from mainstream
journalists and the average person in the street is... “Just what
exactly is Goth anyway?”. And even though the question may be the
same, the answers are usually different.
Is it a fashion? Is it
a musical genre? Is it a literary genre? Is it an artistic aesthetic?
Is it an architectural movement? Is it an ancient tribe of Germanic
people who sacked Rome? Is it a youth culture?
Well it's all of the
above and more. It's a lifestyle. Goth as a subculture tends to
permeate into all areas of life from the films, bands and books you
like, to home décor and fashion choices. It's all mutually entwined.
However if that isn't any more illuminating, then here are thirteen
books on the subject of Gothic that are a good starting point for
anyone trying to understand what the hell Goth actually is.
Not exactly a deep
look into the evolution of the Gothic subculture, but a damn fine
example of the kind of humour that is often found within it.
“A
supreme being named Hieronymous Poshe arrives on Earth. His mission?
To find signs of intelligent life and keep his species from turning
the entire globe into a colossal landing strip. Instead, he's found
time and again how pathetic humans can be! Aliens, vampires,
teenagers, the Goth scene itself...everyone's a target in this
hilarious book! Loaded to bear with satirical dark humor by the
world's leading authority, Goth rocker Voltaire!”
'What is Goth?'
– Aurelio Voltaire
“What Is Goth? is a humorous,
self-deprecating look at Goth culture from the inside out. Imagine
The Preppy Handbook colliding with Charles Addams. Then add a lot
more melancholy and a lot more spooky. What Is Goth? dispels the false stereotypes and
reinforces the true ones surrounding Goths and Goth culture. "To
the mundane," Voltaire writes, "Goths are weird, black-clad
freaks who are obsessed with death; they are sad all of the time.
Take a closer look at the Goth scene, however, and you will find a
rich tapestry of ideas and practices and a menagerie of colorful
characters. Oh, dear. I said colorful."
'Worldwide
Gothic: Chronicle of a Tribe' – Natasha Scharf
“This
is the first book to look at the impact of the goth scene worldwide,
from its origins right through to the present day. From the UK's
sprawling post-punk scene, Japan's highly visual movement, the USA's
deathrock explosion and Germany's extremely popular Schwarze Szene,
Worldwide Gothic explores how they all came about and the influence
they've had on contemporary music and fashion. Spat out of punk at
the tail end of the 1970s, goth became a major subculture in the UK
with bands like Siouxsie And The Banshees and The Sisters Of Mercy
scoring Top Ten hits and its fashion inspiring catwalk collections.
After the scene died down in the early 1990s, it spread out to
Europe where it attracted hundreds of thousands of followers and
became assimilated with other muscial genres. This book also looks
at how goth is now returning to its roots now with the emergence of
dark rock and indie bands who pay homage to gothic greats like
Bauhaus and Joy Division.”
'The Art of
Gothic' – Natasha Scharf
“Dressed
head-to-toe in black, often with extreme make-up, the gothic look
has been a popular once since the 1980s. Gothic art is about more
than just album covers and ephemera; it's about fashion, book
jackets, cinematography, computer graphics and fine arts. And its
influence frequently seeps through into mainstream culture.The first
ever English language collection of gothic images available.
Features 224 pages of gothic photography and artwork. Contains up to
date references that encompass the modern gothic movement as well as
the original movement that came from punk. Gathers imagery from
around the world, including previously unpublished photographs and
artwork. Each chapter includes two special features, including
profiles of influential artists or styles. Features articles on the
work of well-known artists such as Anne Sudworth and Roman Dirge as
well as graphic design teams Parched Art, Leisure Process and 23
Envelope.”
'Some Wear
Leather, Some Wear Lace' – Andi Harriman and Marloes Bontje
“It
was a scene that had many names: some original members referred to
themselves as punks, others new romantics, new wavers, the bats, or
the morbids. "Goth" did not gain lexical currency until
the late 1980s. But no matter what term was used, "postpunk"
encompasses all the incarnations of the 1980s alternative movement.
Some Wear Leather, Some Wear Lace is a visual and oral history of
the first decade of the scene. Featuring interviews with both the
performers and the audience to capture the community on and off
stage, the book places personal snapshots alongside professional
photography to reveal a unique range of fashions, bands, and scenes.
A book about the music, the individual, and the creativity of a
worldwide community rather than theoretical definitions of a
subculture, Some Wear Leather, Some Wear Lace considers a subject
not often covered by academic books. Whether you were part of the
scene or are just fascinated by different modes of expression, this
book will transport you to another time and place.”
'Goth Chic: A
Connoisseur’s Guide to Goth' – Gavin Baddeley
“Goth
Chic is the first book to properly explore Gothic culture in
the modern world. Gavin Baddeley unearths hidden gems from the
underground alongside better-known manifestations, including horror
comics, fetish clubs, Goth-rock superstars and vampire cultists. The
result is a book that provides a peerless primer for Gothic culture
novices and an incisive analysis to challenge and compel even the
most seasoned veteran of this dark underworld.”
'Goth: The dark
Subculture' – Gavin Baddeley
“Goth is the subculture
that never dies, influencing fashion, TV, movies, and alternative
rock music. Goth: The Dark Subculture is a visual history that draws
on a rich photographic archive. Spanning the entirety of the scene's
existence, the book vividly evokes the past, present and future of
Goth.”
'Music to Die
For' – Mick Mercer
“The ultimate resource for readers
struggling to cope with the bewildering variety of alternative
sub-genres, covering: ambient, cabaret noir, deathrock, goth, gothic
metal, horror punk, melodramatic song, post-punk and psychobilly.
Packed with discographical information, web addresses, line-ups and
often contributions from the bands themselves, this is the first
edition of a book that will be turned to again and again. Fully
illustrated with over 130 pages of band photos.”
'Hex Files: The
Goth Bible' – Mick Mercer
“An illustrated guide to
the world-wide Goth scene, which also includes research on the
worlds of Pagan, Fetish and Vampire scenes. It features information
on bands, records, shops, clothes and jewellery, and discusses the
cross-overs between the individual cults.”
'Goth:
Identity, Style and Subculture' – Paul Hodkinson
“Goths
represent one of the most arresting, distinctive and enduring
subcultures of recent times. The dedication of those involved to a
lifestyle which, from the outside, may appear dark and sinister, has
spawned reactions ranging from admiration to alarm. Until now, no
one has conducted a full-scale ethnographic study of this
fascinating subcultural group. Based on extensive research by an
'insider', this is the first. Immersing us in the potent mix of
identities, practices and values that make up the goth scene, the
author takes us behind the facade of the goth mystique. From dress
and musical tastes to social habits and the use of the internet,
Hodkinson details the inner workings of this intriguing group.
Defying postmodern theories that claim media and commerce break down
substantive cultural groupings, Hodkinson shows how both have been
used by goths to retain, and even strengthen, their group identity.
Hodkinson provides a comprehensive reworking of subcultural theory,
making a key contribution to the disciplines of sociology, cultural
studies, youth studies, media studies, and popular music studies.
Readable and accessible, this groundbreaking book presents a unique
chance to engage with a contemporary, spectacular culture.”
'The Goth
Bible: A Compendium for the Darkly Inclined' – Nancy Kilpatrick
“The Goth Bible explores the traditions and history of
a popular subculture often misrepresented as homicidal, suicidal and
sociopathic, with non-goths such as the Columbine High School
murderers held up as representative of the movement. Nancy
Kilpatrick bridges this gulf in understanding, providing a lifestyle
handbook for today s creatures of the night. This authoritative
study is drawn from hundreds of interviews with bands, artists,
designers, and goths from all walks of life.”
'Gothic: The
Evolution of a Dark Subculture' – Chris Roberts, Hywel
Livingstone, Emma Baxter-Wright “Goth-inspired chic is
very much a part of contemporary culture--especially for a cool
young tribe with a penchant for black. But it also has a long
history stretching over centuries, becoming a distinctive narrative
form that encompasses everything from art and architecture to
literature, fashion, film, television, digital media, graphic
novels, and music (Marilyn Manson). Marvelously adaptable, the
gothic aesthetic has proven fertile ground for endless imaginative
reinvention, and this collection provides the first fully
illustrated introduction to every aspect of the phenomenon--one that
is truly without boundaries and ever-evolving.”
'The Gothic: A
Very Short Introduction' – Nick Groom
“The anatomy
of the Gothic is richly complex and perversely contradictory, and so
the thirteen chapters here range deliberately widely. This is the
first time that the entire story of the Gothic has been written as a
continuous history: from the historians of late antiquity to the
gardens of Georgian England, from the mediaeval cult of the macabre
to German Expressionist cinema, from Elizabethan Revenge Tragedy to
American consumer society, from folk ballads to vampires, from the
past to the present.”
There are many other
interesting titles out there, both humorous and academic, that deal
with all facets of the Gothic subculture. But we hope this list will
provide anyone looking to go into more depth on the subject with a
solid starting point.
Hailing from Eastern
Europe, Raizer return with their new single 'Free'. With their
frenetic blend of electro-rock, drum 'n' bass, cyberpunk and
synthwave intact from their debut album 'We Are The Future' they
launch things into the stratosphere in anthemic fashion.
Big beats, big guitars,
soaring vocals, and plenty of melodic synths to get your teeth into
the song should be a no-brainer with it's high-energy anime meets
computer game soundtrack vibe heavy bass being bang-on trend.
But
after the impact of the first minute it begins to feel a little flat
and cheesy. This isn't helped by the ill-advised bridge at the 2:30
minute kills the initial momentum in a way that just doesn't fit the
rest of the song. It's a shame as the song has some really strong
elements to it. But it just seems to unravel and rely to heavily on
the chorus.
Production-wise the song is top-quality. It's got
the feel of a mainstram hard-dance track and still maintains a strong
balance with the heavy guitars and rock vocals. It's still the move
into the bridge that seems to undo things with the vocals in
particular sounding out of place.
There's a lot to like here,
but it doesn't quite hold it together and breaks apart on re-entry.
That being said there's no doubt Raizer still have plenty more left
in their fuel tanks and will undoubtedly be aiming for the moon with
another track soon.
US electronic producer
KPT (Kept) returns with a surprise new single in the form of 'Fluid
Bonded / Disarm', a double a-side release that blends minimal techno
with darker ambient electronics and industrial for a haunting and
atmospheric pair of tracks to chill and unnerve.
It's been a couple of
years now since KPT's full-length debut which showed off an
innovative blend of edm, techno, darkwave, industrial and ebm that
was reminiscent of acts such as Diamond Version, Aphex Twin and Blush
Response.
With this latest single it's easy to hear the
progression in KPT's sound – those elements are still there but the
slow and methodical 'Fluid Bonded' shows a more overt step towards
minimalism and dark ambience. Whereas 'Disarm', while still linking
in with the atmosphere of the previous track, has a more up-tempo
beat and therefore a more subversive dance feel to it.
As with previous
releases the production quality remains top-shelf. Even with darker
experimentation and heavier ambience the tracks keep a melodic appeal
that, especially in the case of disarm, translates nicely into a
dance-friendly direction akin to Juno Reactor.
This is
another strong release from KPT that raises a lot of questions
regarding the potential direction of the next full-length album. It
may be a far more atmospheric and experimental work than his last
outing... or this may be a brilliant curve-ball. Either way 'Fluid
Bonded / Disarm' is a solid single.
Bursting out of an 80s
Slasher Flick with her delicious blend of Glamour Horror Electro
Dance Music comes May May Graves, the self-proclaimed "High-Fashion
Nightmare". The industrial strength of Angelspit's Zoog Von
Rock helps bring her world of horror to life through her debut EP
"Monsters".
May May Graves brings
her world of horror to life through her debut EP "Monsters".
Combined with the industrial strength of Angelspit's Zoog Von Rock,
"Monsters" is the first peek under the bed into a world of
punk-rock slashers, murderous sirens, and seductive spirits.
“My
vocal training was screaming my way through punk shows that I would
host in hotel rooms before I was old enough to get into clubs! Add
that to the brutal distorted production from Zoog Von Rock and you
get a dream wrapped in a beautiful bout of sleep paralysis. The sound
is BRUTAL with a touch of insanity. If Freddy Krueger's daughter sang
about her daddy issues, you would hear the same smoothness with a
hint of absolute rage.” -May May Graves
"I've
been a fan of May May for years. Not only is her voice powerful with
a smooth lining, but she is also a solid song writer. I finally got
the chance to work with her on her third release “Monsters” - a
beautiful and deadly homage to her many murderous musical influences
like Rob Zombie, The Birthday Massacre, Mindless Self Indulgence,
Nine Inch Nails, and Peaches.” -Zoog Von Rock
Billed
as the "genderf#ck of your nightmares", May May quit her
job as a Church of Christ preacher in 2011 to be in a punk band….it
all goes downhill from there. The year is now 2018 and
May May Graves has solidified her place in the DWF burlesque and drag
scene and has toured stages across America, disappointing billions
and captivating few with her dark, witty, and macabre stage presence.
In doing that, she was the First Drag Queen to be crowned EVIL QUEEN
OF BURLESQUE in 2015 and was even the First Drag Queen featured at
the Dallas Burlesque Festival 2014. Her dark, macabre, and campy
fetish themed performances have captivated and terrorized audiences
across the country. Pre-order on Kickstarter today and
receive 5 tracks injected with harsh stomping beats, grinding bass
and lyrical terror! "Lights out baby, the night is
ours!" “Monsters” is released through Black Pill Red
Pill records: http://blackpillredpill.com/
FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY’s newest soundtrack CD
for Carbon Games’ latest game, WarMech! Get it via iTunes
or Bandcamp. When you pre-order you will receive the instant great
track ‘Mechvirus’ for free.
Jared Slingerland, Sasha Keevil, Craig Johnsen,
and the late-great Jeremy Inkel on a tour de force 12-track
full-length album that is as much electronic masterpiece as it is a
game soundtrack gold join head of arsenal Bill Leeb. WarMech
ranges from industrial to ambient to techno, and will blow the minds
of fans of the earlier AirMech soundtrack, as well as long-time
fans of Front Line Assembly.
The album will be released on June 22 via
Toronto-based Artoffact Records on double vinyl, including
black and greasy-mess versions. The vinyl comes in a gatefold sleeve
designed exclusively by Dave McKean, and you also get a
collectable, branded download card. CD digipak version also
available.
AirMech Wastelands expands the AirMech universe
through experiencing the journey from a scavenger to a commander in
the war against the machines. After global conflict erased countries
and borders, automated armies continued their mission by restoring
production of WarMechs to finish their directive.
Front Line Assembly will be on the road this
August and September in Europe with Die Krupps. As they return to
North America, the band will be performing at all three Cold
Waves Festival in NYC, Chicago and LA!
Front Line Assembly live 2018
August 18 - Amougies, BE @ W-2 Festival
August 19 - London, UK @ o2 Academy
August 20 - Paris, FR @ La Machine
August 21 - Utrecht, NL @ De Helling
August 22 - Krefeld, DE @ KuFa Krefeld
August 24 - Gothenburg, SE @ Truck Stop
August 25 - Stockholm, SE @ Klubben
August 29 - Wroclaw, PL @ Stary Klasztor
August 30 - Prague, CZ @ Lucerna Music Bar
August 31 - Budapest, HU @ A38
September 01 - Bratislava, SK @ Majestic Music
Club
September 02 - Vienna, AU @ Viper Room
September 04 - Munich, DE @ Backstage Halle
September 08 - Nu-Ulm, DE @ Volle Kraft Voraus
Festival
Following the
successful support tour with the British electropop icons "Mesh"
for their latest album release "Echtzeit", the pop duo from
South Germany radiate vigor and energy more than ever. The single
release "Golden" gives a first foretaste of the new album
which has been in preparation for a long time and is now scheduled
for the beginning of 2019.
With the new single,
Loewenhertz are celebrating a double premiere. While the last single
releases were all in German, now Loewenhertz show their versatility
and present their first song with English lyrics and, at the same
time, demonstrate the band's catchy side. Crisp, poppy, modern -
these are the dancefloor hit's characteristics. A pleasure for every
electropop fan. The catchy song is a mix of Hurts, Depeche Mode and
Paul Kalkbrenner and, of course, wants to repeat the band's last
successes (DAC (German Alternative Charts) and GEWC (German
Electronic WebCharts) entries of the last four releases). However,
anyone assuming only glitter, glamour and gold will be wrong. The
song is profound and takes hold in the listener's head.
The track was produced
by the well-known Robin Felder and Felix Heldt who also worked for
Tomcraft, Tom Novy, Da Hool, Disco Boys and D'Artagnan.
In advance the official
video for "Golden" will be released on may, 11th. None
other than video and film maker Mark Feuerstake was behind the camera
who shot more than 500 music videos (i. a. ATB, Scooter, Mesh,
Melotron) in his career and who provided an elaborately created
setting for the song making "Golden" a genuine, visual
highlight.
Loewenhertz also came
up with an idea for the B-side. With the cover version of Nena's
"Leuchtturm" they entered a challenging terrain which they
did handle quite easily by giving the song a completely new and
modern outfit.
Last but not least,
this new release is supported by numerous top class remixes, for
example by the iconic german electro-gothic band DAS ICH.
Loewenhertz 2018 sound
fresh, multi-faceted, passionate and highly motivated.
SixTurnsNine - Spinning
Numbers
Düsseldorf brought up
a few stunnig as well as unique experimental / electronic bands. The
Triphop / Electronica Trio SixTurnsNine is rooted in this tradition
while they partly break with it at the same time..
The Band
SixTurnsNine was
founded by Philip Akoto (strings), Lutz Bauer
(keys/programming/electronica) and Anja Trodler (vocals) in 2015 at
the legendary venue "Alter Schlachthof" in
Düsseldorf-Derendorf. Coming from totally different musical
backgrounds SixTurnsNine together create their songs within a charged
creative field full of details and little traces that bear witness of
their individuality in sound.
The Sound
The symbiosis of
different musical influences ends up in songs with almost danceable
trip hop beats and dub step elements combined with a somehow dark
ambience, massive hypnotic bass guitars and lurid electronica. On top
of it all you hear the impressive, dark and bluesy voice of Anja
Trodler. Yes, there is a slight 90s vibe to be found, but it is just
one layer within a brighter spectrum where there is much more to be
found besides and underneath, for example break beats, atonal
industrial music, New Wave or classic Woodstock spirit. You may also
find references to bands like 'This Mortal Coil' or some other
4AD-bands from the 1980s.
The EP
Until now SixTurnsNine
released two video singles called "Painted Clouds" and
"Threat in The Neck". In May 2018 their first 6-track-EP
will be released on Echozone / BobMedia in physical form as well as
for download. Just before that SixTurnsNine will hit a few stages on
a club tour to promote the EP in advance.
The EP is entitled
"Spinning Numbers". It contains five regular tracks plus a
remix of "Threat in The Neck" by Spherical Disrupted. The
EP was recorded and produced by Lutz Bauer, mixed and mastered by Bob
Humid (Cologne - mastermind of Der Liederkranz, Fat of Excellence,
Serve & Destroy). Artwork and design was done by Hendrik &
Julian Klein (takk design).
On May 18th, 2018, the
symphonic metal / hard rock band INNER CORE are going to release
their new video clip "Blame" as well as the new single of
the same name taken from the latest album "Soultaker" plus
one bonus track in form of a digital release.
As for the bonus track,
the band put a new spin on the Michael Jackson song "Give Into
Me" from the album "Dangerous" (1991) and outfitted it
with the typical Inner Core sound.
The single will be
available for download in all relevant download stores.
Following the
successful single release "Where Are The Angels" feat. Mick
L. Angelo (5TimesZero) in November 2017 and an additional maxi extra
release in December 2017 [madbello remix edition] as well as the
single release "Little Star" feat. Catrine Christensen
(SoftWave) in February 2018 and as a pre-taste of the debut album
scheduled for autumn / winter 2018, Projekt Ich aka Ulf Müller is
going to release his first German-speaking single "Doch das, was
blieb" on June 1st, 2018, on Echozone.
Markus Kühnel (German
dark rock band Elandor) supports the song with his impressive vocals.
"Doch das, was
blieb" is an anti-war song. You can look far back in world
history and you will see that there has never been a time without
wars accompanied by homicides and oppression of countless people and
the destruction of everything that has been near and dear to the
opponent.
'Doch das, was blieb'
('That What Remained') has always represented a gleam of hope for
living in peace, with all the peoples of the world, a cry for love
and forgiveness ... Can this be possible one day …?
Besides the original
track, "Doch das, was blieb" features two instrumental
versions, an extended mix version and 14 great remixes by
international artists.
Patrick Knoch
(Elektrostaub) is responsible for the mastering. Tim Aßmann from
Visionary Moments designed the front cover as well as all artworks
for the single release.
Following the GEWC
(German Electronic WebCharts) Top 5 singles "Unforgotten"
(feat. Henrik Iversen), "Also Without You" (feat. Anne
Goldacker) und "Funeral Of Love" (feat. Ruined Conflict),
Elektrostaub is now going to release his fourth single "Birthday
And Death" (feat. !distain) on June 1st, 2018. It will also be
the last single taken from the successful debut album (number 3 in
the GEWC album charts) with the same title.
"Birthday And
Death" is a very personal and emotional song by Elektrostaub
mastermind Patrick Knoch. The track deals with loss, but at the same
time emphasises a new beginning. The question whose vocals could
support this song, was answered very quickly: !distain. For years,
Elektrostaub and !distain have been closely connected on many levels.
Again, Elektrostaub
presents stomping beats, harmonic soundscapes and driving sounds. The
interaction between music and vocals creates an emotional and
danceable electro pearl. Solely for this release, there is a special
single version in addition to the already known album version.
!distain re-recorded their vocal parts for this single release.
The single also
contains a varied remix and instrumental package featuring Tom
Winters (Chrom), !distain, Kontrast, Uwe Kallenbach (Ex-Syntec), Alex
Stroeer, Projekt Ich , ALexis Voice and Cyborgdrive.
The songs will be
available for download in all relevant download shops.
CHRIS CARTER has
shared the video to ‘Tangerines' from his first album release in 17
years, Chris Carter’s Chemistry Lessons Volume One.
Watch the video,
created by Carter, for his two-minutes of electronic pop here:
Chris Carter will
perform two rare live sets this summer, both unique modular synth
sets, at Sea Change festival in Totnes in August and at the
first in a series of events hosted by the Cabinet Gallery at
the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London, on 23 May. The Cabinet event
will also feature a live DJ set by Sophie Coletta, soundtracking the
classic silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc (Carl
Theodor Dreyer, 1928).
Chris Carter’s
Chemistry Lessons Volume One is populated with insistent melodic
patterns and a distinct sense of wonderment at the limitless
possibilities of science. “If there’s an influence on the
album, it’s definitely ‘60s radiophonic,” Carter
says. “And over the last few years I’ve also been listening
to old English folk music, almost like a guilty pleasure, and so some
of tracks on the album hark back to an almost ingrained DNA we have
for those kinds of melodies.”
The album is out now on
all formats, including the limited edition double 'ash grey' and
'frostbite blue' coloured vinyl, available again after the initial
pressing sold out.
In addition Carter
recently launched a new website - a periodic table explaining and
exploring elements of the album. The site includes the Chris Carter
Chemistry Lessons series and you can watch films of Carter explaining
the process and inspirations behind his self-designed artwork and his
pedal collection here: http://ccclv1.net/. Keep checking back
for further films examining the album.
CHRIS CARTER -
Modular Synth Sets
23 May - London,
Cabinet Gallery present Chris Carter
Nine Inch Nails have
unveiled their latest release in the form of new studio album 'Bad
Witch'. The album carries on from its two predecessor EPs; 2016's
'Not The Actual Events' and 2017's 'Add Violence' rounding out the
trilogy that Trent Reznor had previously alluded to.
'Bad Witch' will be
available from 22nd June via The Null Corporation.
Track list:
1. "Shit Mirror"
2. "Ahead of
Ourselves"
3. "Play the
Goddamned Part"
4. "God Break Down
the Door"
5. "I'm Not from
This World"
6. "Over and Out"
In addition to the new
album the band have released North American tour dates with support from indie
legends The Jesus And Mary Chain.
For pre-order and
ticket details visit www.nin.com
Sometimes a band's
improvement can take you by surprise. From a promising yet somewhat unfocused beginning, atmospheric post-metal outfit The Atlas Moth
have blossomed into a stunning band. They've worked hard, supported
everyone they can and honed their sound over the course of their last
three albums. But still, the quality of their latest long-player
'Coma Noir' may still catch a few people off guard.
The fourth album is a
dark and disjointed. Atmospheric and visceral. Incredibly strong
drumming underpins the album and allows the guitars, keyboards and
vocals to flourish as they circle each other like snakes in a pit
before coming together in twisted unison.
Songs such as 'Coma
Noir', 'Last Transmission From The Late, Great Planet Earth',
'Galactic Brain', 'Actual Human Blood', 'Furious Gold', and 'The
Frozen Crown' are undoubted highlights, providing the album with an
anthemic backbone of pounding riffs, furious drums, searing
keyboards, sweet harmonics and demonic vocals. The end result is a
compelling and breakneck ride through the dark and surreal film noir
streets of the album's narrative.
In terms of production
this is one of those albums that could be in danger of devolving into
a sprawling mess. But it's kept tight, and even at it's most
disjointed and atonal sounding it pushes through to a logical
conclusion with all of the instruments still managing to work in a
strange harmony. As a result no one sound dominates the mix too much
and swamps any of the other subtle nuances of the songs.
This album should be
the one that puts The Atlas Moth on the map as serious contenders.
They've paid their dues and slowly matured into a force to be
reckoned with. The songwriting here is the best of any album so far
and the execution lives up to their collective ambition. 'Coma Noir'
should hopefully see them on the right trajectory from now on.
Canadian darkwave
duo Strvngers return with their hotly anticipated third album 'Amor /
Noir'. The duo already acclaimed for their innovative melding of
genres such as darkwave, post-punk, ebm, edm, and gothic rock to
create an original sound that is dark, dance-friendly and always
interesting. The band's third offering (and second on Negative Gain
Productions) sees them at their most accessible and polished yet.
With an undeniable
pop-sensibility running throughout the duo blend modern dance themes
through dark atmospheres, and filters them through a trippy haze to
create some truly stunning results. Songs such as 'Wanderlust',
'Fetisha', 'Leder Dame', 'This Is Not A Phase', 'Verisimilitude',
'Lethargy', and 'Noir' provide the album with a strong backbone of
tracks that walk a line between dark gothic industrial malevolence
and pop-friendly electronica. Infectious melodies, hard dance beats,
soaring vocals, and dark industrial embellishments come together is a
very pleasing way.
In terms of production
this is also the band's strongest outing yet. There is a hell of a
lot going on in the majority of the tracks and it would be very easy
for some elements to be swamped by the heavier synths when they come
through. However, the tracks remain pretty balanced with the vocals
always cutting through, the rhythms grounding the tracks and the
melodies pushing everything forward.
What Strvngers have
achieved on 'Amor / Noir' is a strong, consistent, and ultimately
accessible record that blends multiple alternative genres and
presents them is a pop-friendly manner. It's a dirty, sexy album,
heavy on atmosphere and underground subversion presented in an
approachable way. In a way this is almost a parallel with Nine Inch
Nails' 'Pretty Hate Machine'. But this is uniquely Strvngers from
start to finish. Hopefully this will be the album that cements the
band's place and see gain some more ground over the next year or so.
The world famous Wave
Gotik Treffen festival has announced the first acts that will be
playing the event in Leipzig, Germany this year. The 201 acts
announced so far are:
A Projection (S)
-
Actors (CDN) -
Aeon Rings (USA) -
Aeverium (D) -
All Gone Dead (USA)
exclusive European reunion show in 2018 -
Anna Gudny
Gudmundsdotter (IS) -
Arcana (S) -
Ash Code (I) -
Ataraxia (I) -
Author & Punisher
(USA) -
Autobahn (GB) -
Axel Thielmann (D) -
Beinhaus (D) -
Bettina Bormann (D) -
Black Light Ascension
(GB) -
Black Line (GB/USA) -
Blanck Mass (GB) -
Bootblacks (USA) -
Boy Harsher (USA) -
Buzz Kull (AUS) -
Camerata Lipsiensis (D)
-
Carmen Stefanescu (RO)
-
Carolin Masur (D) -
Carsten Klatte (D) -
Cellar Darling (CH) -
Centhron (D) -
Cesair (NL) -
Chambre D'écoute (D)
-
Chameleons Vox (GB) -
Chor Der Oper Leipzig
(D) -
Christian Von Aster (D)
-
Claire Gascoin (F) -
Claudia Gräf (D) -
Clemens-Peter
Wachenschwanz (D) -
Confrontational (GB) -
Crisis (GB) -
Crying Vessel (CH) -
Dageist (F) -
Daniel Ochoa (D) -
De/Vision (D) -
Dead Leaf Echo (USA) -
Detachments (GB) -
Die Kammer (D) -
Diorama (D) -
Dive (B) -
Dool (NL) -
Drifter (S) -
E-Craft (D) -
Eden Weint Im Grab (D)
-
Einar Selvik (N) -
Eivør (FO) -
Elegant Machinery (S)
-
Eminenz (D) -
Ensemble New Babylon -
Das Bremer Ensemble Für Neue Musik (D) -
ES23 (D) -
Ext!ze (D) -
Fabrik C (D) -
Faderhead (D) -
Fairytale (D) -
Feuerschwanz (D) -
First Hate (DK) -
Formalin (D) -
Frank The Baptist (USA)
-
Front Line Assembly
(CDN) -
Gewandhauschor (D) -
Gewandhausorchester (D)
-
God Module (USA) -
Grave Pleasures (FIN)
-
Grendel (NL) -
Greyhound (D) -
Grimner (S) -
Gudrun Ingimars (IS) -
Guerre Froide (F) -
Gunnar Kunz (D) -
Hapax (I) -
Heidevolk (NL) -
Heimataerde (D) -
Hekate (D) -
Heldmaschine (D) -
Hexheart (USA) -
Hubertus Schmidt (D) -
Illuminate (D) -
Imminent &
Synapscape (B/D) -
Imperium Dekadenz (D)
-
Ingrimm (D) -
Ivo Nitschke (D) -
Japan Suicide (I) -
Jo Quail (GB) -
Joy/Disaster (F) -
Kaizer (D) -
Kaunan (D) -
Kiew (D) -
Kilian Hartig (D) -
Klutæ (DK) -
Leipziger Ballett (D)
-
Les Discrets (F) -
Lukas Dreyer (D) -
Lydia Benecke (D) -
M.Kruppe (D) -
Männerchor
Leipzig-Nord (D) -
Marco Jodes (D) -
Mark Benecke (D) -
Markus Heitz (D) -
Matthias Eisenberg (D)
-
Merciful Nuns (D) -
Mercury's Antennae
(USA) -
Michael Schönheit (D)
-
Michel Bouvard (F) -
Midgards Boten (D) -
Model Kaos (D) -
Modern English (GB) -
Monica Jeffries (D) -
Monica Richards &
Anthony Jones (USA) -
Mono No Aware (D) -
Monolith (B) -
Moritz Eggert (D) -
Mr. Kitty (USA) -
Mystigma (D) -
Nachtsucher (D) -
Neun Welten (D) -
Nothgard (D) -
Nytt Land (RUS) -
Oberer Totpunkt (D) -
Oomph! (D) -
Ost+Front (D) -
Paddy And The Rats (H)
-
Palast (D) -
Pamela Coats (USA) -
Phil Shoenfelt &
Southern Cross (GB/CZ) -
Phosgore (D) -
Principe Valiente (S)
-
Pyogenesis (D) -
Qntal (D) -
Raison D'être (S) -
Randolph's Grin (USA/A)
-
Rapalje (NL) -
Readership Hostile
(USA) -
Rome (L) -
Rosa Crvx (F) -
Samsas Traum (D) -
Sardh (D) -
Sarin (IR) -
Sasscha Lange (D) -
Scarlet And The Spooky
Spiders (I) -
Schandmaul (D) -
Scheuber (D) -
Schonwald (I) -
Second Still (USA) -
Seelennacht (D) -
Seigmen (N) -
Siglo XX (B) exclusive
reunion show -
Silent Runners (NL) -
Siva Six (GR) -
Skeletal Family (GB) -
Solitary Experiments
(D) -
Sommerorchester Leipzig
(D) -
Spark! (S) -
Stahlr (NL) -
Still Patient? (D) 30th
anniversary show -
Sturm Café (S) -
Suir (D) -
Suld (CHN) -
Sulpher (GB) -
Surturs Lohe (D) -
Svartsinn (N) -
Teho Teardo & Blixa
Bargeld -
The Beauty Of Gemina
(CH) -
The Crimson Ghosts (D)
-
The Eden House (GB) -
The Fright (D) -
The Jesus And Mary
Chain (GB) -
The KVB (GB) -
The Last Cry (GB) -
The New Division (USA)
-
The Other (D) -
Theaterpack (D) -
Then Comes Silence (S)
-
Thomas Manegold (D) -
Tiamat (S) perform
songs from the albums „Wildhoney“ and „Clouds“ -
Tilo Augsten (D) -
Torul (SLO) -
Totus Gaudeo (D) -
Traitrs (CDN) -
Traumtaenzer (D) -
Trepaneringsritualen
(S) -
Trisomie 21 (F) -
Undertheskin (PL) -
Unterschicht (D) -
Verena Marisa (BR) -
Vocame (D) -
Vogon Poetry (S) -
Vomito Negro (B) -
Wardruna (N) -
Wolfchant (D) -
Xenturion Prime (N) -
Yasuko Bouvard (J) -
Ye Banished Privateers
(S) -
Zanias (AUS) -
Zeraphine (D) -
Zeromancer (N) -
[:SITD:] (D)
The festival will take
place this year from 18th May until 21st May. For more information
please visit the official Wave Gotik Treffen website.
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