(Photo by Kadri Sammel) Out now is the all new video from Bedless Bones, “Solar Animus”, taken from “Mire Of Mercury” – the new album by this Estonian electro-noir musician. “Mire Of Mercury” is already the third album by Bedless Bones and was released on Metropolis Records in early November.

“The video is directed and edited by me and filmed by [Bedless Bones drummer] Anders Melts,” explains Sammel. And she continues to explain the track itself: “The song is inspired by the contrasexual archetype in the unconscious. The predominance of the shadow extends to a possession, a chronic eclipse of the sun. Animus in anima. So she has to transform her Eros.”

About Bedless Bones

Bedless Bones is Kadri Sammel, a singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and interdisciplinary artist from Tallinn, Estonia. Musically she experiments with electro-noir sub-genres such as darkwave and EBM and marrying them with techno beats and industrial sounds.

She is also a member of Estonian avant-garde deathbeat/outdustrial outfit Forgotten Sunrise and the singer in the UK/Estonian dystopian industrial band Deathsomnia. Additionally, under the alias DJ Dirt Vessel, she has been a crucial part of Beats From The Vault, an underground event series in Estonia that has been in existence since 1998.

The Glasgow-based duo Hanging Freud (signed to the Belgian label Spleen+) (division of Alfa Matrix) has a new album out today: “Worship”. “Worship” is the 7th album for this Scottish new wave / minimal synthpop duo.

On this new studio album, Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner offer 10 songs. The tracks were written in particular claustrophobic circumstances during the pandemic lockdown. “Because of what was going on, we were essentially stuck in temporary accommodation in Scotland, away from our studio and forced into a period unexperienced before. The songs that came out therefore come from a different place. Everything was done within a laptop and is proudly 100% digital. It was recorded and mixed while literally sitting on the side of a bed in a mouse infested apartment…” explains Paula Borges.

“Worship” is out as a limited vinyl edition available in 2 different colours: transparent violet and transparent turquoise (150 copies each worldwide) as well as a lush double-CD digipak with the “Anomalies” bonus EP just like in this Bandcamp download.

You can check out the album below on Bandcamp.

The death rock/post punk trio The Feral Ghosts will release their sophomore album “Black Sun” via Seeing Red Records on December 8, 2023. “Black Sun” will be available soon in vinyl and will can also be purchased in digital formats on Bandcamp.

The new album is led by the dark electro single “Witcher” which comes accompanied by a video.

The Chicago-based band consists of Raul Urquilla aka Annu Na Kll (vocals, bass), Alejandro Duran (guitar) and Roberto Lopez aka Luzy (drums). They will do a live presentation for “Black Sun” during a hometown show at Soundgrowler Brewing Co. on Saturday, December 2.

The Feral Ghosts formed in the winter of 2014, emerging from Chicago’s late-night scene with a love of post punk and darkwave. The Feral Ghosts’ music can also be heard in the movie, “Appetite for Sin” available on all streaming networks.

ArtOfFact Records has found itself embroiled in an ongoing controversy following their decision to release a remix by the self-confessed pedophile musician Mr. Kitty (“Vital Signs – Mr. Kitty Remix”) for one of their recording artists, KANGA on November 10, 2023. The remix is part of a collection of KANGA’s Soundcloud-era remixes released by ArtOfFact Records.

This particular move by ArtOfFact Records was heavily criticized, as Mr. Kitty had previously been involved in a scandal where he admitted to having had an inappropriate online relationship with an underage fan in 2019. The situation raised questions about the label’s decision-making and ethical considerations, with Brutal Resonance for instance accusing the label of prioritizing profit over moral responsibility. At Side-Line we are very much concerned of the lack of initial insight that the rights of a child were grossly violated, which made this release a no-go from the start.

ArtOfFact Records initially did not comment on the situation but then as issued a formal apology on November 19th, 2023, following backlash from fans and artists within the scene. The label stated that they did not condone Mr. Kitty’s actions and announced a donation to a victims of abuse charity. However, their statement was criticized for not mentioning KANGA.

KANGA’s reaction was faster and included removing the remix and issuing video apologies as well as written notes on her social media accounts. Since ArtOfFact Records initially did not issue an apology, they left KANGA to manage the situation on her own bearing the brunt of the fallout. KANGA also said in an Instagram story that ArtOfFact pushed her into it although she constantly tried to reject the idea.

pic.twitter.com/AKhGOLwj2Y

— KANGA (@KANGAkult) November 16, 2023

Two days after the initial apology, ArtOfFact Records issued another statement directed at KANGA posting it as a reply under the initial statement. Despite these apologies, there continues to be considerable criticism towards the label for releasing the remix despite being aware of Mr. Kitty’s past.

Where did it all start with the Mr. Kitty scandal?

The controversy surrounding Mr. Kitty started with an article in the Austin Chronicle in Summer of 2021. The article accused Mr. Kitty, whose real name is Forrest Avery Carney, of being involved in a nearly four-month exchange of explicit Twitter messages, nude photos, and graphic videos with a 15-year-old fan from Russia and this in 2019. As a result Mr. Kitty posted an admission to having an inappropriate online relationship with the underage fan and that he was seeking help.

The victim stated that he felt “grossed out” by the experience and believed that Mr. Kitty’s public apology was an attempt to salvage his career. The conversations also leaked out online.

This singer is a pedophile and exchanged nudes with a 15-year-old boy. He manipulated and said that he was depressed and wanted to kill himself, people forgave him and continue to listen to his music. People should know the truth. His name is Mr.Kitty.

Please spread the word pic.twitter.com/ycOubKJ8gN

— vasya (@VasyaNartov) June 27, 2021

Following the revelation, some of the Mr. Kitty tour dates were canceled or postponed, and the Chicago-based darkwave record label Negative Gain announced that it would immediately discontinue all sales of Mr. Kitty’s albums and transfer streaming sales rights to his estranged husband. The label also stated that it does not support Mr. Kitty’s actions and made donations to RAINN and HRC in support of those harmed.

Mr. Kitty continues to release new material and so far has not responded to this new development.

The power game between musicians and fans

The situation – again – underscores the importance of considering the moral implications of business decisions, especially when they involve individuals with controversial pasts. The controversy also reflects broader issues within the music industry, such as power dynamics and the responsibility of labels in upholding ethical standards. Overall, Artoffact Records’ involvement in this controversy serves as a case study in the balancing act between commercial interests and ethical considerations in the entertainment industry.

The dynamic between a person in power, such as a musician, and underage fans is complex and often problematic due to the inherent imbalance of power. The relationship between musicians and underage fans is laden with potential risks due to the significant power imbalance. It is crucial for the industry, society, and the musicians themselves to recognize and address these risks to protect young individuals from exploitation and abuse.

Here are some key aspects of this dynamic:

1. Power Imbalance: Musicians and celebrities generally hold a position of power and influence, which can create an imbalance in their relationships with fans, especially underage ones. This power can stem from their fame, wealth, or the idolization they receive from fans.
2. Idolization and Vulnerability: Young fans often idolize musicians, viewing them as role models or figures of admiration. This idolization can make underage fans vulnerable to manipulation and abuse, as they might be willing to overlook or excuse inappropriate behavior.
3. Manipulation and Abuse: In some cases, musicians might exploit their power and the adoration of young fans for personal gain. This can include grooming, where the musician slowly manipulates and coerces a fan into a sexual or otherwise inappropriate relationship.
4. Consent and Maturity: Underage fans, due to their age, are not legally capable of giving consent in many jurisdictions, especially in the context of a relationship with an adult. Furthermore, the cognitive and emotional immaturity of minors makes them incapable of fully understanding or consenting to certain actions or relationships.
5. Responsibility of the Influencer: Musicians, as public figures, have a responsibility to conduct themselves ethically, especially in interactions with young and impressionable fans. Exploiting their status or the admiration of fans for personal or sexual gain is not only unethical but often illegal.
6. Fan Communities and Peer Influence: The dynamics within fan communities can also play a role. Sometimes, peer pressure or a desire to fit in with a group can lead younger fans to engage in behavior or overlook warning signs that they might otherwise question.
7. Societal and Industry Responsibilities: The music industry and society as a whole have a duty to protect young fans from potential abuse. This includes enforcing laws and regulations, promoting ethical behavior, and providing education about the risks of power imbalances in fan-celebrity relationships.

This is not the first and will not be the last time that certain musicians abuse their power in order to get sexual favors from (underage) fans.

Out via ZYX now is the Kirlian Camera mini LP “Communicate 40th Anniversary 2023 Remixes” (in orange). This special vinyl re-release of one of the earliest Kirlian Camera classics, was actually released already some months ago, but has not been talked about yet on Side-Line or on many other websites. It’s actually thanks to Sebastian Koch from Audioglobe that we picked this up now.

Originally released on Memory Records in 1983, “Communicate” was the first ever single by Kirlian Camera. At that time, Kirlian Camera had already 2 albums, and “Communicate” was the opening track of their second album “It doesn’t matter, now”. Angelo Bergamini’s project was a mixture of darkwave and Italo Disco in those days. The original 12″ was followed shortly after by a 12″ of another project, that involved Angelo Bergamini: Hipnosis with the now legendary “Pulsar” 12” (a track originally by Vangelis), which turned out to be a world-wide megahit.

Kirlian Camera revisits Italo Disco roots

This new edition features both original extended versions of the track, plus two brand new remixes by two main players of the so called Italo-Disco-scene: Flemming Dalum (a Danish artist, DJ, musician and producer) and Vanzetti & Sacco DJ (a Dutch Duo).

Below is an outtake from the release.

A few days ago we reported about a new EP by the Paris Berlin-based dark wave / EBM producer and visual artist DOEXL. She now has released a new music video, “Prey”. The video is a CGI co-production by her label/VFX studio VOAXS and the 3D artist Husi Rass.

The track is taken from her new EP, “Corpus” and seh describes it as “an EBM/Industrial techno track in a synesthetic journey where Sound and Technology merge into an Hard Dance party.”

You can download it now from Bandcamp, and also get it on all other platforms.

DOEXL debuted in 2021, when she made her debut with the EP “MORPH”. Her new EP “Corpus” comes with heavy bass, metallic beats and organ synths. The EP has 5 tracks including the previously released singles “Beast”, “Vox”, and “Prey”. You can download it now from Bandcamp.

Check out the new video for “Prey”.

The Paris Berlin-based dark wave / EBM producer and visual artist DOEXL has a new EP out, “Corpus”, which is out on her own label and CGI/VFX studio VOAXS through which she has been self-releasing material in the past.

DOEXL debuted in 2021, when she made her debut with the EP “MORPH”. Her new EP “Corpus” comes with heavy bass, metallic beats and organ synths. The EP has 5 tracks including the previously released singles “Beast”, “Vox”, and “Prey”. You can download it now from Bandcamp.

New Jersey-based darkwave/post-punk band, Neon Funeral has just unleashed their new EP, “Banned From The Goth Club” courtesy of Cleopatra Records. Neon Funeral is a darkwave/post-punk band with hardcore screamo/metal vocals “in the spirit of an angst-driven Ian Curtis” as the band puts it.

The EP’s theme is based upon the band feeling alienated from the goth scene. The name of the EP, “Banned From The Goth Club” was given because of the band’s challenge in finding their audience given their contradictory sound.

The band states, “The goth audience can’t exactly get fully immersed into the music because of the aggression and intensity of the vocals and the hardcore scene can’t exactly understand the softer and dance-driven instrumentals for moshing. We once performed at a goth venue and seemed out of place and out of touch with the audience. We then coined the phrase “Banned From The Goth Club” to welcome the eclectic sound and introduce it playfully.”

“Banned From The Goth Club” features a diverse range of emotional undercurrents in its songs. “Avolition” stands out with its rapid tempo and dance-centric vibe. In contrast, “High Tech Low Life” adopts a more contemplative and slower pace, culminating in a fusion of intense electronic beats and metal vocals. “A Void” delves into introspection, exploring themes of nihilism, drug addiction, and societal pressures. The EP concludes with a unique rendition of Eddie Murphy’s 1980s hit, “Party All The Time”.

The video for “Avolition” was filmed at a local vintage arcade and bar that the band felt would match their aesthetic well.

“Banned From The Goth Club” is available on all major digital outlets including Bandcamp.

Out via Out Of Line is the Corlyx featuring Suzi Sabotage single “Kill Cave”. “Kill Cave” is the second single from Corlyx’s album scheduled for release in 2024. The single comes back by the previously released song “Wasted and alone”.

“Kill Cave” is a homage to the misunderstood and the marginalized, a narrative that resonates with the tales of witchy women throughout history. The music video was a joint effort with Caitlin Stokes at the helm of direction and editing. Her recent work includes the video for Lord Of The Lost’s “Dead End”.

Caitlin Stokes of Corlyx shares why the Finnish artist Suzi Sabotage was her first choice to join her in this song: “I love her powerful iconic energy, and she brought some fresh ideas to the song. We had a blast making the music video together, front women rarely collaborate, and I think we need to see more of this, our unique beauty in harmony is powerful and enchanting.”

Suzi Sabotage adds, “It’s been an unforgettable, wonderfully berserk experience to collaborate with Corlyx, especially flying over to Italy to film the music video with them. I handpicked the song myself out of different alternatives because it immediately took my breath away, sounding like a modern darkwave classic. They’re talented, lovely people who I think should become THE name on everyone’s lips in the goth scene.”

Check out the 2-track below.

Cologne’s Blue Shell hosts a brand new event series: The Neue Klangordnung (New Sound Order, NKO). The newly founded NKO collective brings the “Blue Shell” back to its roots: rough industrial underground sound, rooted in body music (EBM), post-techno and the new cold / dark wave.

The NKO sees itself as a space for dance and sound experiments, “in which people regain control of their smartphones and their heads are freed for the experience.”

Max Esser explains: “By mainstreaming underground music genres such as techno, the NKO wants to shape new, alternative music styles of tomorrow with its DIY approach. This is inspired by sound pioneers such as Cabaret Voltaire, DAF, Test Dept. and Esplendor Geómetrico, and the next chapter of Industrial is to be entered into at NKO under the term Post-Techno. This is implemented behind the mixing desks of DJ and darkwave performer BORGBORG, the industrial-purified mixing master Hugo Dirac, the Cologne selector Klaus F., and the sound researcher MX Probe.”

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Neue Klangordnung (@neueklangordnung) • Instagram photos and videos

For fans of: Einstürzende Neubauten, Esplendor Geométrico, NAKED, Spit Mask, Broken English Club, Parrish Smith, Bauhaus, Severed Heads, DJedjotronic, ADULT, Fixmer/McCarthy, Boy Harsher, Alessandro Adriani, Ancient Methods, Randolph & Mortimer, Unconscious, Sarin, Alen Skanner, Years of Denial, Whitehouse, Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV, Qual.

This is what the NKO Spotify playlist sounds like.

What, where and how of The Neue Klangordnung

• When: 24. November 2023 – 22:00 o‘clock
• Where: Blue Shell, Luxemburger Str. 32, 50674 Cologne
• Cost: 8€ Box office, 6€ limited presale via Rausgegangen

(Photo by Olivia Van Der Will) The Berlin-based darkwave act Night Nail has just released a new single, “Fates Explained”, which is also the title song of the band’s new album out November 17 on Metropolis Records. A video for the title track is also out now, you can check it below.

Lyrically, the song paints a picture of frontman Brandon Roberts’ relocation from Los Angeles to Berlin: “Our move to Berlin had an impact on the themes of anger and frustration directly expressed in the lyrics for this song,” states frontman Brandon Robert. “I could not have written this and some of our other new songs against the backdrop of LA, which has something unique about it that limits you from exploring those scarier places inside yourself. Berlin can be harsh, cold and predictable, lending itself to anger, frustration and resentment, but in that can be a creative liberation.”

New Night Nail album on Metropolis Records

Night Nail recently signed to Metropolis Records to release what will be their third album. “Fates Explained” has been mixed, mastered and co-produced by Pete Burns of Kill Shelter, with additional instrumentation provided by Valentina Veil (VV & the Void), Ilija Gavrilenko and Justin Deactivere.

The song “Narcoleptic Dream Catcher” was issued in September as its first single.

(Photo by Dina Marie Robinson) The San Francisco post-punk outfit Octavian Winters presents their new video for “Velveteen”, lifted from their debut 5-track EP “The Line or Curve”, recently released via Stratis Capta Records. In the lead up to the EP, the band released the singles “Undertow”, “Ondine” and “Surreal”.

Randy Gzebb explains the tone of this song: “Racing down a gloomy freeway on a grey evening, you walk up an alleyway and duck into a smokey casino, filled with like-minded people, an intense air of anticipation building as everyone gets ready to turn themselves loose, their insecurities, anxieties filled with emotions with driving drums and bass with serrated guitars, desperate vocals playing in the background.”

“We had just started working up the music for what would become Velveteen in the summer of 2022 and I was out in Vegas for a few days. I had driven out into the desert, musing on inspiration for lyrics, and was on my way back into the city when the signs for the casinos, shows and strip clubs started popping up. The idea for the lyrics coalesced then — there was an air of desperation in all the lights and billboards, a false lure to feel… good. To indulge in fantasy. The lyrics are about people trying to claim their dreams through escape, by avenues that lead down a rabbit hole of despair,” says Ria (Amenti) Aursjoen.

Here is the video for “Velveteen”.

The new material was recorded in San Francisco by Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated) at OW Studio and Room 5 Recording. Produced by Octavian Winters and William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, Christian Death, The March Violets) the EP was mixed and mastered at 13 Studio in Chicago.

About Octavian Winters

Formed in San Francisco in 2022 the band draws from darkwave and post-punk traditions. Octavian Winters is guitarist Stephan Salit (Thrill of The Pull), drummer Randy Gzebb (Thrill of The Pull, Love Club,), bassist Jay Denton and Ria (Amenti) Aursjoen on vocals and keyboards.

“The Line or Curve” EP is out everywhere, including via Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The band plays Sacramento’s Cafe Colonial (with Ashes Fallen) on November 8.

Out now on limited clear transparent vinyl (500 copies) is “Kaputt gehen”, the first (7-track) album for Gast on Z Pop-Records. Z Pop-Records is the new sister label of Young & Cold Records and with “Kaputt Gehen” the label shows its concept of being a home for modern, German-language music that has roots in the Neue Deutsche Welle (German New Wave) from the early 80s.

The label offers bands and projects that don’t clearly fit into the darkwave/postpunk fields of the main label and appeal to a broader audience. Gast presented its first songs digitally in autumn 2022 and has now, around a year later, completed its debut mini-LP. Note that he track “Boxer” was produced with special guest Traumatin, another German New Wave artist.

Below are two videos to check out, “Boxer” and “Fallen”.

The mission of Z Pop-Records

Interesting to see is that the new label has also published a proper mission statement:

“Z Pop Records represents a new record label that has emerged within the framework of the “New German Wave”, capturing the musical diversity and cultural expressions of the German-speaking Generation Z. This movement is characterized by its adaptability, creativity, and individual expression.

The artists and bands united under Z Pop Records are inspired by a wide range of musical styles, incorporating both modern electronic sounds and influences from genres like Coldwave, Metal, and classic NDW. This versatile mix creates a musical landscape that stands out for its energy, innovation, and honesty.

Generation Z, born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, significantly shapes “Z Pop”. This generation is marked by its digital savvy, openness to diversity, and social activism. The lyrics and messages of Z Pop Records’ artists reflect the issues that move Generation Z, such as self-discovery, social justice, mental health, and the challenges of modern life.

The music of Z Pop Records is not only an artistic expression but also a platform for the voices and experiences of Generation Z. It serves as an outlet for their hopes, dreams, fears, and frustrations. The artists of this movement use their music to connect with their generation, explore identity, and share common experiences.

Z Pop Records acts as a link between the artists and their audience by making the music accessible through digital platforms, social media, and live performances. It allows Generation Z to identify with their own culture and identity and to find a sense of belonging.

Overall, Z Pop Records represents an emerging movement that captures the diverse musical landscape of the German-speaking Generation Z, while also serving as a voice and platform for their unique experiences and forms of expression.”

Ahead of the forthcoming limited edition 5th anniversary release of “Damage”, Kill Shelter has launched an official video for “In Decay [ V ]” featuring Antipole and Delphine Coma. The new version is taken from the “Damage [ V ]” CD which features new versions and remastered tracks.

The original debut CD release was launched in November 2018. Released again on Unknown Pleasures Records, “Damage [ V ]” features vocal contributions and collaborations from a host of global underground artists including; Hante. (FR), Buzz Kull (AUS), Delphine Coma (US), Antipole (NOR), undertheskin (PL), Killjoi (US), The Shyness of Strangers (CA), Iamtheshadow (PT), Ultrviolence (CA), New Haunts (UK) and Bragolin (NL).

“Damage [ V ]” is slated for release on 1st December 2023 with pre-orders starting on 27th October 2023.

Below is the official video for “In Decay [ V ]” featuring Antipole and Delphine Coma.

Kill Shelter is UK based alternative artist and producer Pete Burns. His work blends elements of darkwave and contemporary electronica with processed guitars.

His debut album “Damage” (2018) was originally released by Unknown Pleasures Records. This was followed up by the 2021 release, “A Haunted Place” with Antipole. His 2022 release “Asylum” is currently available via Metropolis Records and Manic Depression Records. In 2023 Kill Shelter released “The Sex Tape Sessions” EP and VHS with Death Loves Veronica on Cold Transmission.

Following a series of remixes including She Past Away’s “Soluk” for their tenth anniversary release “X” on Metropolis and Fabrika Records, The Wake’s “Emily Closer” and “Spectre (Love is Dead)” by Christian Death on Cleopatra Records amongst many others, Kill Shelter is currently working on new material.

Spleen+, in collaboration with Alfa Matrix, is currently compiling “Resurgence.1”, a comprehensive compilation encompassing over 100 tracks. This ambitious project seeks to showcase a spectrum of genres including cold wave, post-punk, darkwave, ethereal, gothic, and minimal synth. Artists and groups with work in these genres are invited to contribute to this significant endeavor.

The final product will be presented in a deluxe box set, replete with an extensive booklet featuring band photographs and additional materials. “Resurgence.1” is set to be available in both vinyl and CD formats. While there is artwork associated with this announcement, it is provisional and subject to change as the project progresses.

How can you submit to this post-punk compilation project?

Submissions are currently being accepted. Artists can forward their music in WAV file format via download links to seba@alfa-matrix.com, ensuring that the tracks are named in the following format: BANDNAME_songtitle. It is imperative to use a file transfer service and not send files as attachments.

Post submission, Alfa Matrix will undertake the selection process and reach out to the chosen artists with an official licensing proposal and further details. It is important to note that this compilation does not operate on a ‘pay for play’ basis, distinguishing itself from numerous other projects in the industry.

If you want an idea how diverse such compilation can be, check out our very own “Post​-​Punk (Genesis)” Bandcamp compilation released in 2021 and which did extremely well on Bandcamp.

(Photo by Ashley Alvarez) Los Angeles-based darkwave artist Caress has announced details of her debut album “Night Call” and also releases the first single “Mortal Flaw” today. “Night Call” was written and produced by Caress and will be released on Negative Gain Productions November 24.

Caress explains the new single’s theme like this: “‘Mortal Flaw’ is a song about destruction. I was inspired musically by goth industrial and dark pop. It’s packed with a lusting obsession to destroy and danceable pulsating rhythms I hope people can enjoy.”

Listen to “Mortal Flaw” on YouTube.

About Caress

Caress is the solo darkwave electronic project from Tara Jane, inspired by dreamy vintage 4AD goth as well as more contemporary dark pop artists such as TR/ST, Kontravoid and Boy Harsher. Jane also fronts the LA-based shoegaze act Blood Candy and with Caress. Her solo-project focusses more on eighties dark wave, industrial and modern synth pop.

Talking about the album, Caress says: “For the album ‘Night Call’ I wanted to explore different themes of being drawn to the dark. Each song on the album explores a unique subject of interest: heartbroken love spells, cold city nights, obsession, destruction, vampires and my relationship with myself and experiences as a queer woman.”

Her solo work first got some attention during the pandemic with her rework of Patti Smith’s “Dancing Barefoot”.

“For the production, I used a variety of synths mainly my vintage 80’s Korg Poly-800 and Casio CZ-101 which created this cohesive sound. I wrote and recorded all of the songs in my old apartment called ‘The Dungeon’ where I had only one barred window in this little loft in Echo Park with these crazy high ceilings and my home studio was built underneath the loft bed where I tracked and recorded everything in this pretty confined space.”

And she adds: “I’ve always been drawn to darkness in multiple forms if it’s humor, aesthetic, interests and the album so reflection of that, so I wanted the compositions to be energetic, dark and tender but wrapped in this like cloak of mystery and sensuality which really resonates with my personality and the whole essence of Caress. So it’s exciting to share this whole goth party that’s the ‘Night Call’ album.”

A few months ago, Helalyn Flowers‘ Noemi Aurora revealed the first song from her solo project, the upbeat pop-wave tune “Shining“.

It was the first teaser for the release of the solo-album “Kintsugi” from this Italian solo-project expected soon on the Belgian post-punk label Spleen+. “Shining” is also included in her new single “Blood As Lipstick”.

The new 3-track single “Blood As Lipstick” mixes the dark wave of the 80’s with cinematic electronic industrial. Included in this single is also her cover of The Cure’s classic “Friday I’m In Love”.

You can download the single right now from Bandcamp.

Noemi Aurora describes her new work as “an ouroboros of musical influences that started from my listenings when I was a teenager, while I wandered around the country with my inseparable cassette walkman, without any fear of being judged as the ‘strange’ gothic girl, wearing my headphones and listening to my 80s/90s mixtapes which contained from the most underground darkwave bands, to rock/alternative, non-commercial electronica, up to even extreme metal. My project was born from there, from the roots, and branches out until today…”.

Portland post-punk act Sky Lions presents its newest single “Werewolves”, taken from their debut album “Inside The Circle”. The duo is made up of Radio Sloan and Outer Stace, who over the years have performed with or as a part of Courtney Love’s band, Peaches’ band, and more.

Outer Stace says this about the new single: “Werewolves, in part, is about the idea of shifting from our outer selves to our inner selves, the fleeting peace that can bring; transformation and adaptation… So, the art direction possibilities were pretty endless. It was a lot of fun to create the different versions of ourselves that we could be.”

Radio Sloan adds: “Our sound is that of accepting existence for all its flaws. Sky Lions has a darkness that isn’t entirely heavy metal, post-punk or darkwave. Rather, it’s a culmination of who we have been, who we currently are, and how we interpret the world around us”.

Apart from Sky Lions, Outer Stace is known to many as the vocalist for Portland electro-rock / gothic / post-punk band Photona and synth-drum duo Time Bitch.

You can download the new single via Bandcamp.

Below is the video for the new single.

Costa Rica’s goth / darkwave outfit Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos today announce vinyl LP pre-orders for their new live album: “Communion”. The live album will be released through Tumbas Eternas Records. The release comes ten years after their formation.

The vinyl LP comes in a limited edition of 300 copies: 150 copies are on black vinyl, and 150 on translucid blue vinyl. All are packaged in a gatefold sleeve, featuring a photo album from the concert, inner sleeve with lyrics, and a poster included.

Bandleader Ariel Maniki explains: “We’ve known for some time that we were unable to do a vinyl release with our previous label. On the side, however, we’ve been good friends with Peruvian label Tumbas Eternas for many years, and they have always manifested their intention to do a vinyl record with us, if the project is the right one. They originated the idea of doing a “best of” album, and we introduced the “live” aspect to it. The idea of the “live” format is just much more appealing to me than a regular “singles” collection. We all agreed this release had to be something that’s truly special and worthy of people’s vinyl collection.”

Communion was recorded live on 15 July 2023, at El Nico Baker, a small theatre in the trio’s hometown of San José.

Ariel adds: “The show took place just 5 minutes away from where we live near downtown San José. We booked this little theatre with capacity for 100 people: way over the expected attendance for local underground acts here in Costa Rica. We thought 40 to 50 people coming to see us would be just good enough to build up the right energy exchange between the audience and the band, and pull out a good live recording. When we climbed the stairs from backstage, we found the theatre cheering at us at full capacity. For us, it was a very emotional and magical evening. We are just so happy that we preserved it on this recording.”

The Communion LP can be preordered now from Tumbas Eternas Records via Bandcamp. Note that this is a physical vinyl release only. The band and their label have no intention of selling digital presales right now, but are obliged to provide this option for Bandcamp, so they added the digital download at a intentionally prohibitive price.

The dark electro act Third Realm is back with an all new album, entitled “Into Oblivion”. Out via Distortion Productions it is available now as a limited edition CD and through all digital and streaming platforms.

The prolific Buffalo, New York-based project first began in 2000. Third Realm first signed with Distortion to release both “The Suffering Angel” (2017) and “Dystopian Society” (2018).

After reconnecting with label owner, Jim Semonik, the two decided to partner up again for the new album. Third Realm mastermind, Nathan Reiner explains: “We got to chatting, and it was a no-brainer to return to the Distortion family. The loyalty, transparency and dedication Jim demonstrates is unmatched, so I am highly grateful to be releasing the new album with his support.”

As far as what the album is about Nathan says: “Darkwave Industrial is all about pushing the boundaries of sound and emotion. With ‘Into Oblivion’, I’ve delved deeper into the shadows to create a musical landscape that immerses the listener in a hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking experience.”

You can check out the album on Bandcamp.

Progress Productions have announced a new signing to the label: the US darkwave act Vexagon. Vexagon is the project of Briar Moth from Los Angeles, CA, who explores ideas of identity, sexuality, & dealing with the modern world as an autistic non binary person.

An album is in the making called “A New Flesh Experience”.

Torny Gottberg/Progress Productions: “Only a few times in my life have a heard an artist and had the feeling after 30 seconds that I NEED TO WORK WITH THIS!!!!” Vexagon is one of those really rare moments and we are so happy to have them onboard Progress and to introduce them to a bigger audience here in Europe. “A New Flesh Experience” is a perfect introduction to the amazing world and sound of Vexagon. “

The material has been remastered in Svenska Grammofonstudion in Gothenburg, Sweden by Hans Olsson.

More news later. For now you can check the project’s 2022 single “Voyeur”.

Premiering today via Side-Line, downtempo / ambient-electronic duo Voidant share the Kubrick-inspired surreal Sci-Fi video for ‘La Loba (Decommissioned Forests Remix)’.

Voidant are Leeds UK post-punk pioneer David ‘Wolfie’ Wolfenden of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry fame (also of The Rose of Avalanche, The Mission, et al); and New Jersey US goth-rock / darkwave / folk-noir chanteuse, Caroline Blind from Sunshine Blind.

The remix of ‘La Loba’ from London’s Decommissioned Forests is taken from Voidant’s new remix EP, “Abandon Hope”, which also features Robots In Love (New Zealand), CWHK from Sunshine Blind (US), 2 Forks (US), and Max Rael (UK), along with a new remix from Voidant’s own Wolfie.

The new video has been created by New York visual artist and filmmaker, Tintin; a regular collaborator with Caroline Blind.

Caroline says: “Tintin heard all the layers in the music and incorporated that into his video. The alienation and dark harmonies in the music are well echoed by the outer space theme. He tied it in beautifully with the Voidant logo and this weekend’s solar eclipse.”

On the new remix of ‘La Loba’, Daniel Vincent of London outsider electronic trio Decommissioned Forests says: “Remixing tends to fall into two categories: augmenting material with new elements like drums, or leaning into the existing material and finding a slightly different interpretation. Given the strength of Caroline’s vocal and Wolfie’s instrumentation, it was easy to follow the latter path and lean into the inherent drama and mystery of the music and subject matter. Adding layers of reverb and modulation transformed the track into an ethereal slowcore murder ballad which hopefully stacks up well alongside the other remixes on the EP.”

Caroline adds: “I never know what people will do with a remix. My partner in Sunshine Blind, CWHK, used to do drone / ambient music pieces… one of them, “Chimera” opens our album Liquid. It was great to hear someone do that with one of these vocal tracks; it’s perfectly suited for it. Was a pleasure to hear.”

The Voidant EP ‘Abandon Hope’ is available now from Bandcamp: with Spotify and all the usual digital music stores to follow.

Washington DC-based darkwave gothic rock band The Neuro Farm has just dropped their latest single, “Panic”. The track delves into a childhood experience of fever-induced delirium and is set to be included in their forthcoming album, slated for a 2024 release.

The band brings a blend of vocal harmonies, sweeping violin tunes, pulsating rhythm guitars, and atmospheric soundscapes. Their sound however is influenced by a range of artists, including Joy Division, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Sigur Ros, Chelsea Wolfe, Portishead, and Rammstein.

The single “Panic” features performances by Rebekah Feng on violin and vocals, Brian Wolff on vocals and guitar, Tim Phillips on synths and programming, and DreamrD on drums and percussion. The track was penned by Brian Wolff and Rebekah Feng, recorded at The Neuro Farm’s own studio, mixed by Brian Wolff, and mastered by Rob Early.

Check it below on Spotify or go to Bandcamp.

Out now via SkyQode is “Dval Canvas”, the third full-length album by the Colombian darkwave bands, Antiflvx.

The band says that ”’Dval Canvas’ is a journey through the duality of the human being, a journey through black and white, through lights and shadows, through love and pain. Seamlessly blending coldwave and darkwave, it weaves a spellbinding tapestry, enriched by the emotive depths of the somber vocals.”

The album comprises 12 tracks, including singles like “Manuscrito”, “Hilos”, “Hacia La Niebla”, and “Silueta de Luz”. In addition to the solo tracks, “Dval Canvas” features collaborations with Viviana Rodríguez (Agatha I), Camila Valencia (Ambivalencia), Eva Red (Red Apple Cvlt) and Ana Gartner.

Below is a lyric video for “Hacia la Niebla (feat. Viv)”.

Antiflvx was started in 2016 by Camilo Alfonso and Leonardo Jaime, who is also the founder and songwriter of the EBM project Resistor. They have released two full-length albums and shared the stage with artists such as Two Witches, Selofan, Minuit Machine, Hante and Void Vision, among others. Antiflvx has also appeared in the Netflix Series “Diablero Season 2” at the end of a chapter with the song “Against All Odds”.

(Photo by Megan Bishop) Re:Mission Entertainment is set to release “DeadNakedCoveredInBlood”, from the Seattle based Horror inspired Industrial band, Dracula Party. This is the second release with the label following last year’s single,”Nightmare Things”.

“DeadNakedCoveredInBlood” will release on all digital music platforms including Bandcamp today, Friday, October. Musically it combines elements of industrial, EBM, synthesizer movie scores, and darkwave.

The follow-up to their single “Nightmare Things” (2022), and their LP “Video Wasteland” (2021), brings a hard-hitting industrial track about a twisted love story, about “opening the box” and becoming monsters together. The release also includes the new B-Side “Something Scary”.

Horror effects filled video

Starring La Petite Mort and Byron C. Miller the video for “DeadNakedCoveredInBlood” was directed and shot by Paul Morgan and edited by Byron C. Miller with special FX makeup by HexFX Industries. The “Idol” prop is by Aaron Morgan with location provided by Dan Orme Doutre.

Here’s the director’s statement from Paul Morgan, longtime collaborator with Byron on films and music: “Listening to a new Dracula Party song for the first time is like the feeling of finding a dusty VHS copy of a Horror movie you’ve only heard vague whispers about at a mom-and-pop video store. It’s like the feeling of holding that clamshell case in your hand as you walk to the counter, both terrified but excited all at the same time. It’s like how it feels to watch it with all the lights off and your face half covered for fear of what you might see, but already looking forward to telling all your friends all about it the next day. I was struck by the duality of that feeling. Terrified but excited. Off-putting but beautiful. Grotesque but sensual. There is no better song to explore this theme of contrasting feelings than “DeadNakedCoveredInBlood”.

To anchor this theme, we started with a classic horror film set up; people using a ritual to realize their deepest, darkest desires and raise a few monsters in the process. (Hellraiser being an obvious point of inspiration.) I tried to find ways to have contrasting visuals to push that theme forward. The muted world of the beginning of the video versus the vivid colors of the end. The openness of the autumn world outside versus the claustrophobic basement. The clashing vibrant colors of the final half. It’s deceptively simple but effective when combined with moody synths, rasping vocals, unhinged performances, and the increasingly frenetic editing.

I hope that this video gives you the feeling of being alone in a darkened room, your hands ready to cover your eyes the second something happens on the flickering TV…but in your heart hoping that something does happen because you can’t wait to see it.”

Byron comments this on the song and video: “When my bandmate, Chris, first sent me the demo, I knew this was something special. The themes and the words flowed out of me, resulting in a track that I think might be our most fun and in a way our most personal. While I use horror themes on the surface, at the heart this is a love story about finding your person and building your own weird world with them. I was thrilled when Paul came on board to Direct and shoot the video. We’ve been collaborating for years on music in our former band Ghosts in the Graveyard, and on many film and music video productions. Paul instantly got the theme and ran with it. We were also blessed with the participation of horror special effects makeup by the great HexFX Industries, and my co-star in the video, the amazingly talented performer, La Petite Mort. I hope people find the video and the song fun, weird, sexy, creepy. Like a night at the club mixed with a night binging horror movies in a haunted house.”

About Dracula Party

Dracula Party is Byron C. Miller (Vocals, Lyrics) and Chris Schism (Music Production). Byron has a long history of performance in music, film, and beyond. As a teen/young adult, Byron performed in local bands and was an actor in various Haunt attractions including Universal Studios Florida, Halloween Horror Nights. For 8 years (2002-2010) Byron was the co-frontman of the Industrial band, God Module. As a filmmaker, Byron directed two features (“NIGHT” and “The Anatomy of Monsters”), shorts, and a number of music videos for various bands (The Break Up, Cylab, Legion Within, etc.). Byron returned to music in 2016 as the lead singer, lyricist for the shock rock band, Ghosts
in the Graveyard. In 2019, he returned to industrial when he teamed up with Chris Longo to form Dracula Party.

Chris from his side is a veteran of the NYC hardcore punk scene, who developed a love for electronic music through darkwave, synthpop, and NY hip-hop. He hit the Seattle scene as the guitarist of the punk/deathrock band The Uncommitted, later moving to his solo dark electronic project Idoless. Chris brings a lifelong attachment to horror film and TV series scores as inspiration to Dracula Party.

You can catch the band live in Seattle, WA. On October 28 at Café Racer for the Gothic Pride Seattle’s annual Halloween party.

(Photo via Ikon) Out via the German Gräfenberg-based label Dark Vinyl on October 20th are two 2CD reissues of material from the Melbourne, Australia-based darkwave / post-punk act Ikon.

The first is a reissue of the 2009 album “Love, Hate and Sorrow” which comes in a 6-panel eco-digifile in a limited edition of 400 copies. Titled “Love, Hate and Sorrow (2022 Edition)” it contains the band’s’s 6th studio album in a remastered version plus a bonus-CD with unreleased material and rare b-sides.

The second is “Destroying The Vampire” which is equally released as a 6-panel eco-digifile in a limited edition of 400 copies. “Destroying The Vampire” contains Ikon’s the studio album “Destroying The World To Save It” (2005) and the EP “Psychic Vampire” (2004) in a remastered version plus unreleased bonus material.

Ikon was formed by Chris McCarter (vocals, guitar, programming) and Dino Molinaro (bass) in 1988. In 1991, the original band name Death in the Dark was replaced by Ikon. The band’s original singer Michael Carrodus joined them in creating the first two albums “In the Shadow of the Angel” (1994) and “Flowers for the Gathering” (1996). They signed to Apollyon and Metropolis Records.

Below are the visuals.

(Photo by Ex-Hyena) Out via Re:Mission Entertainment is the newest single from the Boston duo Ex-Hyena. “In Slow Motion” is the inaugural single off Ex-Hyena’s forthcoming third album “A Kiss of the Mind: and comes backed with an exclusive remix of the title track by Ohio’s Child of Night.

This new single is the duo’s (Reuben Bettsak and Bo Barringer) debut for the Oklahoma-based darkwave record label Re:Mission Entertainment.

Since its inception in 2021, Ex-Hyena has delivered two albums (2021’s “Artificial Pulse” and 2022’s “Moon Reflections” plus a handful of singles and EPs, and collaborations with Control I’m Here, Hororhaus, The Gothsicles, BlakLight, Pleasure Policy, Jackson VanHorn, Denial Waits, Blood Handsome, and others.

“Things seem to move so fast sometimes and it’s hard to savor moments, or understand a magical day, a traumatic event, a breakup or a fight, etc.,” says Bettsak. “It’s kind of the whole imagining life as a movie where you could replay things in slow motion – with other psychedelic effects for good measure. In the lyrics ‘Leaning backwards / There’s impact from your words / They sneak into my brain like a scorpion,’ I was picturing an argument with a significant other in slow motion. With actual colorful letters coming out and such. The song is also a celebration of movement and cherishing life. And of course it delves into our fears and how they can be debilitating.”

The single was produced and mixed by Barringer, and mastered by Adam Stillson at Decade Music Studio.

And here is the video for the title track.

Out now via SkyQode is “Dval Canvas”, the third full-length album by the Colombian darkwave act Antiflvx.

The band describes “Dval Canvas” as “a journey through the duality of the human being, a journey through black and white, through lights and shadows, through love and pain.”

Blending coldwave and darkwave, the album comprises 12 tracks, including singles like “Manuscrito”, “Hilos”, “Hacia La Niebla”, and “Silueta de Luz”. In addition to the solo tracks, “Dval Canvas” features collaborations with Viviana Rodríguez (Agatha I), Camila Valencia (Ambivalencia), Eva Red (Red Apple Cvlt) and Ana Gartner.

Antiflvx was started in 2016 by Camilo Alfonso and Leonardo Jaime, who is also the founder and songwriter of the EBM project Resistor. They have released two full-length albums. Antiflvx has also appeared in the Netflix Series “Diablero Season 2” at the end of a chapter with the song “Against All Odds”. They are equally featured on our most recent free “Electronic Bodies” compilation with the track “Silueta De Luz (Feat. Ambivalencia)”.

Below is the lyric video for “Hacia la Niebla (feat. Viv)”.

Philadelphia’s genCAB has just released “The Badge”, the debut single from their upcoming album “Signature Flaws” available for pre-order via Bandcamp from Metropolis Records with a release date of October 20th. “The Badge” also includes a remix from Flesh Field, who are also returning this fall with a new album on Metropolis.

Musically you can expect a style that alternates from industrial to synthpop with touches of IDM, darkwave and shoegaze.

David Dutton started genCAB (generation cable) in 2006 and debuted in 2008 with the album “II transMuter” on Hive Records. The second album was 2022 release “Thoughts Beyond Words”, out on Negative Gain Productions.

You can download the 2-track single right below.

The Portland-based post-punk / darkwave act Princess Ugly have released a brand new EP, “Death After Life”, offering six new songs. The release goes hand in hand with an all new video for the title track which you can see below.

Formed in 2004, Princess Ugly are influenced by post-punk, goth, darkwave and adjacent genres. The core line-up since 2008 is J. Christopher-Rome (words/vocals) and Christopher Moncrieffe (music/instruments), and since 2021, additional vocals are provided by Cat Powell-Hoffmann. Recent releases include the singles “Break Every Room”, “An Individual Soul”, “Start Below”, and “Hunger”.

Here’s the video for the title track “Death After Life”.

To check out the full EP and its 6 songs, listen right below and download it from Bandcamp.

(Photo by Kevin Condon/WeirdHours) Fresh off of tour runs in Europe and North America with The Sisters of Mercy, Clan of Xymox, and Then Comes Silence respectively, Metropolis welcomes Brooklyn’s A Cloud of Ravens to the Metropolis Records family. Side-Line covered this band several times already.

Singer/guitarist Matt McIntosh and bassist Beth Narducci formed A Cloud of Ravens in the autumn of 2018. The 2021 full-length album “Another Kind of Midnight” was their breakthrough release merging classic and contemporary post-punk and darkwave. A remix EP followed, featuring reimagined tracks by artists such as Actors, Clan of Xymox, Chris Vrenna, John Fryer, and Ritual Howls.

A Cloud of Ravens’ most recent album “Lost Hymns” was released by Schubert Music Europe’s Nexilis imprint, and is now being brought to North American audiences by Metropolis Records in its original form on all digital platforms. Expect an extended version of the album with bonus remixes and a new exclusive track from Metropolis in the coming months.

Out now is the brand new EP, “The Great Filter”, by the industrial act Stoneburner. Stoneburner is the project by Steven Archer, also known for co-founding the darkwave gothic rock duo Ego Likeness with Donna Lynch.

Drawing inspiration from Hanson’s “Great Filter” argument, Stoneburner in its new 7-track EP handles the enigma of intelligent life and its potential demise, and visits the realms of human existence, self-destruction, and the haunting implications of an uncertain future.

The EP also holds a cover of Psychedelic Furs’ “Book of Days”.

Here’s Stoneburner’s “Narcissus” video.

Regarding the “Great Filter”

The Great Filter is the idea that in the development of life from the earliest stages of abiogenesis to reaching the highest levels of development on the Kardashev scale, there is a barrier to development that makes detectable extraterrestrial life exceedingly rare. The Great Filter is one possible resolution of the Fermi paradox, which is about the discrepancy between the lack of conclusive evidence of advanced extraterrestrial life and the apparently high likelihood of its existence.

The concept originates in Robin Hanson’s argument that the failure to find any extraterrestrial civilizations in the observable universe implies that something is wrong with one or more of the arguments (from various scientific disciplines) that the appearance of advanced intelligent life is probable; this observation is conceptualized in terms of a “Great Filter” which acts to reduce the great number of sites where intelligent life might arise to the tiny number of intelligent species with advanced civilizations actually observed (currently just one: human). This probability threshold, which could lie in the past or following human extinction, might work as a barrier to the evolution of intelligent life, or as a high probability of self-destruction. The main conclusion of this argument is that the easier it was for life to evolve to the present stage, the bleaker the future chances of humanity probably are.

The idea was first proposed in an online essay titled “The Great Filter – Are We Almost Past It?”, written by economist Robin Hanson. The first version was written in August 1996 and the article was last updated on September 15, 1998. Hanson’s formulation has received recognition in several published sources discussing the Fermi paradox and its implications.

Meet Naeon Teardrops, a fresh electronica project from Norway. But here’s a twist: the talent behind this name is none other than the seasoned Norwegian techno artist, Per Martinsen, also known as Mental Overdrive.

For those who’ve been around, Per Martinsen isn’t a new name. He’s been a force in the hardcore, rave, and techno scenes for over 30 years. Starting in 1990, he kicked off with powerful techno tracks on the Belgian label R&S. He’s also worked with labels like Smalltown Supersound, Ploink, and Virgin Records, to name a few.

With Naeon Teardrops, Martinsen is diving into synthpop and darkwave sounds, giving them a modern twist. This new direction stems from his fictional autobiography, “Pyramids On The Moon”. In this three-part tale, he imagines three different life paths, each with its own musical alias.

Naeon Teardrops’ debut has been preceded by several singles: “Amnesiacs” came out in 2021, followed by “Shadowsister” in 2022. The recent singles, “Water Rising” and “Outbound”, dropped in March and May 2023.

The debut album, “Testimony”, is a blend of three decades of electronic music, mixing electropop, darkwave, and more. Set to release on September 8th, 2023, through Love OD Communications, it’ll also be on vinyl and CD via Apollon Records.

Want a taste? Check out the tracks released so far below.

Out now is the 3rd Vlimmer album, “Zerschöpfung”, the title is a blend of the German words for “exhaustion” and “destruction”.

On “Zerschöpfung” the listeners follow the Berlin-based darkgaze band on a journey through the depths of exhaustion, destruction, and identity crisis; an emotionally charged exploration of the human psyche. Musically you will hear that Vlimmer weaves together darkwave, post-punk, shoegaze and new wave spiced with tribal drums.

A lot has happened since Alexander Leonard Donat started the shoegaze/darkwave project Vlimmer. After completing an 18-EP series (2015-2020) the music went into a post-punk direction which led to the debut album, “Nebenkörper” (2021) waving goodbye to the 80s inspired synths and adding industrial and noise rock to the bill. A year later, the Berlin producer released the follow-up album, “Menschenleere” (2022), including a more catchy and dancefloor-related style.

Here’s the album which is also out on CD (incl. also a limited magnetic CD box) and as a limited edition cassette.

Available now from Bandcamp is our brand new 88-track strong EBM charity compilation “Electronic Bodies”.

This collection dives deep into the rhythms of EBM (Electronic Body Music), New Beat, and their contemporary offshoots. The compilation features artists from countries spanning from Germany to Australia, the United States to Estonia, and many more. It’s clear: EBM still resonates worldwide and this after the genre was established more than 40 years ago!

The compilation features known and completely new bands.

Bernard Van Isacker who compiled the release explains: “Our commitment to showcasing a blend of emerging talents and seasoned bands remains unwavering. We remain a platform to launch new talents after all. And while not every artist boasts high-end studio equipment, a special shoutout to Erlend Eilertsen (Lights A.M, Essence Of Mind) for masterfully enhancing some of the tracks when needed.”

The compilation is a tale of two halves: the first immerses you in old-school vibes, while the latter offered the bands some extra freedom as far as sound is concerned.

All donations this time will go to psychological support for Ukraine soldiers and citizens suffering from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Van Isacker: “We have to realize really well that these traumatized people will need to return to society, and they will need all the help possible to fight their demons and become part of the daily life again. Hence why this time we are going to support some NGO’s that work on this specific topic. They have a huge task ahead of them, so every help we can provide, we will provide.”

Tracklist

Merchandise

For those who love a tangible connection to the music, we offer an exclusive ‘Electronic Bodies’ T-shirt (for men and women) and, in true EBM spirit, you can get a combo package holding also a limited edition, hand-numbered Electronic Bodies flask. Each merchandise order also includes a download of the compilation, ensuring the beats never stop.

Shipping takes places in the first week of October. Please make sure to place your order as soon as possible so we know what stock we need to order.

Thanks for your continued support!

Our previous compilations

• Various Artists – The Insane Vaults
• Various Artists – Face The Beat: Session 1
• Various Artists – Face The Beat: Session 2
• Various Artists – Face The Beat: Session 3
• Various Artists – Face The Beat: Session 4
• Various Artists – Face The Beat: Session 5
• Various Artists – Shane Aungst vs Face The Beat 5 – Megamix
• Various Artists – Face The Beat: Session 6
• Various Artists – Shane Aungst vs Face The Beat 6 – Megamix
• Various Artists – Post-Punk (Genesis)
• Various Artists – Face The Beat: Session 7
• Various Artists – Electronic Resistance – A Darkwave / Post​-​Punk Compilation From The Ukrainian Underground
• Various Artists – Electronic Resistance – Reconstruction
• Iwan Lovynsky & KingSMarine – Ukraina EP
• Various Artists – Electronic Bodies: session 1

The Rochester, New York-based darkwave artist Sapphira Vee has just released a video for “What it Was”, the first taste of the forthcoming album entitled “Fortune”. The new release is the follow-up album to her Distortion Productions’ debut album, “Aerial Human”.

Musically Sapphira Vee makes dark, trippy music with an industrial edge heavily influenced by her industrial roots.

“Fortune” will be released on September 8th on CD as well as through all digital and streaming platforms.

The video for “What it Was” was created by James Marcus of Die Warzau.

You can pre-order the album below.

Out November 10th is the all new album by the German electro pioneering band X Marks The Pedwalk aka the duo Sevren Ni-Arb and Estefania. This will be the band’s 12th album in their 35-year career as a band.

Sevren explains the idea behind the album: “‘Superstition’ is an immersive exploration of deepest desires and feelings and does not shy away from the somber reality of despair and mortality. Dive into the depths of human experience, the fragility of life, our vulnerability and complexitity of human connection. All is shaping our indivdiual perceptions and that makes each of us extraordinary and unique.”

The album will hold 11 tracks. So far no tracks have been offered as a single.

About X Marks The Pedwalk

Originally named ‘Scarecrow’, X Marks the Pedwalk was the brainchild of Sevren Ni-Arb, or André Schmechta, conceived in 1987. Serving as the creative nucleus of the ensemble, Schmechta undertook the composition, production, and engineering of every track. Their journey began with their debut single, “Black Door”, in 1988 under the Techno Drome International label. Soon after, they attracted an offer from German DJ Talla 2XLC’s emerging record label, Zoth Ommog. To circumvent potential legal complications over the ‘Scarecrow’ name, they transitioned to X Marks the Pedwalk, drawing inspiration from Stephen King’s “Dance Macabre”, which references a tale by the science-fiction stalwart Fritz Leiber, “X-Marks The Pedwalk”.

Throughout its evolution, André Schmechta embraced or initiated various side projects to give voice to musical expressions distinct from X Marks the Pedwalk’s core ethos.

“PAX” materialised from a dynamic partnership between Schmechta and Heiko Daniel. The duo’s synergy birthed two albums and an EP, described by Schmechta as captivating— an amalgamation of simplicity, raw emotion, and novelty. “Ringtailed Snorter”, Schmechta’s solo venture, had its genesis in a heartfelt tribute to a late friend. This endeavour veered from X Marks the Pedwalk’s hallmark sound, favouring unblemished configurations and minimalist sonic landscapes to spark introspection amongst listeners. A unique collaboration, “Hyperdex-1-Sect”, brought together André, Stefanie Schmechta, and Jonathan Sharp (of New Mind). Their auditory output was enriched with remixes, inclusive of one from cEvin Key’s ensemble, Download. “U-Tek” fused the musical talents of Alexis Schaar (alias AL/X/S and a former contributor to X Marks the Pedwalk) and Schmechta, blending dance rhythms with Schmechta’s EBM proclivities. Their subsequent undertaking, “A-Head”, veered towards alternative electro. “Deluga”, a darkwave melding of Thorsten Schmechta, Stefanie Schmechta, and Falk Aupers, regrettably remained embryonic. In 2012, André unveiled his solo initiative “SN-A”, an acronym denoting Sevren Ni-Arb. As SN-A, he crafts dance-inspired electro-ambient tunes, as lauded by Side-Line Magazine. André’s musical canvas also encompasses collaborations with his spouse Stefanie, manifested in “Viviane” and “Polyxena” (with Heiko Daniel’s involvement) and “Lighthouse”, in partnership with Bernd Schöler.

Out today on all digital plaforms via the Charlottenlund-based Danish label Town & Towers Records, is a new Cold Connection single, “Bright”. “Bright” is actually one of Cold Connection’s very first demos. It is the first single taken from Cold Connection’s forthcoming EP.

The song was originally written by former member Jonas Lindelöf, and with his blessing, brought back to (new) life with new vocals and new music.

“We wanted to create an up-tempo synthpop song, that works on the dancefloor. We kept the original melody line and rearranged the song a bit with a new bridge and instrumental parts. We also made it a bit darker and atmospheric. You might recognize some inspiration from Rational Youth”, says Daniel from Cold Connection. And he adds: “The song is about you, me and everyone else who from time to time just want to leave this earth and all the horrible things mankind is doing to each other… together in a spaceship for destination love”.

Cold Connection is a Swedish synthpop act whose debut album “Seconds of Solitude” was released by Town & Towers Records in 2021. The album was followed in 2022 by a remix album including remixes by People Theatre, Patrick Kambo, ill Humans (Arvid Arays), and a lot of other Nordic synth acts, like Disrupted Being, and Dan and Ole from Vaylon. In 2022 Cold Connection participated on the Andrew Fletcher Memorial Double charity CD called “6122” with a cover version of “My Secret Garden”.

Below you can see the video for the song.

The New York City based duo R. Missing have released a cover version of Siouxsie And The Banshees’ hit single “Spellbound”. R. Missing’s version is what they call “a downtempo, darkwave answer to the frenetic, post-punk pace of the original”.

“Spellbound” is the follow-up single to July’s “My Time as a Ghostly Someone Else” and serves as the titular track from the upcoming full-length “Spellbound – A Tribute To Siouxsie & The Banshees”, available worldwide on August 25th. This compilation showcases contributions from bands such as Kap Bambino, The KVB, and Night Beats, alongside music veterans, including former Banshee, Jon Klein, who joins forces with PiL bassist, Jah Wobble, plus Xiu Xiu, Skold, and many more.

R. Missing is comprised of vocalist/bassist, Sharon Shy, and multi-instrumentalist Toppy Frost. R. Missing is the duo’s latest creative innovation, emerging from the Morrissey-influenced, indie rock shadows of their previous project, The Ropes.

Out now is the all new EP from the Boston, Massachusetts-based goth rock/darkwave artist Allie Frost: “Deadly Desert”. The concept of “Deadly Desert” is based around a journey into a familiar take on goth rock and darkwave. The EP is out on the Lima, Peru-based label In Club Records.

The 5-track EP is available now via bandcamp and is also available as a special edition digipack limited to 200 units, and as a very limited edition (33 units only) cassette.

You can check out and download the release from Bandcamp.

You can check the video for the EP track “Abandoned Ghost” below.

Out now is the all new EP (and video) by the Phoenix, Arizona-based darkwave : dark electronic musician Lore. The video is for the title track “Take Me Down Tonight” and is inspired by and a tribute to dancers at gothic nightclubs.

The EP was written, composed, produced and performed by Lore with co-production by Chris Egert who also mixed and mastered the whole at Heretic Sound. The EP features the title track plus a club mix, instrumental mix and an instrumental version of the club mix.

For Lore it’s her first new material since 2021’s “Deadly Sessions (Live)” 3-track single.

You can check out the EP on all platforms including Bandcamp.

(Photo by Azalea Jeanette) Quantum Release Records has just launched the latest single from the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-based cyber industrial project Miss FD, entitled “Distractions”. This track demonstrates a fusion of dark, throbbing instrumentals, enhanced with her typical lush and sweet vocals.

A music video for “Distractions”, directed by Azalea Jeanette, is currently being produced. We’ll update you as soon as it’s available. Since its inception in 2009, Miss FD has brought forth a number of albums and singles, offering a blend of electro-industrial, dark synthpop, and darkwave. In 2022, the project ventured into exploring Göbekli Tepe through her three-song dark pop EP, “As Above, So Below”, succeeded by her cyberpunk single “Menticide”. Now, her new single has arrived.

“Distractions” is now accessible worldwide via Quantum Release Records, on all major streaming platforms and naturally, also on Bandcamp.

(Photo by @vv.photography95) The Ukrainian cyberdance act BlazerJacket have just released their latest single “DedSec”. The track pays homage to the renowned hacking collective from the popular video game
series “Watch Dogs”.

To accompany the release of “DedSec” BlazerJacket has unveiled an official music video that fuses in-game footage from Watch Dogs 2 with the artist’s signature style. The single is now available on all major streaming platforms and on Bandcamp as a pay-what-you-want download.

The visuals take fans on a journey through the digital world, where “DedSec”‘s hacker heroes challenge the status quo and wield a worldwide presence with millions of followers. Their mission: to expose corruption within the ordinary world, including the most formidable corporations.

Below is the free download single on Bandcamp.

BlazerJacket was created in Kyiv by Denis Cherryman (Dirty Bird 13 / KIND) and Hybri Mod. Their love for cyberpunk, retrowave, sci-fi, and action films of the 80′s and 90′s inspired them to create a new sci-fi universe, conceptual music releases, and video materials which are a series of science fiction novels.

Musically they combine different genres of rock and electro dance music with passion 80’s inspired background. The band was among several Ukrainian acts featured on our two Ukrainian download compilations, “Electronic Resistance” and “Electronic Resistance – Reconstruction.”

Out today is “Undertow”, the newest single for the San Francisco-based post-punk outfit Octavian Winters. This is the follow-up to their debut single “Ondine”.

“Undertow” is loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of the little matchgirl, standing outside a window on a winter’s night, separated from all sustenance and warmth. Ignored by everyone around, and unable to sustain herself after lighting all her matches for warmth, she freezes to death in the snow.

“Undertow” previews their debut EP “The Line of Curve”, recorded by Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated) with production, mixing and mastering by William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, Christian Death, The March Violets), whose credits include Jarboe, Clan of Xymox, Bootblacks and Autumn. “The Line or Curve” EP will be released on October 13 via Stratis Capta Records and will have 5 tracks.

Formed in 2022, Octavian Winters draws from darkwave and post-punk traditions.

Below is the video for “Undertow”.

Below is the first single “Ondine”.

Illuminate will bring their career of over three decades to a close this year. This won’t happen without a hitch: You can look forward to a final tour and a last double album.

The final Illuminate album will be titled “Am Ende aller Tage” and is set to be released on October 27. It is a double album and marks the band’s 20th work – “Zorn” from 2019 being their previous release. Additionally, the band has announced five farewell concerts, one in Mexico and four in German-speaking countries.

Founded in Karlsruhe in 1993 by Johannes Berthold, Illuminate’s early albums are often associated with Neue Deutsche Todeskunst (literally, New German Death Art), especially their 1996 album “Verfall.” Their music incorporates fewer rock elements and features much catchier tunes than the more typical Gothic and Darkwave bands.

The band announced the end on their Facebook page.

They also posted a teaser of the title track played by Jörn Langenfeld.

The darkwave act Divine Shade, based in Lyon, France, has released a live session performance video of their single, “Stars”. The song was performed during their 2022 tour with Gary Numan. They have now released the video of an immersive live session at Polycarpe Studio in France.

The theme of the song is straightforward. It addresses the idea of our “inner child” disappearing as time goes by. Rémi Thonnerieux says, “I wrote this song to discuss the fact that love and resilience are the true paths to dreaming again.”

The band was established by musician Ren Toner in 2014 and offers a blend of styles and influences inspired by cold wave culture, with a hint of industrial and electronic music.

Here’s the video of the session.

“Stars” is available on all major digital platforms including Bandcamp as well.

(Photo by Ryan Policky) Today we present you the debut single/ video from the Colorado-based act Alien Gothic: “In The Night”. The single is out today (Tuesday). The track is taken from their upcoming album “High and Dry” via Latenight Weeknight Records.

Alien Gothic is the duo Ryan Policky (A Shoreline Dream) and Andy Uhrmacher (Genessier). The core of the band is cemented in classic goth rock though the new single also holds darkwave elements. “It’s something we knew would destroy the seedy, cobweb filled dance clubs of the past, bringing forth a new era of goth… alien goth”, says Ryan Policky.

The song tells the tale of two unknown lifeforms, bringing their favorite sounds to a place they have never explored before. “The music is inspired by the beauty of the world around them, while still being pulled into the darkness of the dead stars they came from”, so the band adds. The accompanying video tells the tale of their recent exploration as they look for a way out of this world, gravitating to the most iconic structures they find along the way. The video was made mixing in elements of AI, traditional film and lost portraits of the two core members.

The “High and Dry” album was recorded from between 2020 and 2023 and will be out on August 18. It is already available for pre-order right below.

The UK industrial band Binary Order just unleashed a new EP, “Thrown Away”. The release contains three remixes of previously released tracks and a reimagined, industrial cover of the Papa Roach song “Thrown Away”.

Benjamin Blank adds: “The song’s subject matter is something that resonated sharply with me when I first heard it. It’s about being an outcast and only knowing a life of being rejected. It has continued to resonate with me till this day.”

The Thrown Away EP is available now on all digital platforms. Below is the Bandcamp download.

There is also extra news as Binary Order also announces a new album, “The Future Belongs To The Mad“. The twelve-track album will be released in Winter of 2023. Currently the album is in the very last stages of production.

Blank says that “the album is heavier, darker and far more intense than the last record, but also is far more electronic-driven (…) I’m very excited to see how people react to what I consider to be the greatest musical achievement I’ve ever accomplished.”

Binary Order was formed in 2008 by London-based solo musician, Benjamin Blank. The project combines his love for multiple genres, fusing alt metal, ambient soundscapes and darkwave.

(Photo by Kadri Sammel) Out on August 11 on CD and already now digitally on Metropolis Records is the reissue of the Bedless Bones album “Sublime Malaise”. This reissue comes in advance of an all-new third album later in 2023. This extended reissue of “Sublime Malaise”, her 2019 debut album, adds four remixes to the original record.

Behind Bedless Bones we find Kadri Sammel, a singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and interdisciplinary artist from Tallinn, Estonia. As Bedless Bones, she experiments with electro-noir, building bridges and bending the borders between darkwave, EBM, techno beats, industrial sounds and ‘otherworldly’ atmospherics.

She is also a member of Estonian avant-garde deathbeat/outdustrial outfit Forgotten Sunrise and the singer in the UK/Estonian dystopian industrial band Deathsomnia. Additionally, under the alias DJ Dirt Vessel, she has been a crucial part of Beats From The Vault, an underground event series in Estonia that has been in existence since 1998.

Here are a few tracks from the “Sublime Malaise” album.

And below is the reissued version.

Nine years after the release of their first tribute to The Cure, titled “A Strange Play – Tribute to The Cure“, Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ have joined forces to create a follow-up tribute album. The second volume in the series, “A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure“, features 27 tracks, including electro, synth pop, EBM acts from Alfa Matrix and cold wave, post-punk, and gothic rock bands from their Spleen+ division and is out now via Bandcamp, the label’s webstore and all other platforms.

The album includes reinterpretations of classic hits and lesser-known B-sides, shedding new light on the original tracks or giving them an entirely different sonic perspective. The tribute album itself this time is a collaborative effort between both established and emerging artists from the Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ rosters.

Compiled by and for The Cure fans, this new tribute adventure brings together a growing roster of Spleen+ artists, including Noemi Aurora, Star Industry, Imjudas, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath of Life, and Lovelorn Dolls. Additionally, the album features synth and electro cult acts, as well as upcoming Alfa Matrix artists, such as Neuroactive, Armageddon Dildos, Implant, Darkness on Demand (formerly Dance or Die), Helle9 (an Alien Vampires side-project), Metroland, Aesthetische featuring Zombie Girl, Aiboforcen, Technoir, Kant Kino, Digital Factor, Regenerator, Lights A.M (an Essence of Mind solo project), Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls, Diffuzion, Avarice in Audio, Elektroklänge, Circumpolar, and Cosmic Armchair.

In conjunction with the release of “A Strange Play (Vol. 2),” goth-metal/darkwave act Lovelorn Dolls has released a single and accompanying video clip for their cover of “Lullaby.” The music video, created entirely using artificial intelligence, tells the story of a girl pursued by a mysterious, threatening, yet alluring man. The video’s creator, Kristell, was inspired by her own childhood experience of being both fascinated and frightened by The Cure’s original “Lullaby” music video.

Here’s the track list for the new volume which is available now on 2CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore and as download via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page and the Spleen+ Bandcamp page.

Here’s the first volume.