Welcome to the fam!

Progression, or more generally, change, is a constant in music; in order to adapt and survive, you must grow and develop – and no band knows that more than midwestern metal act Of Virtue. What began as a humble, promising metalcore act born from the blistering chill and barren fields of mid-Michigan has erupted into an internationally recognized and critically acclaimed alternative powerhouse. From opening slots on regional metalcore tours to reaching #28 on Billboard’s Current Hard Music chart, performing in over 30 countries across three continents, and accruing a staggering 6 million plus streams on Spotify alone, Of Virtue’s growth, is nothing short of jaw-dropping.The band combines an eclectic taste for the melodic, catchy, and ethereal with a foundation in heavy music and a penchant for punishing breakdowns and immolating riffs, to define themselves as a multifaceted, diverse and engaging act that draws on influence from metal and alternative music of all types and styles to create something that fans of just about any type of music can find something to fall in love with.

Today, Of Virtue released their debut single via Arising Empire called ‚Sinner‚!Produced by Evan McKeever (VRSTY), mixed and mastered by Dan Braunstein, known for his work for Spiritbox, Dayseeker, Volumes, and visualized by Dana Willax & Orie McGinness (Bad Omens, Wage War, Kingdom of Giants) this heavy rock-oriented first piece of brand new Of Virtue will hit you straight and leaves no doubt that this 4-piece is going to blow up pretty fast.

Watch ‚Sinner‘ now on the Arising Empire YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com

Stream it here: https://arisingempire.com/sinner 

Of Virtue was formed in 2008 and catapulted themselves into the Michigan metalcore scene in 2009 with their debut EP »To Breathe Again«. Combining elements of melodic hardcore and metalcore into a mosh-friendly and energetic amalgam, the band almost instantaneously cemented themselves as a staple within their local scene.
In the months that would follow, the band would create and release their debut full length record, »Heartsounds« in 2011, followed after an extensive regional touring cycle. »Heartsounds« saw the band expand on the sound defined by their breakout effort, with lyrics speaking of positivity and determination, underscored by a blend of metalcore that was both vicious yet passionate and inspiring. By 2015, the band would release »Salvation«, a sprawling and ambitious example of meticulously done melodic metalcore which would earn them nationwide attention as a promising, prodigally talented metal act. Shortly thereafter, Of Virtue would release their third full-length record, »What Defines You« in 2019. The album saw a marked incorporation of alternative rock and hard rock into their backbone of bold, robust metalcore with an overwhelmingly positive message. The result was a release that would launch them into the stratosphere of heavy music. Even in the setting of a global pandemic, Of Virtue continued to blossom worldwide, accruing new listeners and fans in countries tens of thousands of miles away and expanding their reach even in a time where live performances were all but impossible.

Of Virtue are:
Tyler Ennis | vocals
Damon Tate | guitar & vocals
Michael Valadez | guitar
Ryan Trinh | drums  

Follow the band’s socials:
https://www.instagram.com/ofvirtue
https://www.facebook.com/ofvirtue
https://www.tiktok.com/@ofvirtueband
https://twitter.com/ofvirtue
https://ofvirtueband.com 

www.focusion.com

THE OKLAHOMA KID release brand new single / video ‚Dye Black To Pink‘ from upcoming album »Tangerine Tragic«

THE OKLAHOMA KID – a modern metal experience. Known for their very own blend of genres, the avant-garde
5-piece never falls shy of pushing the boundaries and breaking old conventions.

After their successful and absolute refreshing singles ‚Pale Tongue‘, ‚Melt Into You‘, ‚Come Undone‘ & ‚A Velvet Feel‘, THE OKLAHOMA KID are back with their real diverse and alternative track ‚Dye Black To Pink‘, taken from their upcoming sophomore album »Tangerine Tragic«, due for release on June 3rd.

Watch ‚Dye Black To Pink‘ now https://youtu.be/-TZhuQyPCK0
Stream https://theoklahomakid.lnk.to/dyeblacktopink 
»Tangerine Tragic« as CD and limited colored vinyl and bundles at the Arising Empire Shop and Impericon
https://arisingempire.com/tangerinetragic 

After their successful debut album »Solarray« (2019) and struck by the global pandemic, THE OKLAHOMA KID set their focus on writing new music, with one simple goal in mind, to best themselves and give every fan something to crave for – »Tangerine Tragic«. »Tangerine Tragic« is built on the strengths of their debut »Solarray«. It plays with new ideas and concepts, comes gently as a breeze, and strikes hard as a wrecking ball. The album was recorded and produced by Jan Kerscher (Ghost City Recordings) – mixed and mastered by Lance Prenc (Alpha Wolf, Polaris, Dealer) that gives this production its full-blown punch.
 
“We are always trying to get different influences into our music, that’s why we were looking for a producer outside our genre, to get some new input. When we first met up with Jan, we know he was a perfect match to record and produce our next album.” – Andreas Reinhard (guitar) 

Tangerine Tragic track listing:
 1. To Dance With Fire
 2. Pale Tongue
 3. A Velvet Feel
 4. The Way Things Were
 5. Replaced
 6. Come Undone
 7. Waldsterben
 8. Dye Black To Pink
 9. Melt Into You
 10. Lost Purpose
 11. Ohnmacht

THE OKLAHOMA KID »Tangerine Tragic Tour 2022
Presented by Contrapromotion
Special guests: Half Me, Liotta Seoul
19.10. Köln – MTC
20.10. Frankfurt – Elfer
21.10. München – Backstage
26.10. Berlin – Privatclub
27.10. Hamburg – Headcrash
28.10. Rostock – Peter-Weiss-Haus
30.10. Leipzig – Bandhaus

THE OKLAHOMA KID stehen für mitreißenden Modern-Metal, der eine Brücke zwischen instrumentaler Finesse und energiegeladener Rhythmik schlägt. Seit ihrer Gründung im Jahr 2012 hat sich die deutsche Band bestehend aus David J. Burtscher, Fred Stölzel, Robert Elfenbein, Tomm Brümmer und Andreas Reinhard kontinuierlich weiterentwickelt und mittlerweile fest in der nationalen Metalszene etabliert.
Es folgten Shows mit Szenegrößen wie Stick To Your Guns, Carnifex, Evergreen Terrace und  Hatebreed, auf denen The Oklahoma Kid mit ihrer passionierten und explosiven Performance die Massen begeistern konnten.
Ob live oder auf Platte – The Oklahoma Kid sind schon längst kein Geheimtipp mehr und stellen sich der Herausforderung, die Szene mit ihrem unverkennbaren Sound aufzumischen.

THE OKLAHOMA KID are:
Tomm Brümmer | Gesang
Fred Stölzel | Gitarre
Andreas Reinhard | Gitarre
Robert Elfenbein | Bass
David J. Burtscher | Schlagzeug

www.focusion.com

Two years after the release of their successful album „Innocence“, Milan/Italy based Post-Punk outfit CLONE CULTURE finally return with a new single which is the first single from their new album coming later in 2022. 

With a new band line up and a renewed sound mixing Darkwave elements with new romantic vocals and electronic experiments, „Floating“ is the start of a new chapter in the band’s history.

“Time goes by like a dream while floating”
Floating tells about memories of the past arising from the accidental finding of old forgot drawings and notes. Trying to interpret the words and lines on the paper, it opens up many questions about the choices we made and people we met.

The single is accompanied by a video done by the Italian video maker Stefania Carbonara and is a visual representation of the abstract feeling and mood that the song conveys.

Clone Culture is:
Stefano Castelli – Vocals 
Marco Tafuri – Guitar, Vocals 
Marco Chiodi – Bass, Synth, Programming 

About CLONE CULTURE

CLONE CULTURE, founded in autumn 2017, is a three piece post-punk band from Milano, Italy. They started writing songs and playing end of 2017 and few months later they released their 1st single “love is the fear of what I do” mixed in London by Gareth Jones (Depeche Mode, Wire, Einstürzende Neubauten, Nick Cave, Interpol, etc.) who contributed to shape the sound of the band’s 1st self tilted album released via the German label Lifeforce Records. They settle their style of play in between post-punk and dark wave. The self-titled debut particularly conveys eerie moods and melancholic atmosphere.

2019 was mainly dedicated to their second album called “Innocence”. The musicians wrote new songs and evolved their sound mostly focusing on bass and guitar lines and slowing down to create the right atmosphere to sustain suffered melodies and lyrics.

After publishing the video of the 1st single called “Souvenirs”, Clone Culture released their album “Innocence” in March 2020. „Floating“ is the first single of their upcoming album and was released on May 3rd, 2022.

Watch their latest video for „Floating“ here:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/cloneculture

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/cloneculture

BANDCAMP: https://cloneculture.bandcamp.com

www.coldtransmission.com

Silent Runners (Amsterdam, NL) will release their new album ‚Statues &

Ornaments‘ on June 3rd 2022 on Cold Transmission Music. Pre-orders for CD, vinyl and digital downloads are available on Bandcamp, starting April 22.

The news is celebrated with a single and music video: ‚Perfect Place to Hide‘, available on all platforms the same day. ‚Perfect Place to Hide‘ is a song about hiding from reality in the things we buy and consume: it’s about yet another hype and the small burst of joy we get from buying and owning stuff we don’t necessarily need. The new single combines a deceptively cheerful first impression with a darker underlying theme, about advertising and an over-commercialised world where human interaction is reduced to monetary transactions and where some of us have turned into personified ads in influencer marketing. The accompanying music video is a clear parody on the modern shopping channel, but there’s one catch: every item on sale is pitch black, reflecting the dark side of consumerism.

‚Statues & Ornaments‘ shows a slight shift in direction for Silent Runners. Featuring a heavier emphasis on post-punk influences and more drum driven songs, without compromising the iconic mix of synths, guitars and deep vocals the band became known for. The album title refers to the ideas and ideologies we as a society put on a pedestal. The same ones that also lead us to rising inequality, climate crisis and mass extinction. It speaks of our inability to explore hopeful new alternatives, while revering the nostalgic embrace of the old ways.

‚Statues & Ornaments‘ was recorded in Volver Studio (NL), mixed by Ben Greenberg (USA – Black Marble, Second Still, Soft Kill, et al.) and mastered by Pete Maher (UK – U2, The Killers, Maximo Park, et al.).

About SILENT RUNNERS

Mixing dark synths with post-punk influences, Silent Runners (Amsterdam, NL) made a name for themselves on stage with energetic shows that are both compelling and strangely hypnotizing. Minimalist guitars, deep bass riffs and steady drum beats, going from an almost krautrock-like drive to all out bombastic. All topped with classic synths and a powerful voice, soaked in reverb.

In 2017 Silent Runners released their debut album The Directory, which reached underground audiences all around the globe. The release was followed by a series of very well received shows on festivals such as Wave Gotik treffen, Grey Days and Wavefest. Shows that cemented the band’s energetic live reputation in the underground post punk scene.

After their 2019 re-release of The Directory (Remixes) on Cold Transmission Music, the band announced the production of a new album, set to release on the Germany based label on June 3 2022.

Watch their latest video for „Perfect Place to hide“ here:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/silentrunners

STREAM: http://www.silentrunners.nl/

www.coldtransmission.com

Gegründet im peruanischen Lima und mittlerweile angesiedelt in den Niederlanden, präsentieren RESPLANDOR ihr viertes Album „Tristeza“ im April 2022. Der neue Full-Length-Release wurde produziert und gemischt von Robin Guthrie, Gründer und Kreativzentrum der legendären Band Cocteau Twins, der selbiges auch schon beim Vorgänger „Pleamar“ übernommen hatte. Darüber hinaus wurden alle Songs von Simon Scott (Slowdive) gemastert, der zudem den Mix von „Feel“ beigesteuert hat. Die CD Edition ist exklusiv erhältlich via Reptile Music und enthält den Bonus Track „Silencio“.

RESPLANDOR sind wohlbekannt für ihren gitarren-orientierten Shoegaze und Dream Pop Style, mit dem sie einen atmosphärischen Wall-of-Sound kreieren. Sie haben bereits mehrfach in Europa, Nord- und Südamerika getourt, größere Festivals wie das SXSW gespielt sowie unter anderem mit berühmten Bands wie The Cure, Slowdive, The Jesus & Mary Chain, The House Of Love, The Radio Dept. die Bühne geteilt.

Tracklist:

1 Blue | 2 Reverie | 3 Tristeza
4 Adore | 5 Oceano | 6 Feel
7 Silencio (CD only)

WEB: https://www.resplandorofficial.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/resplandorofficial
INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/resplandorofficial

https://www.facebook.com/reptile.music

Mit „Dolce Viata” präsentiert die Band „Après La Nuit ihre dritte Single, die über dem deutschen Label Echozone veröffentlicht wird. Hierbei findet das Duo Richard Abdeni / Marilyne B. den Geschmack und die Süße am Leben wieder durch einen heiteren und intensiven Rhythmus. Nach Verlust, Düsternis und
Trauer beginnt nun ein neues Kapitel gefüllt mit Abenteuer, wiederentdeckter Freude und neuen Anfängen …

„Dolce Vita“ ist auch eine Ode ans Leben und seinen schönen Überraschungen …

Der Originalsong wurde von Richard Abdeni geschrieben und produziertj und von Alex Dalliance gemastert. Die EP beinhaltet neben dem Originalmix mehrere großartige Remixe von Vence Romance, Slichtnacht, Monotronic und U.M. Fiedel.

Zum Song „Dolce Vita“ gibt es ein offizielles Musikvideo unter der Regie von Adolfo Bacigalupo.

Audio Tracklisting:

1 Dolce Vita 03:57
2 Dolce Vita (Vence Romance Remix) 03:34
3 Dolce Vita (Slichtnacht Remix) 04:16
4 Dolce Vita (Monotronic Remix) 02:56
5 Dolce Vita (U.M. Fiedel Remix) 04:17

Weitere Informationen zu „Dolce Vita”:
Musik, Text, Produktion und Gesang: Richard Abdeni
Gesang: Marilyne B.
Mastering: Alex Dalliance
Grafik: BNMR

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ApreslaNuit

FLINGERN ATTIC ist eine Symbiose aus unseren Vorlieben sowohl für diverse Arten von elektronischer Musik als auch die große Liebe zu schrammeligen Power-Chords. Der musikalische Stil ein Mix aus „old school“ und „modernen“ Elementen, der auch uns persönlich gut widerspiegelt.
Die Düsseldorfer Band besteht aus Michael Leier aka M.D.Ramone und Tanja Reinhardt aka T.R.Lily. Der über ein Jahrzehnt andauernde Wunsch, ihren gemeinsamen musikalischen Nenner in einem musikalischen Bandprojekt umzusetzen, nahm Anfang 2019 Gestalt an und wurde mit der Gründung von FLINGERN ATTIC endlich in die Tat umgesetzt.
M.D.Ramone übernimmt wie schon bei seinen vorherigen Bandprojekten die Vocals, Gitarre, Bass, Synths, Songwriting/Lyrics sowie das graphische Design & Konzept. Im Gegensatz zu früher spielt T.R. Lily nicht nur die E-Drums, sondern steuert nun auch Vocals und E-Bass bei vielen Songs bei. Desweitern ist sie auch aktiv am Songwriting beteiligt und kümmert sich um die mediale Präsenz.
Alle Songs wurden in deren Düsseldorfer ORANGE RED CORNER Studio komponiert, aufgenommen und abgemischt. Für das Mastering konnte der erfolgreiche Produzent & Musiker Thomas Detert von Airbase Media gewonnen werden. Musikalisch inspiriert fühlen sich FLINGERN ATTIC nicht nur von Düsseldorfer Bands wie Kraftwerk, Rheingold und Fehlfarben oder internationalen Klassikern wie den Beatles, David Bowie, Joy Division/New Order, Anne Clark, Fad Gadget/Frank Tovey, The Ramones, Depeche Mode und Duran Duran sondern auch von Künstlern wie John Frusciante und The Editors oder jüngeren deutschen Acts wie Console und Drangsal.

bandcamp: https://flingernattic.bandcamp.com/releases

WEB: https://www.flingern-attic.de

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/FlingernAttic

Kontakt: info@flingern-attic.de

Vor bereits mehr als 20 Jahren startete die Karriere einer Band, deren Name heute nicht mehr aus der hiesigen Electro-Szene wegzudenken ist – die Rede ist von Solitary Experiments.
Mit ihren mittlerweile 6 Studio Alben, 3 Remix Compilations, einem Klassikalbum, EP´s und Singleauskopplungen und einer Live-DVD, zählen die Jungs aus Berlin mittlerweile zur Oberliga auf dem Sektor der elektronischen Unterhaltungsmusik.
1994 in Frankfurt (Oder) von Dennis Schober und Michael Thielemann gegründet, konnte die Band sich bereits mit ihren ersten drei Alben „FINAL APPROACH“, „PARADOX“ und der dazugehörigen Remix-Scheibe „FINAL ASSAULT“ als feste Szene-Größe etablieren, um dann mit „ADVANCE INTO UNKNOWN“, ihrem Debüt beim Label Out Of Line, vollends durchzustarten.
Es folgten unzählige Compilation-Beiträge und Tourneen mit Bands wie Icon Of Coil, [:SITD:], Neuroticfish, Combichrist, Hocico und Front 242, sowie Tourneen und Festivalshows in ganz Europa, Mexico, Kanada und den USA, so dass der Name Solitary Experiments bald so ziemlich jedem Electro-Fan ein Begriff wurde.
Mit ihrem 2005er Überflieger-Album „MIND OVER MATTER“ hatte es die deutsche Formation geschafft, sich mit ihrer eingängigen Mischung aus Synthpop und wuchtiger EBM endgültig an die Speerspitze der Electro- Szene zu katapultieren.

Mit „COMPENDIUM“ brachten die Jungs dann 2007 abermals eine Clubhammer an den Start. Das Remix- Album enthielt als Besonderheit, neben unveröffentlichten Versionen, auch Kollaborationen mit namhaften Künstlern, wie z.B. Feindflug oder Agonoize.
Auf dem Nachfolger „IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER“ zeigte sich das Quartett, ergänzt durch Frank Glassl an den Live-Drums, gesanglich wie musikalisch wieder von seiner vielseitigsten Seite. Das Album enthält die Club-Hits „Immortal“ und „Rise And Fall“ und wurde schnell zum erfolgreichsten Longplayer der Bandkarriere. Musikalisch und auch soundtechnisch verfolgten Solitary Experiments den auf dem Vorgängeralbum eingeschlagenen Weg mit einer perfekt produzierten Verbindung aus Gefühl und Club – kompatibler Wucht konsequent weiter.

Im März 2011 wurden die beiden Erfolgsalben „ADVANCE INTO UNKNOWN“und „MIND OVER MATTER“ mit diversen Bonus-Mixen als „THE GREAT ILLUSION“ wiederveröffentlicht und die Band begab sich auf
eine ausgedehnte Headliner Clubtour.
2014 stand ganz im Zeichen des 20 jährigen Jubiläums der Ausnahmeformation, welche mit einem bandeigenen Festival im Berliner „Huxleys“ vor über 1000 Fans euphorisch gefeiert wurde. Dieses Konzert wurde mit aufwendiger Kameratechnik gefilmt und als „IN MOTION – Live in Berlin“ DVD veröffentlicht.
Ein weiteres einmaliges und auch persönliches Highlight war ebenfalls die Teilnahme am „Gothic Meets Klassik“ im gleichen Jahr. Frontmann und Sänger Dennis Schober präsentierte im Leipziger Gewandhaus, zusammen mit dem Orchester Zielona Gora, ausgewählte Songs aus dem Bandrepertoire, eindrucksvoll im klassischen Gewand.

Diese Orchesterversionen wurden 2015 in Form des Albums „HEAVENLY SYMPHONY“ veröffentlicht und zeigen insbesondere auch die vielschichtigen, gesanglichen Fähigkeiten von Dennis Schober.
Nach weiteren zahlreichen Konzerten im In- und Ausland, sowie Auftritten auf den wichtigsten Szenefestivals wie dem Amphi Festival, WGT oder Mera Luna, veröffentlichten SOLITARY EXPERIMENTS ihr bis dato letztes Album „FUTURE TENSE“.
Mit „FUTURE TENSE“ schafften es SOLITARY EXPERIMENTS abermals in die Media Control Charts, diesmal sogar bis auf Platz 21. Das Album wurde ebenfalls von einer erfolgreichen Clubtour begleitet, welche ihr Finale mit der „25th Anniversary Celebration“ fand, als die Band zwei Tage in Folge in der ausverkauften Kulturbrauerei in Berlin ihr 25-jähriges Bandjubiläum feierte.

WEB: www.solitaryexperiments.de
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/solitaryexperiments

Review – Solitary Experiments – „Every Now And Then“

Die Berliner Band Solitary Experiments meldet sich mit einer neuen Single zurück und sorgt mit „Every Now And Then“ direkt für einen Ohrwurm.

Schon seit Jahren sind Solitary Experiments aus der Elektro- und Gothic Szene nicht weg zu denken und haben somit zahlreiche Bands für Remixe der Single gewinnen können. Dazu zählen unter anderem Zoodrake, A Spell Inside und Imperative Reaction.

„Every Now And Then“ selbst ist ein wirklich schöner Elektro-Pop Song. Er fängt recht langsam an und wird dann zu einer, von Bässen und dezent eingesetzten Synthies getragenen, Midtempo Nummer. Mit seinem äußerst eingängigen Refrain wird dieses Lied in den Clubs sicher für volle Tanzflächen sorgen.

Der Remix von Wiegand hat mich mit seiner Pianoversion wirklich am meisten beeindruckt. Er gibt dem Song eine ganz neue Atmosphäre und bringt die Stimme von Dennis ganz anders zur Geltung.

Auch alle anderen Remixe sind gelungen und bieten jedes Mal ein neues Gesicht des Liedes. Sie sind allesamt mehr als hörenswert.

Ein weiterer Song der Single ist „Rise Up“. Er wird von einer leichten Melodie eingeleitet, die ein bisschen wie bei einer alten Kassette leiert. Eine verzerrte Computerstimme übernimmt die Strophen. Auch hier ist der Refrain bei mir sofort hängen geblieben. Es ist ein sehr ruhiges Stück, beunruhigend passend zur derzeitigen Situation. „Please stop every act of Violence“. Besser kann man es eigentlich nicht zusammenfassen. Es ist ein sehr ernster und wunderschöner Song.

Mit dieser Singleauskopplung machen Solitary Experiment auf jeden Fall neugierig auf das kommende Album und schüren meine persönliche Vorfreude auf ihren Auftritt in Görlitz am 21. Mai 2022 zusammen mit Solar Fake und Seadrake.

geschrieben von Antje Heine

 Dark pop / pagan synth duo, Esoterik have unveiled their new full-length LP, Alchemy.

The concept of Alchemy has many different forms and interpretations but the analogy holds true for any artist in that we take elements or ingredients, which on their own have a certain character and then take on a transformation into something that didn’t exist before. 

Is it magick or is something more tangible? Who’s to say? But there’s no denying that words have power and music in itself has the ability to illicit a variety of emotions that time stamp our journey throughout life.

About the album, Alchemy, the band says the following, „We took a different approach with this album than we have in the past with a clear vision from the start thematically of what we wanted to achieve and then crafted each track around that.“

Alchemy is available on CD at https://www.esoterikmusic.com/ and digitally on https://music.apple.com.

„When we begin writing new songs for an album they take shape in a variety of forms, but it’s important to us and we’ve also found it makes things much easier when we start to record, to ensure the foundation and structure is solid and flows well from melody to composition. A lot of these songs are written on an acoustic guitar and sound very different from the arrangements you hear now. We feel that once a song can stand on its own without all the bells and whistles, it can be guided into any genre with subtle tweaks here and there.“ – Allison Eckfeldt and Brady Bledsoe (Esoterik)

Founded in 2013, US Dark Pop outfit, Esoterik, have steadily evolved into what one fan lovingly coined as Pagan-Synth. The band, comprised of Allison Eckfeldt and Brady Bledsoe, started to quickly gain momentum coming off the heels of their 1st US tour supporting Austria’s own Nachtmahr in the Spring of 2014. In 2015, they teamed up with German producer Krischan Wesenberg (Rotersand) to put the finishing touches on their sophomore full length “Atonement.” The album produced several singles and music videos with “Necrodancer” still holding strong as a fan favorite.

In May of 2017, Esoterik released the “Set Fire to Me” EP that included several re-worked versions of tracks off their debut album “Enlightenment.” The EP, produced by Gregor Beyerle (Nachtmahr L’Âme Immortelle), included a new music video alongside the single “Spirits Light the Way,” which was very well received by fans. In late 2018, they signed with German label Trisol Music Group and quickly hit the studio to polish up their third album,“Énouement.” The album prompted a flurry of singles leading up to the release including visualizers and full production music video for the single, “Seidhr.”

After coming off the road from a six-week tour supporting UK based act Grendel in August of 2019, the band patiently used the downtime 2020 provided to finish writing songs for the new album, Alchemy. 

Alchemy is available in CD and digital formats NOW!

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/esoterikmusic

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/esoterik_music/

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1x7SlHy6WYeOvqTBdGNfUF

 Gothic rockers, Black Angel have just unveiled their fourth studio album, The Black Rose. Following up the previous and well-received release, Prince Of Darkness, Black Angel further solidifies their mark in the goth rock community with this new nine-track, soon-to-be classic album.

Sticking with their hybrid Gothic Rock sound, Black Angel takes flavors from the likes of 80’s predecessors, The Cult and The Mission while and adding new tones of their own. There is definitely a slightly more sinister, edgy feel to the tracks on The Black Rose.

From the Mission-esque style of „Breathe“ to the slick, guitar sounds and soaring vocals of „All Or Nothing“ and „Look Me In The Eye“ to the musically playful but thematically sinister „Carnival Man“, Black Angel’s diversity and trademark sound pulse throughout the entire release.  

„Battle Cry“ brings The Black Rose to an end. Inspired by one of the band‘s greatest influences The Cult, this song is a romantic story of forever love.

The Black Rose is available on vinyl LP, CD and digital formats via Bandcamp.

Black Angel:
Matt Vowles – All Music
Cory Landis – Vocals

„It grabs you and pushes you through different periods of “dark” music history while still keeping you in the here and now. No superfluous appendages, no superfluous cliché or wild experimentation. A highly focused, pure piece of goth rock. A textbook of how to make goth rock.“ – Dark Life Experience

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3369969363097686

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/black_angel_music/

spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2nRqpGvZYydx4778sPDPfu

BLACK NAIL CABARET have set a musical exclamation mark with their current album „Gods Verging on Sanity“ (2020). Despite their planned touring fell victim to the general circumstances, the duo has emerged even stronger from the last two years mainly through rapidly spreading word of mouth.

Their continued growth provides an excellent opportunity to let an early jewel from the band’s back catalogue history shine in new splendour: When singer Emèse Árvai-Illes and Krisztián Árvai on keyboards self-released the album „Pseudopop“ on their own Dichronaut Records label in 2018, the duo had already successfully fused art, pop, dark harmonies and exciting electronics. Hungarian journalist Mariusz Bari (Planet Damage) awarded the highest score (10)/10 and wrote: „BLACK NAIL CABARET has always been on a journey to perfect itself and this latest album is the perfect proof that they have not lost neither touch, nor control.“

What sets BLACK NAIL CABARET remarkably apart from other bands of their genre is a penchant for sexually explicit provocation. The Hungarians not only managed to stay far away from being embarrassing or aiming for cheap thrills, but artistically depict their living BDSM reality framed by high aesthetic standards. Those who prefer to see a frog in the Rohrschach blobs on the album cover should perhaps dare to take a closer look.

In the duo’s own words, it sounds like this: „‚Pseudopop‘ is a summary of all the music that had a huge impact on our lives“, wrote BLACK NAIL CABARET. „Regardless of style, we just emptied our minds, dropped genres, and let loose. It is a nice hybrid born out of the chaos within both of us and we like to think that our music is avant-garde contemporary pop with dark alternative roots.“

On its initial release, „Pseudopop“ came with nearly all the ingredients needed for greatness. The only item missing was a label with international outreach. Now the album will finally received the well deserved worldwide attention though a careful re-mastered reissue including a bonus track released by Dependent. Let the spotlight shine on BLACK NAIL CABARET and „Pseudopop“.

Tracklist:
1. Rhythm X
2. Orchid
3. Verge on the Creepy
4. Unrequited Love
5. Technicolor
6. Bête Noire
7. Trigger Happy
8. Icarus
9. 90s
10. La Petite Mort
11. Resonance
12. The Worm (bonus track) 

Line-up:
Emèse Árvai-Illes – vocals
Krisztián Árvai – keyboards

Style: Avant-garde synth pop

Recorded at the Black Nail Cabaret home studio
Produced by Krisztián Árvai
Remastered by Sándor Számvéber at Six Doors Studio

Pre-sale link: http://lnk.spkr.media/bnc-pseudopop

Available formats:

„Pseudopop“ will be available as a Digibpak CD including the bonus track ‚The Worm‘ and the album will also be made available on black and on coloured vinyl at a later date due to production shortages.

WEB: http://www.blacknailcabaret.com/Welcome.html

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/bncband

STEREOSKOP betreten Neuland mit ihrem sechsten Album „Silk“. Nachdem
vorherige Releases vornehmlich auf Dark Electronic Music fokussiert waren,
kombiniert ihr frischster Output analoge Synthwave-Rhythmen mit
atmosphärischen Gitarren, flirrenden Dreampop-Sounds und einem
allgegenwärtigen 80s Spirit.

Alex Brujas (Guitars, Synths & Drums) und Susana Egea (Vocals & Synths)
hatten bereits mit ihren zwei Vorabsingles “The Mist” und “Hazel Eyes” einen
ersten Vorgeschmack zu ihrer neuen Ausrichtung geliefert, die auf dem 12-
Track-Album nun zu voller Blüte gelangt. Die musikalischen Einflüsse des
spanischen Duos rangieren von Vangelis über Cocteau Twins bis hin zu New
Order und John Carpenter Soundtracks, während sich ihre Texte von Sci-Fi und
romantischer Literatur des 18. Jahrhunderts inspiriert zeigen.

Im Ergebnis wird “Silk” von opulenter Schwärmerei dominiert und öffnet so die
Tür zu einem behaglichen Traumland in einer verrückt gewordenen Welt.

Watch the official video clip for „The Mist“: https://www.youtube.com

Tracklist:

1 The Mist | 2 I Saw The Light | 3 Hazel Eyes
4 My Side | 5 I Am The One | 6 Sun Is Bright
7 Any Other Bot | 8 Under | 9 Silk Fawn
10 Out Of Control | 11 The Story
12 Golden Days

All songs written by Susana Egea & Alex Brujas.
Recorded & produced by Alex Brujas at Stereoskop Studio.
Cover Artwork by Patrick Haase.

WEB: http://www.stereoskop.net/

www.facebook.com/reptile.music

FACE THE LEGACY 
Debut Album „Ashes on the Grounds“ out this FRIDAY!

Face The Legacy’s debut album „Ashes on the Ground“ builds on a sound somewhere between 80’s and 90’s Hard Rock, Grunge, and Modern Metal. In fact, heavy riffs and driving beats meet the pop aspects of the music of the four Finns throughout the whole album. In contrast, the vocals are in a grungy Alt Metal manner, revealing a certain Alice In Chains vibe. Whether Melodic Death Metal riffing á la In Flames (“Bleed For Me”) or ballad-like clean passages amidst pounding metal riffs and groovy parts, Face The Legacy convince mainly with a huge spectrum of their musical possibilities. With their modern sound, influences from grunge, metalcore, nu-metal, and melodic death metal, Face The Legacy deliver one of the most exciting and versatile hard rock albums with „Ashes on the Grounds“ to be heard in 2022.

The full-length album will be released worldwide on April 8, 2022, via Out Of Line Music. Stream, get it here: https://facethelegacy.lnk.to/Ashesontheground

Album Tracklist:

Downfall

United as one

Unbreakable Chains

I still burn

Back to those Times

Bleed for Me

I am the Wind

Fade away

Neverending Pain

I’ve had enough

Hear us out

Ashes on the Ground

Face the Legacy:

Niklas Lindeman – Vocals & Guitars

Elias Suhonen – Guitars

Aleksanteri Skaniakos – Bass

Pietro Tuominen – Drums

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/facethelegacy

INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/facethelegacy/

SHE HATES EMOTIONS präsentiert erste neue Single/Video „Space and Time” aus dem kommenden Album „Happy Pop Music“!

 
Der Melancholic Maniac ist zurück! Blutengel-Chef Chris Pohl nimmt uns wieder mit auf einen melodischen Trip in sein musikalisches Poesiealbum: 80er-Romantik mit verspielten Synthies und unwiderstehlichem Wave-Appeal. Eine stimmungsvolle Reise durch Raum und Zeit von und mit She Hates Emotions. 
 
Schaut euch das neue „Space And Time” Video jetzt hier an: 

Chris sagt über die erste Single: „‘Space & Time‘ war der erste Song, den ich für das neue SHE Album geschrieben habe. Es geht um die unaufhörliche Suche nach dem Seelenverwandten… Die Person, die man sich an seiner Seite wünscht. Man weiß, dass diese Person existiert, aber man hat sie noch nicht gefunden und wird immer weiter suchen….“ 
 
„Auf dem Album „Happy Pop Music“, kombiniere ich weiterhin 80er Jahre Sounds mit melancholischen Texten. Nicht so bombastisch wie bei BLUTENGEL, sondern sehr minimal. Die Texte sind, wie immer, sehr persönlich. Es geht um Liebe, Schmerz, Angst, Älterwerden, Depressionen… Alles, was mich in den letzten Jahren beschäftigt hat. Daher ist der Album Titel auch absolut ironisch gemeint!”, so Chris weiter, der damit auch wieder seinen treuen Blutengel-Fans einen Anknüpfungspunkt gibt. 

Streamen: https://shehatesemotions.lnk.to/SpaceandTime

Die Achtziger – Jahrzehnt der musikalischen Freiheit, die Blütezeit von New Wave und Dark Wave, Pionierjahre der Bewegung, aus der die Schwarze Szene entstanden ist. Diese Zeiten waren es, die den künstlerischen Pfad von Chris Pohl (Blutengel) prägten. Mit She Hates Emotions zollt er den Einflüssen mit seiner Musik Tribut. Das neue SHE Album erscheint in 2022 über Out Of Line Music. Das Debütalbum “Melancholic Maniac” gibt’s hier: https://shehatesemotions.lnk.to/MelancholicManiac

SHE transferiert die besten Zeiten von Bands wie Depeche Mode, Anne Clark, Human League, Fad Gadget, Camouflage oder Alphaville ins 21. Jahrhundert: She Hates Emotions. 

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SheHatesEmotions/
INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/she_hates_emotions_official/

HOCICO präsentiert neue Single „Weapons of Resistance feat. Aaron Matts“! 
Der Song stammt von der Bonus-CD des kommenden Albums „HyperViolent“ 

Die Electro-Keule kreist wieder! Die mexikanischen Industrial-Legenden Hocico melden sich mit ihrem brandneuen Album „HyperViolent“ für den 14. April 2022 eindrucksvoll zurück! Die Singleauskopplung „Weapons of Resistance feat. Aaron Matts“ ist eine Zusammenarbeit von Hocico mit dem Sänger der Deathcore-Band ten56. und ist eine Mischung aus Hard Industrial Sounds, gemischt mit den Screams von Erk Aicrag und dem unverwechselbaren Gesang von Aaron Matts. Erk von Hocico sagt über den Song: “Weapons of Resistance is an incendiary song! It was great to have Aaron on board, his vocals give the song just the right amount of energy.”

Stream it here: https://hocico.lnk.to/WeaponsOfResistance-ftTEN56

Nicht einmal zwei Jahre nach ihrem letzten Album sind die mexikanischen Höllen-Cousins zurück aus dem Pandemie-Kerker und lassen ihrer Aggression auf dem neuen Opus unverblümt freien Lauf. Latent bedrohlich und eher schleichend rabiat wie bei “Broken Empires“ oder im pulsierenden Dark’n’Bass-Gewand wie bei der zweiten Vorab-Single “Backstabbers“ – Hocico spielen auf den 13 Tracks ihres neuen Longplayers die komplette Aggro-Klaviatur. Und das gilt auch für den Bonustrack „Weapons of Resistance“ mit den Gastvocals von ten56.-Frontmann Aaron Matts! 

Nach den vorangegangenen Kollaborationen von Hocico mit Lord Of The Lost und Ost+Front, bedeutet dies ein weiterer Krachmacher-Trip ins Gitarrenlager. Auch 2022 gilt für Hocico also: Knüppel aus dem Sack oder einfach gesagt: „Hyper hyper“!

Tracks:
HYPER VIOLENT CD
01. When The Trumpets Of Hate Blow
02. Broken Empires
03. Acts of Aggression
04. Un Sepulcro Sin Cadaver
05. What Are Nightmares Made Of?
06. Hacked Society
07. El Jardin de Las Locuras
08. Backstabbers
09. Lost World
10. Black Reflection
11. N.W.O.
12. Crown of Knives
13. Peccata Mundi

HYPERSIDE EFFECTS (Bonus CD in the Deluxe 2 CD Edition)
01. Weapons of Resistance feat. Aaron Matts
02. Odio Bajo el Alma (Version Mariachi)
03. Black Mirror
04. Dog Eat Dog (Desputes Remix)
05. The Fall

„Hyperviolent“ will be released as a double CD (including bonus CD), vinyl, and cassette. Collectors will straight go for the limited wooden box (only 400 pieces worldwide), which, in addition to the album, includes a ceramic tile with an art print (incl. holder), a clay spice-shaker handmade in Mexico with an individual Mexican design, a bandana, Erk and Racso’s favorite recipes, a bag of chili peppers and a hand-numbered certificate.

Hocico:

Racso Agroyam (Music) and Erk Aicrag (Lyrics and Vocals)

WEB:  https://www.hocico.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/hocicoofficial

 

ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO 
– „La Fleur du Mal“ Limited DigiCD – 
Erscheint am 25. März 2022 / Release Date: March 25, 2022
“La Fleur du Mal” is a four songs EP with Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio at their very finest. It serves as an introduction to the more comprehensive full-length album “Nihilist Notes (And the Perpetual Quest 4 Meaning in Nothing)” coming in May and will be released on CD – with ONLY 444 copies available worldwide.

“La Fleur du Mal” features four highly competent tracks that reveals a more sinister and oppressive approach to melody making and orchestrations than we have heard from the band in years. The texts that support the music is best described as nihilistic poetry. Pitch black, abysmal anthems. Metaphors and symbols reflecting the world past present and future, revealing the cycles in which we coexist. A great album indeed, a delicious taste of the album that is to come.

Alpdruck trifft Nihilismus! Was Tomas Pettersson uns seit mittlerweile mehr als zwei Dekaden in scheinbar harmlos instrumentierten Versen kredenzt, ist beklemmender Apocalyptic Pop, der einem die Nichtigkeit des eigenen Daseins bittersüß vor Augen führt.

Als Einstimmung auf das im Mai erscheinende neue Album “Nihilist Notes (And the Perpetual Quest 4 Meaning in Nothing)”, gräbt sich seine neue Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio-EP “La Fleur du Mal” mit sinisteren Melodien und klassischen Neofolk-Elementen tief in die Nervenbahnen und hinterlässt die totale Bedrückung.

Die vier Tracks des Mini-Albums sind gespickt mit düsteren Versen und dystopischen Metaphern, die permanent am Rande am des psychischen Abgrunds tänzeln. Die EP erscheint als CD und ist auf 444 Stück weltweit limitiert. La Fleur du Mal – wer diese Blume pflückt, kommt nicht mehr davon los.

Tracks:
01. In the name of the Sun, my Father and the Spirit
02. No time like the Present – La Fleur du Mal
03. Receive the Flame, all you Children of the Sun
04. I am the Son of Daggers, in a Future you forgot

WEB: https://www.ordo-rosarius-equilibrio.net/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ordorosariusequilibrio

bandcamp: https://ordorosariusequilibrio.bandcamp.com/

Mit der Veröffentlichung der „A Cold Days Night“ EP melden sich FLORIAN GREY mit einer wunderbar verträumt-düsteren Mid Tempo Ballade zurück!
„A Cold Days Night“ kommt als brandneue Version, ist die fünfte und letzte Single-
Auskopplung aus dem aktuellen Album RITUS und erscheint auf allen bekannten
Download- und Streaming-Plattformen.
Damit möchten die Dark Rocker von FLORIAN GREY den Hörer*innen die Wartezeit auf das langersehnte neue Album verkürzen.

Video-Premiere auf Sonic-Seducer.de: Zeitgleich zum dazugehörigen,
atmosphärischen Videoclip, kommt die digitale Vier-Track-EP; Inklusive Single Version, der Album Version, sowie der Acoustic Session Version. Premiere feiert der Clip am 08.04.22 exklusiv auf Sonic-Seducer.de , inklusive Gewinnspiel.

Streng limitierte Version: Eine streng limitierte Auflage der „A Cold Days Night“ EP als CD ist ab dem 30.3.2022 auf floriangrey.hamburgrecords.com vorbestellbar!
Neben den einzelnen Versionen der digitalen EP, enthält der physikalische Tonträger die bisher unveröffentlichte BONUS-Acoustic-Version von „Catharsis“, sowie einen signierten Lyrics-Kunstdruck und eine Autogrammkarte.

Livestream am 6. April: Zwei Tage vor Veröffentlichung, am 06.04.22 ab 19 Uhr, wird die Band in einem Online-Shop-Takeover bei Hamburg Records die Acoustic Version von „A Cold Days Night“ live performen, sowie eingehende Bestellungen selbst verpacken,auf Wunsch signieren und auf sämtliche Fragen und Kommentare, eingehen.

Tracklist:

1. A Cold Days Night (SIngle Version)
2. A Cold Days Night (Album Version)
3. A Cold Days Night (Acoustic Session Version

4. Catharsis (Acoustic Version) > NUR AUF CD ENTHALTEN

WEB: www.florian-grey.com
INSTA: instagram.com/floriangreyofficial
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/floriangreyofficial

The third outing from Malmö’s finest – And the broken – opens with „Bad PR“. The thunderous drums and ringing guitars evoke The Who anno 1966 but unlike the girl in „A quick one, while he’s away“, who sought solace in Ivor the Engine Driver, our „pretty boy“ is not forgiven. The song could be viewed as a comment on a sickening attempt at damage control by a perpetrator sharing initials with the abbreviation in the title. Bad PR, indeed. 

The second track, „Don’t come knocking“ with its masterfully executed, Stax-influenced arrangement – sparse tremolo guitars, bubbling Hammond and a fantastic five-piece horn section – paints a sordid picture of lies, broken dreams, and exploitation. It’s essentially a cry for help.

The closing song „Orion“ offers nothing of the sort. Other than the realization that in the grand scheme of things our time here is so incredibly short; blink and you miss me. 

However, don’t miss out on this EP – it is essential listening.

Malmö, September 2021

Older but not necessarily wiser, and sometimes ailing. Unlike garage rock luminaries “? and the Mysterians”, the latest addition to the Malmö music scene – “and the Broken” skips the flamboyant lead character altogether. These seasoned musicians and songwriters hailing from bands like Emerald Park, Björn’s vänner, Golden Kanine and Chunks/God Grows His Own, each manages to steal the spotlight in their own right.Influences? Anything from Alice Babs to Alice Coltrane; Beachwood Sparks to Big Star; Yung Lean to Old Dirty Bastard (although if you asked any member of the band face to face it would probably take less than five seconds before either Wilco or Teenage Fanclub were mentioned – so much for trying to be hip).Recordings for the as yet unnamed debut album began in earnest during the winter of 2020-21 after a small lineup change, and the stunning debut double A-side single “The Flu/Someday” is available NOW at the usual streaming sites (yada yada…).

Line-up
Måns Katsler: drums; harmony vocals
Conny Fridh: electric bass guitar; harmony vocals
Linus Lindvall: electric 6-string and baritone guitar; harmony vocals
Johan Hellsten: electric 6 and 12-string guitar
Tobias Borelius: lead vocals

Stream/Download
Bandcamp: https://andthebroken.bandcamp.com/album/blue-ep
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/00wFanKm4VIF0oooOHXVcL
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/andthebroken/sets/blue-ep

Facebook: www.facebook.com/andthebroken
Instagram: instagram.com/and_the_broken

Although the duo has officially disbanded, Texas synth pop stalwarts IRIS will reissue their 2005 masterpiece „Wrath“ as a lavish 2CD artbook edition and also on vinyl at a later date due to production shortages.  „Wrath“ has been diligently remastered by Andrew Sega and contains bonus tracks and materials. The artbook will be released on April 29, 2022. 

Please publish this pre-sale link with any news item, if applicable: 
https://spkr.lnk.to/iris-wrath

Artbook CD 1
1. Lands of Fire
2. It Generates
3. Imposter
4. Appetite
5. Guide on Raging Stars
6. 68
7. No One Left to Lose
8. Hell’s Coming with Me
9. Intercede Light
10. Delivered One 

Artbook CD 2
1. It Generates (Darker Days Remix)
2. No One Left to Lose (Conetik Remix)
3. Q-Swirl
4. The Harder We Fight It 
5. Appetite (Intuition’s Genosis Mix)
6. Lands of Fire (Mesh Pyromix)
7. Imposter (ThouShaltNot Remix)
8. Delivered One (Kearley Edit)
9. 68 (Alpinestars Mix)
10. Lands of Fire (Leap of

IRIS are dead, long live IRIS! Although Andrew Sega and Reagan Jones have officially announced to part amicably at the end of last year, their many adherents do not need to fall into despair.

With the band’s expressed consent, Dependent will reissue the long out-of-print third album „Wrath“ in two special editions. This pinnacle out of IRIS‚ impressive catalogue will be released with a new mastering by Andrew Sega for the first time as a limited 12″ vinyl with improved, high-resolution cover artwork. „Wrath“ will also re-appear in the shape of a must-have limited edition double CD artbook, containing the remastered album, an exclusive 10-track bonus CD, live photos and liner notes by J. Ned Kirby (STROMKERN) and Dependent founder Stefan Herwig.

J. Ned Kirby, who has supported IRIS live on tour several times, sheds an inside view on the reasons for the reissue of „Wrath“: „Each individual album by Iris represents a post-grad course in songwriting and production,“ the American writes. „Yet with its ten incomparable arrangements for ten perfect songs, ‚Wrath‘ achieves the level of a masterclass. From the explosive opening through ‚Land of Fire‘ to the hopeful coda of ‚Delivered One‘, this is what a band firing from all guns sounds like. On ‚Wrath‘, no element is out of place, no chord is too ordinary, and no song is too long even a second. Or in short: this album is fantastic!“

On „Wrath“, IRIS fused their concise sound design with increasingly prominent guitars for the first time in order to create outstanding songs. This, combined with Reagan Jones‘ distinctive vocals, resulted in a shoegaze-effect that set IRIS a world apart from the grey mass of random synthpop acts. With the lavish re-release of „Wrath“, Dependent pay tribute to an excellent album that has lost nothing of its original fascination even after 15 years.

Release date: April 29, 2022

Line-up:
Reagan Jones – vocals
Andrew Sega – keyboards, synth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iris.radiant

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/dependent.official/

Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi9GfJrs8m1q-zZNRDUM0itrcwtMjRMT5

Available format
„Wrath“ will be available as a 2CD 48-page hardcover artbook edition including bonus tracks, lyrics, live images- and liner notes. The album will also be made available on black and on coloured vinyl at a later date due to production shortages.

Pre-sale link: https://spkr.lnk.to/iris-wrath

BLACK DOLDRUMS
(FUZZ CLUB RECORDS)

NEW SINGLE ‘NOW YOU KNOW THIS’ OUT NOW: STREAM HERE

DEBUT ALBUM ‘DEAD AWAKE’ OUT MARCH 11

London-based group Black Doldrums are today sharing ‘Now You Know This’, the third single to be lifted from their forthcoming ‘Dead Awake’ album. Produced by Jared Artaud (The Vacant Lots, Alan Vega), the ‘Dead Awake’ LP is due out March 11 2022 via Fuzz Club Records and arrives following two sold-out EPs (most recently 2019’s ‘She Divine’) and tour dates around the UK, EU and US. Arriving following recent singles ‘Sad Paradise’ and ‘Into Blue’, you can stream ‘Now You Know This’ here: https://blackdoldrums.lnk.to/NYKT

On the new single, Kevin says: “Some inspiration for this came after watching a Daniel Johnston documentary, notably the song ‘I Live My Broken Dreams. It always struck me as a perfect folk tune and I loved the delivery. It reminded me of an acoustic song I had written a few years ago called ‘Now You Know This’ which had a similar hook so I decided to play it with the band and it developed into a full song. The verses are intentionally put together to feel like a news-reel broadcast.” ‘Let me tell you now, the state of all things’, Kevin sings before describing selfish and greedy elites, fatal rioting on the streets that is met with media silence and underfunded public services leaving the sick and the poor ‘on their own to survive‘.

Originally a duo founded by Sophie Landers (drums) and Kevin Gibbard (guitar/vocals) but now recently fleshed out to a trio with Matt Holt joining on bass, Black Doldrums deal in a dark, shoegazing psych that melds gothic post-punk with a leather-clad rock’n’roll spirit. Having cultivated a die-hard following in the UK psych underground, Kevin and Sophie set to work on their long-awaited debut album in 2020. Their original plans were to travel to New York to record the album with Jared Artaud of fellow label-mates The Vacant Lots however the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns and travel restrictions inevitably put a stop to that. Instead, they recorded the album in London with Artaud producing and mixing the album remotely from Brooklyn.

“It made for an interesting collaboration as the distance could have been an obstacle”, Sophie recalls, “but it actually helped creativity as we were more inclined to stay in touch and have really decent phone calls at length discussing the songs in a lot of detail. We really enjoyed those conversations with Jared about music and all of our influences. I think you can hear on the record that it is a full collaboration.” The more collaborative effort of ‘Dead Awake’ finds Black Doldrums switching gears and adopting a cleaner, more precise creative approach than that of their earlier material.

“The idea was to be absolutely brutal with our songs and cut them down to what we only felt was necessary”, Sophie remembers: “Up until this point we had been experimenting and were happy with what we had created but we no longer felt the need to hide behind too much reverb and an excessive amount of guitars. It still sounds like us but it has all the elements needed to stand the test of time.” The result is an album that feels colder and more stripped back – the effects are still there but stripped down to their fundamentals so that the songs themselves take precedence over any wall-of-sound deliria.

FULL ALBUM PREVIEW AVAILABLE UNDER REQUEST

SINGLE SMARTLINK: https://blackdoldrums.lnk.to/NYKT

ALBUM SMARTLINK: https://blackdoldrums.lnk.to/deadawake

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackDoldrums

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackDoldrums

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/blackdoldrums/

bandcamp: https://blackdoldrums.bandcamp.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3yAYb9TSBzWkEIVKN0Wybb