Browsing Tag

gothic

Ditch the Demon is out for blood in their sonic screening of garage goth glamour, Fright Night

Posted on 16 August 2024

Fans of Zombina and the Skeletones, Lesbian Bed Death and the Creepshow won’t want to miss the installation of horror and garage goth glamour, Fright Night, prised from the crypt of Ditch the Demon’s LP, Ain’t Dead Yet.

With the percussive pulse of punk and the phantasmic reanimations of new wave indie conjured by the guitars filtered through a psychedelic prog rock lens and the livewire energy rippling through the production as a courtesy of Amanda Brooks-Byron’s histrionically haunted vocals, Fright Night hits with an exhilarating horror punk intensity.

After forming in 2018, the Hastings-hailing powerhouse has made chilling waves with their scintillatingly dark sonic signature; the launch of their debut album in 2023 marked the zenith of the band’s career so far but with their infamous live shows, Ditch the Demon isn’t a band to underestimate.

Stream the official music video for Fright Night on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I See Your Face: Forgotten Garden knows that it’s too late to change it now on Memoriam

Posted on 10 September 2022

Ascending with exquisite vocals that shall get you into a contemplative mood as you think about those who are gone, Forgotten Garden has just dropped an essential release that might induce a few tears on Memoriam.

Forgotten Garden is a Scotland-based indie rock band who occasionally stretches their legs and walks into an infused dark/gothic post-punk world of wonder.

Occasionally, in life, you hear a song and stand still. Your mind is wide awake with so many memories that come flooding back like a midnight storm in winter. Without a shadow of doubt, Forgotten Garden is the skilled architects of this rare moment on their latest offering called Memoriam.

Memoriam from Scotland-based indie rock band Forgotten Garden is one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs you’re likely to hear in your life. With a pure production and a sensational soundtrack that shall find you closing your tired eyes and reminiscing about all those moments you wish you could feel again, this is something rather special.

Living in the moment has never been more important than it is now.

Listen up on Spotify and see more on their IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Detroit’s The Blueflowers return with a fine single to hold on tightly with ‘Can’t Sit Out’

Posted on 24 July 2022
Time Didn't Matter by The Blueflowers

With a groovy entry that is rather smooth and gloriously made in a crisp matter you can’t possibly ignore, The Blueflowers have released a new single to dance with all night on ‘Can’t Sit Out‘.

The Blueflowers are a Detroit, Michigan-based indie alternative gothic rock 6-piece band who form a fantastically charming blend of folk-noir and Western gypsy punk to pulsate our senses.

”Blossomed out of a songwriting collaboration between singer/lyricist Kate Hinote and guitarist/producer Tony Hamera. Both made an initial impression on the Detroit music scene in 2005 with the dream pop act, Ether Aura.” ~ The Blueflowers

Taken from their brand new 6-track album called ‘Time Didn’t Matter‘, The Blueflowers perform with a graceful edge that sends your mind into a whole new world that is filled with fascination and shall send you into a cheerful mood.

”One primary way in which the newest material has subtly altered its routes is the addition of newest member and songwriter, Bryan Talaski, on bass guitar. With longtime core members Jim Faulkner (drums), David Johnson (guitar), and Erin Williams (keys, backing vocals, lyricist) still on board, The Blueflowers push steadily ahead with an easiness that only years of collaboration and experiences can give you and with no fear or expectations of where the path is going because now they can just enjoy the ride.” ~ The Blueflowers

‘Can’t Sit Out‘ from Detroit-based indie alternative gothic rock 6-piece band The Blueflowers is a catchy effort that will soothe all your worries away in an instant, like those great songs do. Sung with a calm gusto and a mood-altering vibe that shall bless your day like a hug when you need it, this is a quality track that sends who consciousness into a better place.

Listen up to this new single on Bandcamp and see more news on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Jason Potter paved the way to a spiritual journey with his sophomore album, ‘The Marriage of Celestial Things’.

Posted on 14 May 2021
The Marriage of Celestial Things by Jason Potter

Experimentally spiritual London-based artist Jason Potter has followed on from his 2020 debut album with the release of ‘The Marriage of Celestial Things’. With Gregorian chants meeting gothic inclination, the dark sermonic soundscapes may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Yet, anyone with the proclivity to delve into an exploration of the duality between damnation and salvation will want to bear witness to the subversive eight-track album.

The opening single, Creation, acts as a guide into the light within the arcane orchestral album; but it isn’t long before the haunting and evocatively striking tones pierce through the ambience in the neo-classic soundscape. With ominous spoken-word offerings, The Marriage of Celestial Things purposely disturbs as a method of awakening.

When fully immersed in the album, you can practically feel your tunnel vision widening as you’re drawn away from superficiality and forced to reconcile with the vastness of the universe and yourself.

While some artists fall out of the mainstream to make a point, perceptibly, Potter’s authenticity was something that he didn’t have to orchestrate.

The Marriage of Celestial Things is available to stream and download on Bandcamp from May 14th, 2021.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Shining Tongues have put a piously conceptual avant-garde spin on drone rock with ‘Belly of the Town’

Posted on 26 January 2021
The Prayer - EP by The Shining Tongues

The Shining Tongues added another facet to the realm of experimental rock with the release of their single ‘Belly of the Town’, just one of the singles found on their ethereally avant-garde 2021 EP ‘The Prayer’.

The standout single pays ode to the sanctity of non-romantic love, it perfectly captures the hollowing drudgery which connection can raise us from. With choral backing vocals coalescing with the despondence in the main narrative, The Belly of the Town is a conceptually ingenious release which proves that absolving celestial tones have a place in dark alt-rock too.

If Peter Murphy picked up indie rock sensibilities, his music would hold a fair amount of reminiscence to this darkly hypnotic lullaby.

You can hear the EP for yourselves from January 21st via bandcamp. Or, head over to the artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Post-punk Nottingham band Hurtsfall release dark and moody ‘’12 Long Years’’

Posted on 21 May 2020

“Batnip for Goths” is how the band describes themselves and I couldn’t have put it any better myself. ‘’12 Long Years’’ is the new release from ‘Hurtsfall’ and it’s a solid release from the 3 year old act.

A post-punk band, with gothic overtones and synth-pop influences, this is a band that is rising through the UK ranks and shows lots of potential for greater things. 

I’d like to witness the band live myself to get a better feel for them as the word on the street is that they put on quite a show. That’s the point really, recordings are great, music videos even better but where a band really earns their stripes is what happens live. 

‘Hurtsfall’ might not be everyone’s cup of tea but I doubt they care much. They have a loyal fan base and that is what matters. Look out for their progress and let’s hope to see them at a live show soon and many festivals in 2021.

Stream more of the UK band right here on any platform you wish.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

ZEU releases most recent track Death Song: Gothic Alternative Rock at it’s finest

Posted on 6 April 2020

Hailing from the United States, Alternative Rock Zeu have released ‘Death Song’. A true reminiscing essence of Gothic, it’s strange, dark and mysterious but that’s why you just have to love it.

Starting off with this insane instrumentation that gives it this distorted sound, really embracing them Gothic overtones, pulling inspiration away from bands such as The Cure. ZEU has many talents when it comes to creating music, the way in which they intertwine their specific sound and make every second stand out.

They apply their uniqueness to a variety of popular genres of music, but yet they embrace adding their sound, personality and of course a little bit of edginess.

ZEU has a lot to offer to the music world and I’m sure it’ll be very welcoming to them, with such an incredible sound and a whole load of darkness, you must check this out.

Check out ZEU Death Song by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Karley Myall

Machinic Demiurge’s Dark Release ‘Mechanically Separated Human’

Posted on 16 September 2017

If there is one thing which connects the various reference points that Machinic Demiurge it is a dark, agitated claustrophobic vibe that comes from its hushed menace and hypnotic backbeats. It employs fractious industrial splinters, gothic otherworldliness, strange skittering dance beats and enigmatic bass riffs to create a Bauhaus-esque, horror movie soundtrack for a new generation.

Oddly for all its sharp, jagged edges and sense of impending doom, Mechanically Separated Human is strangely elegant in its oddness, after all you don’t have to understand beauty to appreciate it and to a legion of Goths, anarcho-punks, darkwave dancers and other denizens of the night, this will be one of the most beautiful records they have heard recently. To others it will be strangely enticing and to yet others it will be confounding and challenging and no matter where you stand on the matter you won’t forget it in a hurry.