Who do you believe and what can you trust? Wars popping up around the world and now the revamped hostilities in the Gaza Strip…. you have to ask, when does the killing stop? Dystopiarch is the new project for Matthew McIntosh, whom you might know from A Cloud Of Ravens, and the debut single is “Like Hell.” The proceeds of the single will be donated to civilian victims of the Middle East conflict through International Rescue Committee. From the opening speeding rhythm, combined with the pulsating synths, are simply attention grabbing. McIntosh’s vocals are strained and at times breathy, compel ..read more

Hard to believe, but it has been five years since the release of Kill Shelter’s debut album Damage on the label Unknown Pleasures. So, December 1st will see the special limited edition of the reworked album, called Damage (V), where tracks that have the (V) have been re-recorded, whilst the others have been remastered by the man himself, Pete Burns at the Shelter Studio. Anyway, before we get to the album, the single “In Decay (V),” was dropped at the end of October, featuring Antipole and Delphine Coma. You may say, hey….. that was a single off the original Damage, and you are not wrong, howe ..read more

Drawing a spotlight onto music that might have gone under your radar is something we relish at Onyx. So, if you haven’t heard the EP Intimacy from France’s Distance H, then we are here to tell you that you might just be missing out. ManuH is a producer and man behind the darkwave/post-punk project and he invites different female vocalists to write the lyrics that they then perform for their track. Intimacy is the debut EP release for Distance H, that came out in January of 2023. There are two tracks featuring Blue Saigon’s delightful vocalist, Ophelia. The sassy single “Bitch 16” with it’s pe ..read more

You might say Witches Falls could be one of the most coolest names a place could be called and indeed it is a real locale, situated on Tamborine Mountain, in Australia. Gold Coast based Chiffon Magnifique, brain child of Jed A Walters, have sprung forth a darkwave single, also named “Witches Falls,” with an equally creepy video set in said area. Echoing and ringing post-punk guitar on this track is really beautiful, setting the swirling tone, that sweeps you along for the ride. Walter’s vocals, deep and longing, beseech you for understanding, for one that finds the modern world, at times, so ..read more

Scenius are a dark synthpop duo, hailing from Leeds in the UK. Composed of UK producer Steve Whitfield (The Cure, The Mission) and French singer Fabrice Nau, they released their album Life Is A Thing, back in May but we are going to touch upon the single off the album, “Chinese Room.” There is a simplicity to the track that makes it entrancing, almost dream like. The sound of electronics harken back to late 70s and early 80s acts like John Foxx, Gary Numan and German pioneers, Kaftwerk. Nau’s vocals are seductive and unhurried, with that French accent only enhancing the cool of track. Togeth ..read more

Peak Flow are a darkwave duo from York in the UK, and their debut single “Running To You” was released in June, but who are we to hold back on a great track?! Not I. James and Jools have said they draw inspiration from post-punk icons such as Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure, and Jesus and Mary Chain. From the beginning keyboard notes, this track promises to become stuck in your head, especially when it comes to the chorus. The vocals are clean and light in comparison to the wonderfully heavy bass. The storyline is from the perspective of two people, where one is still in love and the other no ..read more

From the late 70s, into the early 80s, KISS were at the height of their musical success, and well known for, at the time, the outrageous makeup and stage outfits. October is Halloween month, and Michigan based Coley Kennedy (voice, keyboards, electronic drums, songwriter), has released the single “Just Like Kiss (Halloween’83),” which is about dressing up as your favourite original KISS character, to go trick or treating. He is joined by Pete Javier (guitars, bass guitar), Hattie Blue Kennedy, (vocals) and Jude Kennedy (vocals). The bass guitar is like the death nell of a church bell, while th ..read more

The latest single from Robots In Love is here, with a video included, for the track “Gossip In Your Head.” Ex-pat Aussie, Elenor Raynor, who is based in Ōtepoti (Dunedin), is the driving force behind the project, and the other current members are Alex Burchell on drums, guitarist Pierre Higbee and bassist Tony Lumsden. “This year, friends The Sound Key played me some of their music and I was particularly enthralled by a song called ‘Gossip in Your Head’, and so it was recorded in the Robots In Love studio with Pierre Higbee on guitars and Alex Burchell on drums. Alex then produced a remix whi ..read more

Ashes Fallen are a band that have been releasing music, in the goth rock/post-punk style since 2019, and September brings us the offering of a new album, Walk Through Fire, recorded at The Chapel 1898. Members are James Perry (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard, drums), Michelle Perry (keyboard, vocals, percussion) and Jason Shaw (guitar). If the name James Perry seems familiar, then you would be correct as he is also a member of industrial rock group Deathline International. Photo by Kevin Vonesper Your pointy buckle boots are going to be knocked off just from the opening track. “Damn Me” is stee ..read more

SEVREN NI-ARB (synthesizers, computers, programming, vocals) and ESTEFANÍA (vocals) are X MARKS THE PEDWALK, and the Munster electronic aficionados have dropped the first video “Fading Waves,” that heralds the coming of their latest album, Superstition, which is due out in November on the label Meshwork Music. Paramedics race to save the life of a young man, laying on the ground. The music’s rhythm heightens the ambulance crew’s attempt to restart his heart, as it fades away and flatlines. The casualty joins the multitudes that these courageous first responders cannot always save. There is so ..read more