Goth/Industrial/Post Punk already making 2024 Sizzle.

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I have been awful about writing to you all about the latest and greatest darkscene releases this year. It’s time for me to start making up that up. My goal this year is to dive a little deeper into feature pieces on bands and releases. Doing quick hit articles with multiple bands tagged is still valuable for getting the word out and combining fan bases. So if you love dark music and this scene, read about the bands you already know. More importantly give a chance to some you don’t recognize and please share these reviews. It costs nothing and help folks find new music to love. I appreciate everyone who supports us. Go see live music in underground venues. These bands are The Cure/Joy Division/Depeche Mode/Sister Of Mercy of tomorrow. You can see them now for under 20 dollars.

Tears for ʇhe Dying – Dead Girl Dancing (single) – Nothing feels better than watching something I already love, re-invent itself into something new and glorious. Tears For The Dying has become my favorite in a new wave of death rock. Adria and Mick have an exposed truth you cannot put a mask on. It shines with feral chaotic beauty burning outside modern popular refinement. Dead Girl Dancing is a delicate and subtle shine blasting through the cracks of traumatic armor. I love hearing a playful tone in Adria’s singing and phrase. Mick also shows wide range with this wrist flick fencers beat. This song reminds me that sometimes the most goth thing of all isn’t to wallow in despair. Instead to celebrate the beauty of the macabre. A dream which for some might be a nightmare, yet to those who want to look beyond convention, a midnight dance with the animated dead. Sometimes I fear Tears For the Dying is too honest and strange to ever feel the embrace of mainstream audiences. I hope they do find the attention of our darkscene. Other artists in the know, know Tears For the Dying.

See me, hear me, take my hand
Let’s go for a walk in the boneyard
See me, hear me, take my hand
Let’s dance in the fog

Dead Girl Dancing (single) | Tears for ʇhe Dying (bandcamp.com)

Bootblacks – When You Want – Speaking of rebirth, the Brooklyn post punk band Bootblacks who I have heaped praise on many times have done some introspection, a lineup change, and a total sonic reboot. When it is a band you already love, it is natural to worry, if I already loved where they were heading, will I still after a 180? It’s a beautiful twist of fate when the new direction makes you fall in love over again. There is a lot of excitement right now around the “Dark Italian Disco Sound”. It seems to be the next hot thing. “When You Want” is a flame laced single that embraces modern American Dark Disco. Something brash and confident that leaves pretention at the door. I’ve never heard Panther embrace such elegance and clarity. Those raw fuzzy energy waves from “Thin Skies” have become sharp lines and complex movement. Whatever that special “it” factor that Panther and Barrett had, they managed to bring it with them. Riding the cusp of the next natural progression.

When You Want | Bootblacks (bandcamp.com)

Isaac Howlett – House of Cards – By track three of this review a pattern is emerging. Another phoenix rises with a new sound and pallet. Isaac Howlett of the atmospheric darksynth band Empathy Test releases his first solo venture. Without a live drummer this single stays light on it’s toes. It sparkles and spins on a fantastical dancefloor. Isaac’s always beautiful voice glows warmer and wider. I feel a real “Power, Corruption, and Lies” tone in the music. I think Isaac’s vocal talent elevates the original concept in many ways. Excited to see where this new feel takes us next.

House of Cards | Isaac Howlett (bandcamp.com)

The Joy Thieves – The Heart of the Worm – Since Dan Milligan started The Joy Thieves it has been growing in membership to include over 50 members. Bringing new talents and skills to add to the color palette. Now it ranges all the way from living legends to…me. As in previous releases TJT tend to build around a vocalist in each album. The Heart Of The Worm goes back to one of the first Joy Thieves and Dan’s oldest friends Mathew Clark (Mary’s Window). Tragically Mathew had a stroke that left him with a long road to physical recovery. “Spilt Milk” embodies Matt’s trademark snarl and purr style with a crunchy new metal riff. The drums are dialed in so tightly you really feel the walls closing in. Then the chorus blows the roof off the building to scream to the heavens. It’s something special to play together so long, in so many projects it gives a song the hive mind feel. When timing becomes so precise you wonder if they used some kind of telepathic link. Track 2: Relentless features Chicago Industrial standout Mike Reidy on vocals is a frothing beast bends each phrase to match the pitch shift riff. I love when industrial leans into a groove.

The Angels Have All Gone Insane | The Human Element (bandcamp.com)

The Heart of the Worm | The Joy Thieves (bandcamp.com)

ACTORS – In Real Life – It’s impossible to mention the resurgence of post punk next wave music without discussing Vancouver based band Actors. The first single of 2024 throws every color at the wall with precision and efficiency. This track is beauty celebrated, an emotional sculpture drawing your ear towards a captured moment.

Also the Actors are going back out on the road. I’m going to see them on Sat 4/27 at Fixation Festival in Detroit. I need to make it clear, in 2036 there will be two kinds of people in this scene. Those talking about how they saw Actors for less than $20 back in the day, and those complaining about the price of tickets they are still going to buy. It’s not too late to be the former.

In Real Life | ACTORS (bandcamp.com)

Intrusive Pinky – I Hate You, Patriarch Fuck! – Modular duo of Jackie and Diana, a bit of Melloncampiness there, which came to my attention being the first signing of Jean-Marc Lederman’s new label Les disques de la pantoufle. If I was to pick 5 names I considered experts of knowing something has quality in the modern artistic scene, Jean-Marc would be on that list. So lets turn up the studio speakers and get some first impressions from the debut EP of Californias Intrusive Pinky.

Past Midnight – I like to think the first track of the first EP from a band is meant to send you a message. Right away the message was clear. Ken, you are not the demographic the song was aimed at. Still, you know badass when you hear it. This beat goes against the grain, still finding a pulse your heart is drawn to follow. Spoken throwing star cadence throwing sharp words at random intervals from the palm. Finding some equilibrium between hook and chaos that gives this slow electric club stomper a jazzy soul. You have my attention.

We’re The Meow Meow Generation – Give me that glitchy flapper energy like trip hop on a runaway train. Lately I’ve seen a modern trend of new video games to use advanced graphic versions of pixel art to bring the focus back to the story. This track feels like the music version of that ideal. It’s bright, bold, feather boas at a 90s Detroit warehouse rave.

I’m already invested hook like and sinker and need to have these folks on for an interview soon.

I Hate You, Patriarch Fuck! | Intrusive Pinky (bandcamp.com)

LEATHERS – Crash – Brand new single from the shimmering jewel reverse personality of Actors. Also on Artoffact but with a focus on the arm hair chills stunning voice of Shannon Hemmett. A slippery synthpop symphony in slow wide arcs. I love when a songs lyrics take you on a mystery. Hints at a story that feels familiar but lingers just out of your reach. I’ll admit to playing and reading the lyrics 5 times to reflect, and I am not done yet.

Crash | LEATHERS (bandcamp.com)

BRIDES – Doom Profits – From the moment Adrian started this lofi Norwegian dark rock project it has stirred in me a desire to proclaim the soul of traditional goth has returned. He even calls it “Norwegian rock band Brides”, refusing to acknowledge the word goth. Just like Doom Profits who came before him. Wielding these slithering guitar riffs like a Bo-whip demonstration above a thunderous bass hook. Leaning into his own voice with rough textures on higher range to create his own tale of woe.

Nothing Left For Love – A slow driving croon with fog curling over the lip of a chasm. Lyrics that are utterly beyond hope and have given over to the void. This song takes a simple vamping riff and dials it into that exact median dot so many have searched for. Listening to this is like playing chicken with true darkness. You keep expecting a moment where the author diverts and shows it was all pageantry. He never blinks. Never

“And these dreams that spill out of my head
Drip from my tongue and crawl up my throat
Until I vomit them out on the page
Or in a song”

Heartquake – A scorcher foot to the floor right off the line. This song is a black muscle car with flames and exposed chrome. Siren emulating synthesizers trail behind dangerous slides over broken city concrete. Hard dirty motion that doesn’t slow down as it goes around the curves.

“A shakey kiss
From trembling lips
Earthbeat
Heartquake
Skin crawls
Fingers quiver
Tongues slip
Tendrils slither
Tracing scars
Unwrap the heart
Muted howls
Nervous touch”

Doom Profits | BRIDES (bandcamp.com)

Apology Kink Video Premier !!

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Let Me Be Your Heartthrob | Apology Kink (bandcamp.com)

Lyrics by Augustus Watkins
Music by Garrett Neal
Vocal Engineering by Carlos Bueno
Mixed & Mastered by Garrett Neal

Photo by Tom’s 1 Hour Photo, Los Angeles

We are extremely excited to premier the newest video from electro sass artist Apology Kink. This project is the collaboration of Augustus Watkins and Garrett Neal. The song and video transport me back to a pure desire to be adored. Dancing free from insecurity to Yaz “Upstairs at Erics” with an innocent abandon. Leaning hard into the pop aspects of synthpop with a self-aware snark that boroughs into the ear to let the lyrics shine. Available on GIVE/TAKE Records where Augustus is part owner this single marks another high energy synth explosion.

Apology Kink exudes sultry, cheeky charm. The LA-based project turns out captivating dark synthpop where goth allure flirts with anthemic dance floor-ready production, as pop charm looks on in seductive approval. Dripping with vintage synth production and adorned with modern hooks, Apology Kink is the brainchild of musician Augustus Watkins, building on his pedigree as a singer-songwriter (Bijou Noir), producer (Tulip Tiger), and darkscene emissary (DEATHDANCE) while folding in shadowy theatricality and iconoclastic queerness.

In February 2024, Apology Kink debuted with a rendition of “West End Girls,” which Sounds and Shadows called a “glitchy synth sass take on the iconic Pet Shop Boys hit.” For his two first original songs, “Cult of Your Touch” and “Let Me Be Your Heartthrob,” Watkins has teamed up with frequent collaborator Garrett Neal (Usonia, Holidae, Netflix, HBO).

Review: Twin Tribes “Pendulum”

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I have had the opportunity to review the first few singles from the 3rd album of next wave goths fastest rising stars Twin Tribes. Now it is time to dive deep and discuss the deeper concept of the latest record Pendulum. Joel and Luis have always held a special place with Sounds and Shadows. The first album I reviewed was the 2018 debut “Shadows“. Thus the name Sounds and Shadows. I have been lucky to see them preform live in multiple cities and each time is an intimate emotional journey. I see people posting all the time lately about the exorbitant ticket prices for legacy bands like Depeche Mode or Sisters of Mercy. Twin Tribes are out on tour now in their prime playing the type of shows people will talk about 20 years from now. You can be a part of this sparkling moment in darkscene music before you have to pay big venue prices.

“Pendulum” – The rise of Joel and Luis as the face of the next wave of goth has been a burning meteor that has generated excitement for crypt keepers and baby bats alike. Their talent, romantism, inclusiveness, and dedication to dark themes struck a resonance in this community that has bridged generational gaps. A pendulum is a device created by physicist Léon Foucault designed to always return to balance. Like most great bands I have known through my life, Twin Tribes have embraced their return to balance with a transcendent third record. That perfect moment between the raw passion of youth, and the clarity of experience. This is one of those records people will talk about ten, twenty years later. Those discussions with friends that brings us together. I am going to dive deep on this one. Say more than I should. This album is a perfect still frame in time, which needs to be remembered.

Pendulum | Twin Tribes (bandcamp.com)

Twin Tribes – Ann Arbor Michigan 2023

Produced by: Twin Tribes and Charlie Vela

Recorded and mixed by: Charlie Vela at Casa Panchita Studios in Weslaco, TX

Mastered by: Doruk Ozturkcan

Artwork, layout & design: Keeley Laures

Track 1 – Absolute – A pendulum starts by swinging to the absolute before returning to balance. Our journey starts the same way. A crackling synth instrumental to establish the myth of this tale. Cascading crystal waterfall to send you falling towards the rocks.

Track 2 – Another Life – I love this fast paced silky Cure Pornography delayed bouncing riff. The vocals set a furious different tone with sharp slashing delivery. A separation with a promise to find each other again in another life. The pendulum swings back towards hope.

Track 3 – Sanctuary – A place of refuge or safety. This is fitting as a return to what I would call “classic” Twin Tribes sound. Darting bassline, with resonant reverb guitar. Great transition here from verse to chorus that really opens the sky to show Luis’s range. “The prophet is dead His master has called The fall, the fall upon us all” we swing faster towards a hopeless outcome before our return to balance.

Track 4 – Monolith – A single great stone often in the form of an obelisk or column. This song has a beautiful alien resonance. Some forgotten advanced technology so foreign it is more like magic. The vocals stand forward in the mix to offset this pinball manic bounce of the bass. This track is an unmistakable modern classic.

Track 5 – Temperance – The idea of restraint when a powerful truth is discovered. The inclination to plumet headlong into something dangerous can be so strong. This chorus build has a double bass drum trill hat feels like a charging horse trying to break free. “If the truth is waiting for us Can’t you see The end is the beginning A conspiracy”

Track 6 – Paradox – To hold two contradictory truths in one thought. This brief but sparkling instrumental track is the transition point of the story. A question with no answer.

Photo by Jen Jeffery

Track 7 – Cauldron Of Thorns – I hate to play favorites on a record as beloved as this. I can’t help hearing that perfect gateway from the dark romantic poetry of The Cure “Pornography” and modern darkwave synthesis. The mix on this song is a true masterpiece. Sitting in a place of balance measured in micro sonic connection. Although it sits at track 7, this is when the pendulum passes a moment of perfect zero.

Track 8 – Sangre de Oro – I’ve talked with Joel and Luis about the importance of including a song in Spanish on each album. The Latin goth scene boasts some of the most devoted fans and talented bands. Which sadly is often overlooked in American and European markets. Sangre De Oro or Blood Of Gold is that track on Pendulum. The tempo races forward again and features a captivating acoustic twang to contrast the layered delay guitar riff. Beautiful and delivered with a different level of vocal passion. Just like Fantasmas from the 2019 album Ceremony I hear a connection and soul here to make a third single to capture the imagination.

Track 9 – Eternal – To be everlasting, to transcend time itself. This track certainly glows with life. The tempo bounces back up and the guitar line has a jazzy swing. The call and answer of the chorus vocals gives a duality to the spiritual; conclusion of our adventure. This might be the track with the most mass appeal. It’s gorgeous and full of hope.

Track 10 – Meadow – The farewell song of this emotional opus. A sultry reflection that harkens back to the path Twin Tribes has walked. One thousand translucent fairy wings dancing in a twilight forest. This song is a fantasy and a promise of more dreams to explore.

Twin Tribes are defining the next generation of darkscene music. A quality and depth of soul that has captured the imagination of the past and present. I fell in love with “Shadows“, I became a believer with “Ceremony“, but “Pendulum” is the best record to date. Give it a spin and become a believer with me.

Black Nail Cabaret LIVE

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Concert Review

Event: FIXED ON BLACK 2023

Artist: Black Nail Cabaret (Featured)

Date: December 16 2023

Venue: Bunker Strasse E

City: Dresden Germany

Supporting: Fïx8:Sëd8, NER\OGRIS, Mildreda, Amorphous

One day while working the graveyard shift I saw a video cover of “Papillion” by Editors, by this obscure band, that had NO real information about them on YouTube, only this and a cover of “Sophisticated Song” by Hugh Laurie, and a BDSM video version of “Hit Me Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears (Has since been removed from youtube). All of this was in 2010. The band was “Black Nail Cabaret” a dark performance act from Budapest Hungary. I only found this out by sending an email to them over YouTube asking “Who are you guys?”. I was pretty much sold on their sound and harassed them for months to give me more material. I got the songs “Veronica”, “Tell Me It’s Not Over” and “Umbrella” by Rhianna, and a few others.

I interviewed them for a magazine that tanked a month later so it never went anywhere. BUT, I am the guy who the band has noted in their history as their “First American Fan”. Since then I have been a die-hard fan of Emke and crew, and have scored hard copies of all the work. The first album was mailed to me, signed and I saw my name in the liner notes “Special Thanks to” … Ahhhh…

I got to meet Emke in London in 2016 and got pictures, another signed CD, and a t-shirt that we ended up using in several scenes for a film I was in. We used one of their songs in the film too, and the shirt made a few appearances because the director of the film is also a hardcore fan. I can say that my history with Black Nail Cabaret is pretty deep, I even had Emke as one of the first guests on my podcast. So it was no surprise to find that Ken and the family of Sounds & Shadows are also fans, they have that effect on you. They are one of my favorite bands, and were on my “Top Ten Bands to See Before I Die” list for a long time.

I was living just outside of Frankfurt Germany when I was informed that in December they would be playing in Dresden, a city I once called home. So I got a hotel, and a bullet train ticket, and spent a day traveling to Dresden, yes even on a train going 161 KM/H you will be on for 6 and a half hours to get to Dresden.

I checked in at my hotel and took the street train to a part of the city rarely went to when I was a resident there. It was an old Tank factory I believe, in the “Industrial” part of the city. Lots of red brick, and old run-down buildings, the perfect place for a gig like this.

I got into the venue, walking into a “Festival” setting it was dark, with a hell of a great stage, and great lighting, and I was among several hundred German, Polish, Dutch, Hungarian, and Czech old-school punks. One side of the hall had a long merch table with each band selling their wares, and I saw Kris from BNC I said hello, as he and I have been on video calls but never met til now. I bought the last available T-shirt “Orchid” and some other wares. That shirt has since become the subject of some controversy (when you see “Orchid” you will get why) and had trouble getting it back from other fans. Chris took me downstairs to see Emke. We talked for a while, drank tea, and recorded this little video saying “Hi” to all of you. (if anything, just to make Ken insanely jealous, cause I KNOW he is while reading this). She told me this main hall was where they had opened for Camouflage several years ago. The main hall was holding all of the gear, and they were playing on the smaller end of the venue.

The opening act NER\OGRIS a band, that set the mood from the imagery of “German dark synth” that you always imagined the sound to be like. I was impressed with them, being absolutely stoic on stage, and very intense, and the venue was already packed with people dancing.

Amorphous

A very beats heavy solo musician, who would kick off the synth and play live drum pads, then sing. He was very intense and very animated. Just pulled up his YouTube performance of the gig, it was very impressive, and I have enjoyed some of his work since.

Mildreda is a Dutch industrial noise act, that was a fantastic digital synth pounding of the senses, with great visuals. I had only heard “Prophecies” before the gig and it was cool, but I had no idea they were going to be this good live. I had no idea they were even on the bill this evening, so that was a pleasant surprise. One of those acts that if you ever get to a festival in Europe, are worth the ticket, otherwise, just dive into the catalog and dance. Something I like in the recent turn of industrial music, it’s not pretentious, or whiney like NIN had inspired people to be for so long, this is the real deal, and it’s really fun to listen to.

BLACK NAIL CABARET

Well, the moment I had been dreaming of for 13 years finally happened. Kris took the stage, then Emke took the stage dressed rather elegantly, she has a very demanding stage presence. She is very stoic in her videos, but on stage, she has a very charismatic performance that you can see almost instantly. They opened with “Black Lava” from “Gods” and I was instantly assured that the whole effort across Germany was worth it.

They followed with “My Casual God” from the same album, then “Dichromat”, opening up with a powerful intensity and positive energy, that carried the set for a while, then the Pseudopop track “La Petit Mort”. Black Nail Cabaret was really standing out as a Darkwave Synth punk act, over the heavy Industrial that had preceded them. A shift in the feeling and overall experience, the dark negative intensity of the other bands, and the somewhat gory visuals suddenly show a Da Vinci-esque beauty in the gorgeous feminine power performance of Emese Árvai-Illés (Emke). I just wished that she had a full band this time.

“Spheres” from Gods was well received by the audience, as the venue became very calm, though everyone was still dancing, it was less intense, as most of the punters were fixed on Emke’s singing. “Malestorm” was keeping the count up from Gods for the setlist.

Somewhere in the set, Emke stepped on a piece of gear that killed her ability to hear the monitors in her ear, so she had to stop the performance and restart, playing off the stage monitors, she still managed to kill it for the rest of the set. They played “Autogenic” from the new album “Chrysanthemum”, this song had been released only a week prior, I had listened to it several times, and was thrilled to hear it live in this set.

They played what was likely a crowd favorite “No Gold”, the video was very simple, just Emke sitting there getting her head shaved. She and I had joked about that song, how she found out that it was on Pornhub in a fetish section. I mean, there is a fetish for watching women getting their heads shaved, because she said that video got a ton of hits over the years.

For the crowning crowd participation song, Black Nail Cabaret played ” Bête Noire” which I noticed most of the punters knew, by the time she got to the chorus multiple voices were singing along “I think I want to kill you, but I believe in peace… BITCH”. It was fun to be in a venue hearing this song live, especially with all of us singing along with Emke. I felt like we were closing down the set, and honestly, I could have gone on for hours, though I knew I wasn’t going to hear “Hero” or “Diamond Dogs”, “Magia”, or “Orchid” or even “Butterflies”.

I was expecting one of the classics, and they closed the set with the well-known “Veronica”, possibly where it all began. It was a wonderful way to finish off the set with one that we all knew, and one that held some weight through the history of the band.

The Black Nail Cabaret set was perfect as it came to a close, I only wish they were able to play for another couple of hours, but even though this was such a rare opportunity, I cherished every moment.

Fïx8:Sëd8

Fïx8:Sëd8 was a band I had never heard of till that night, and they were intense and dark.

It was one guy, dressed in a sort of horror film outfit like a mortician’s plastic apron, rolled onto the stage in a wheelchair, and he sang, while the other guy was at the instruments panel. There were mannequin stands decked out with disfigured faces, masks, and plenty of gore in the visuals on the screen behind them. I didn’t know any of their music, but they are one of the hardest darkest “Death Industrial” acts I have ever heard.

Halfway through the set Emke returned to the stage to perform vocals on their song “tREMORs”. Which took the performance back out of the depths of dark and violent themes. It was very very well done, showing that Emke can play in various settings and adapt well to the other artist’s work.

Fïx8:Sëd8 played the longest set of the night, and it all tied up well after midnight.

As the performances were over, all the bands were selling their merch, almost everything was looted from the tables, and all the bands greeted their fans. I had a great time talking to the other bands, the singer for NER\OGRIS and I talked for a while about iconic bands, how he never got Joy Division, and why I never got Nine Inch Nails.

The evening was a success, and should anyone have the opportunity to see a gig at “The Bunker” in Dresden, you will love the acoustics. Any of these other bands will be great to see, but I am happy to say that I was finally able to see one of my top ten bands live.

Since that evening, Black Nail Cabaret has released the album “CHRYSANTHEMUM” and I scored a signed copy on vinyl. If you are new to BNC, you probably want to just dive into the entire catalog, it will be a wonderful rabbit hole to fall into. Like most of you, I hope they come to the States, as they would deliver an incredible performance, maybe even as great as this one.

https://blacknailcabaret.com

https://fix8sed8-de.bandcamp.com

https://nerogris.bandcamp.com

https://mildreda.bandcamp.com

Mark E Moon – RESIST

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On the Isle of Man there exists a group of individuals who when they come together is known under the moniker Mark E Moon.

These individuals are responseable for one of my favourite and most played releases of the modern age of post-punk/darkwave, that being their phenomenal 2021 album Old Blood.

Since then, the gang has drip-fed us new material in the form of singles and the Lux Vindictae EP (2022)

I recieved an early pre-release copy of the new album and while I would have liked to get this written and published alongside the March 3rd release, life got in the way. Better late than never I tell myself.

Resist comes enveloped in fantastic artwork by a young painter acquanted with the band, it brings to mind a certain sci-fi atmosphere, like a shot from a walk in the future, perhaps through a desert at dawn.

Opening track and lead-single Daemons does exactly what an opening track should do, it immediatly drags you in with a pulsating bass, synth arpeggios before a bombastic chorus with near choral backing vocals.

Beneath the grandiose music however lurks a lamentation of giving in and crumbling under the weight of your past, present and future sins, real or imagined.

While I`d rather avoid the comparison of one album to another it is on some level inevitable, where Old Blood grappled with corruption and bigotry,Resisthas a more introsepctive lyrical quality all around with the narrator of each song displaying their flaws and failures and putting it all to soaring synths and all the atmosphere youd need.

The musical drama perfectly compliments the lyrical.

Blind has our narrator thrown into the all too relatable scenario of heartache, love-gone-hellwards and the racing thought it always brings as you lay in bed staring a hole in the ceiling.

Resist`s use of dual vocals offer a wonderful contrast to the songs and creates an interesting lyrical dynamic you`d otherwise not have as much of if it was all one voice singing each line. Vertigo however, does not suffer whatsoever from its use of a singular siren.

Dark Love saw the light of day back in 2022 when released as a single that at the time Im sure was taken as a stand-alone piece by listeners, and perhaps it was seen as such by the band as well, whos to say?

Its addition on the albums tracklist however is a great choice and a perfect conceptual and thematic fit alongside the rest of the tracks.

It`s simply put, a song tailor-made for your local BDSM club. Make sure your favourite DJ adds it to their playlist next time you find yourselves crawling on your knees.

Closure is exaclty as its opening line states in that it is the Beat of the broken heart, hopeless romantics, please stand for the national anthem. Emphasis on hopeless, of course.

Now, if you were in need of an alternative to the hopeless romantic anthem where the emphasis is not ,for once, on hopeless. Crystal is here and she will surely take great care of you in the back of a limousine of course.

Heart Keeps Bleeding is a musical noir of hollow yet desperate romance, it`s the moment of walking in a lovless desert, depraved enough of any semblance of compassion that you kiss arsenic lips just to feel something.

The Signal And The Noise is that deep-cut song towards the end of any album that you may not always hear but when you do it quickly becomes a favourite.

Daylight is for the vampires, this may not be a compliment so still your blackened hearts children.

It is however full of ambiance and a wonderful closing track, if we were to see the addition of a demo version of `See Me` as just that, an addendum rather than the finale proper.

Mark E Moon does not dissapoint. But they do not merely repeat past successes either, they play around, they explore and they reap a bountiful harvest.

Buy the damn album.

https://markemoon1.bandcamp.com