Hot New Darkscene Releases

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It can be easy to always turn to familiar sounds in dark times. I remember being in a rut of pre 2018 always listening to the same bands from the 80s and 90s over and over. In 2018 I started opening my ears and heart to amazing new music coming out and it put my heart and soul back into this scene. Lately I have wondered if I have again hit a ceiling of coming back to the same newer bands over and over. So, I ask the Sounds and Shadows group to tell me about some of your favorites I haven’t written about. They didn’t disappoint, if this scene is to thrive, we need to stay hungry for experiencing new sounds and fresh faces. So today I will review some of the suggestions. I hope you jump into these suggestions with an open mind and find something you love.

Warm Gadget x Snowbeasts – Grooving Oklahoma City Industrial with a very Wax Trax 90’s energy. New 3 song EP that rolls like a tank tread over a littered battlefield. I really like the range here, track 2 Bodiless has a swirling trance effect over the blasting beat. The escalation at the 1:40 mark times for maximum effect. This is the music I want the Terminators to wipe out humanity to.

Stuck EP | Warm Gadget x Snowbeasts | Re:Mission Entertainment

In a Darkened Room – “VOIX” – Cj and Svia are both active in the group. I feel like I slept on these San Antonio, Texas tradgoth badasses for too long. They have quickly become one of my heaviest rotation bands. CJ has a resonant and powerful baritone that blends proto goth depth with 2000’s NYC alt. The lyrics are soulful and real. The guitar sound is so dialed in I had to look at the production notes to see none other than Jason Corbett (Actors/Jacknife Sound) did the mastering. Track 2 Sounds and Warning has a glorious vocal harmony that has been stuck in my head for days. This is a record you can really get lost in. Expect In A Darkened Room to be a band at the front of the next movement.

CJ Duron – Vocals/Guitars
Svia Svenlava – Bass Guitar
Kandi Keys – Synth/Piano

Voices in my head
Voices of the dead
I hear them softly call
In early morning

I hear them when I sleep
I hear them when they speak
Echoes from the dark
Sounds of Warning

I weep the endless pass of night
Watching the endless pass of time
Waiting alone I whisper out
And long to be alive

VOIX | In a Darkened Room

Ony Godfrey – I was a HUGE fan of the fresh new talent out of Indonesia Camlan. This is the first solo single release from their singer Ony Godfrey. Love the thumpy beat and way this breathes. Ony has a cool unique cadence and shows great range here as the build in intensity happens. I love the punk rock energy here not pulling any punches with the lyrics.

LET THEM EAT WAR
Power, throne, and glory
Those are the things you shall never have
Obedient, bloodshed, and death
Those are things you shall devout your life into
Submit to me, submit your soul to the emperor
Oh, I Am your God, your messiah,
Oh, I Am the only way to your salvation

I want to conquer those foreign lands,
civilize the uncivilized
If those savages ask for mercy
I’ll say let them eat war
Let them eat war

Traitors, rivals, and nemesis
All of them shall perish into ashes
Kiss my hand and do as what I say
And you will have a position in my empire
Submit to me, submit your soul to the emperor
Oh, I Am your God, your messiah,
Oh, I Am the only way to your salvation

I want to conquer those foreign lands,
Civilize the uncivilized
If those savages ask for mercy
I’ll say, let them eat war
Let them eat war

Say my name like your life depends on it, baby
Say my name like your life depends on it, baby
Say my name like your life depends on it, baby
Say my name like your life depends on it, baby

I want to conquer those foreign lands,
Civilize the uncivilized
If those savages ask for mercy
I’ll say let them eat war
Let them eat war

Let Them Eat War | Ony Godfrey

Backengrillen – Backengrillen – (Recommendation from Kevin Nhell) From Sweeden this amazing death jazz, yes you heard that right. It’s slow, weird chaos against fascism. The Bari Sax has a Morphine energy and this is something everyone should get lost in over their morning coffee.

Backengrillen | Backengrillen

Backengrillen
Dennis Lyxzén – vocal and effects
Mats Gustafsson – saxophones, flutes and live electronics
Magnus Flagge – bass
David Sandström – drums and electronics

Grave Love – Angel_(Mi Amor) En Vivo – (Recommendation from James Perry) Brand new live track from Chicago band Grave Love, 1) I love the live energy 2) Love the Spanish/English blend of the lyrics 3) Love that blasting Gish guitar slush opening. Fantastic piercing goth vocals and crunchy death rock guitars. If i could turn into a bat and fly over the city of Chicago in the dead of night, this is what I want as my soundtrack.

Sweet sweet dreams my Angel
Heaven will miss you
Sweet sweet dreams my darling
The night is calling
I’m calling for you
Sweet sweet dreams my love
Sweet sweet dreams my Angel

Debajo luna llena
Te encontre
Debajo luna llena
Me enamore
Debajo luna llena
Te mordi, mi amor

Sweet sweet dreams my Angel
I want the light in your eyes
Sweet sweet dreams my darling
Slip off your lovely disguise
Sweet sweet dreams my love
Sweet sweet dreams my Angel

Debajo luna llena
Te encontre
Debajo luna llena
Me enamore
Debajo luna llena
Te mordi, mi amor

Om Shanti Kali Ma

Angel_(Mi Amor) En Vivo | Grave Love

THE DISCUSSION – All the Pretty Flowers – (shared by Sandra Spector) – The LA band isn’t brand new but somehow I have never reviewed them. They are on Artoffact Records with (Actors/Leathers) many of our favorites. Driving 80s Siouxsie and the Banshees flavor. The basslines are very out front and really carry the groove. They aren’t reinventing the wheel here, but they are definitely rocking the hell out of it. This record came out in 2025 but they have a brand new remix by the always awesome Male Tears. They are also heading out on a tour with Bootblacks which i will be seeing in Detroit.

In The Mirror (Male Tears Remix) | THE DISCUSSION

All the Pretty Flowers | THE DISCUSSION

TEMPTRIX – Dare to Try – (Submitted y the always trustworthy Sunil Khanna) Texas solo artist with a glitchy screaming electronica. Emotional lyrical pleas that feel like lamenting loss on an abandoned cliff overlooking the ocean.

I wouldn’t have invited them to try or bet on my life
With all the ache it caused, all the strife.
I wouldn’t have tried, to save my life.
Help me God
Help me Try

In this timeline I wouldn’t have cried
I wouldn’t have cried
I wouldn’t have cried

If I knew, I didn’t need to toss and turn every night
I wouldn’t have cried – over all those lies
I wouldn’t
I couldn’t
Say how I feel inside
I wouldn’t have cried
I wouldn’t
I couldn’t
Now if I tried. Why? Why try?
I wouldn’t have cried…

In this timeline I wouldn’t have cried
I wouldn’t have cried

If I knew I didn’t need to shed a tear from my eyes
I wouldn’t have cried for wanting you inside

I wouldn’t. I couldn’t – say how I feel inside
I wouldn’t have cried.
I wouldn’t, I couldn’t now if I tried. Why?
Why try?

I wouldn’t have cried…

How do I try? Oh, God.
Help me try…

Dare to Try | TEMPTRIX

Theta’s Twilight by Unearthly Vessals

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Unearthly Vessels hits the ground running with a Theta’s Twilight, their debut single. The Virginia duo strives to blend Darkwave, Goth and Electronic Rock. And overall the result has been successful. Somber lyrics, driving drumbeats and a dreamy production stylemake this single a worthwhile listen to fans of dark music. Fans of The Sisters of Mercy and Type O Negative would do well to pay attention and keep their ears open for future releases.

Composition: Joshua Morse & Scott Hall
Mix/Master: Kevin Moun

Joshua Morse: Lead Vocs/Guitar/Keys
Scott Hall: Backing Vocs/Bass

https://unearthlyvessels.bandcamp.com/track/thetas-twilight

Lyrics:
A lucid daze, a shadowed room
I saw you sitting there alone.
Eyes glaring red, soul bereft of life.

In that moment I saw the chaos of it all,
Unholy night, infinite darkness.
The elements torn apart,
Corrupting, primordial.

I burn in the fires of creation.
I drown in the waters of life.

I hear the dawn in your voice,
Pitch-black eyes that hypnotize.
You bind me in your twilight,
Show me the truth of your night.

Your form beneath the moonlight,
Your whispers, like honey in my ear.
Though the cup is overflowing,
Partake in the garden of life.

Nothingness transforms into a blinding image,
All things are created and destroyed by fire.
The heavens decay in their endless circle.
The gods lay broken amongst forbidden stars.

I hear the dawn in your voice,
Pitch-black eyes that hypnotize.
You bind me in your twilight,
Show me the truth of your night.

I hear you calling.
You speak of the beginning of time.
I hear you beckoning,
You speak of the end of days.

Unearthly Vessels – Theta’s Twilight (Official Music Video)

Ghost Live in Salt Lake – The Swedish Satanists Who Make You Smile Like a Fool

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CONCERT REVIEW

ARTIST: GHOST

DATE: 10 FEBRUARY 2026

VENUE: The Delta Center

CITY: Salt Lake City, UT

GHOST giving it to you like none other

There are bands that grab you by the ears and bands that grab you by the soul. Then there’s Ghost — the Swedish theatrical death-metal papal circus that somehow delivers both, plus a side of pure, unfiltered goofball joy. They’re not just a band; they’re an experience that leaves you grinning ear-to-ear, wallet happy, and weirdly full of love (yes, love) even after an hour-plus of Satanic iconography and power chords.

I grew up watching KISS movies as a kid, dazzled by the makeup, the flying rigs, the rollercoasters, the whole Kabuki-meets-arena-rock spectacle. But past the theatrics? KISS was mostly killer riffs, great rhythm guitar, and genius marketing. Ghost? They took that blueprint, burned it in a black-mass bonfire, and rebuilt it into something smarter, funnier, and musically ferocious. They’ve pushed every limit — anonymity, blasphemy, spectacle — and still keep the audience laughing and singing along like it’s a church revival gone gloriously wrong.

Anyone who walks out of a Ghost show feeling short-changed is lying to themselves. You get your money’s worth and then some. The feeling lingers for days: a mix of adrenaline, absurdity, and inexplicable warmth. (That was my exact experience last week.)

The policy of no phones in the venue? Genius. Everyone had to lock their devices in those little Yondr pouches — no distractions, no shitty TikTok clips leaking out, no jackass blocking your view with an iPhone on a stick. Even us photographers had to stash our phones while lugging massive lenses to shoot from the sound booth. The result? A crowd fully present, eyes on the stage, phones forgotten. Refreshing as hell.

GHOST ARE THE REAL DEAL

The fans showed up in force: dark nuns in habits and Eyes Wide Shut masks, V for Vendetta Guy Fawkes faces, full “Death Pope” regalia, Satanic priests everywhere. One of the other shooters leaned over and deadpanned, “I think I’m gonna need my gear blessed after tonight.” I laughed so hard I nearly dropped my camera. If you take Ghost seriously, you’re missing the joke. The whole thing is campy, theatrical blasphemy played with a wink — like The Residents if they traded anonymity for papal robes and cowbells.

The show opened with Gregorian chants floating through the dark, building tension like a horror movie score. Ghost took the stage behind a torn curtain, ripping into “Peacefield” (halfway through before the curtain finally dropped). When it fell, the arena exploded. Papa Emeritus (in full regalia) and the Nameless Ghouls were everywhere — animated, theatrical, impossible to pin down. The guitar work was razor-sharp: late-’70s hard rock echoes of Journey, Judas Priest, Boston, all wrapped in modern metal precision. One song in, I was already sold — they’d brought their A-game.

“Lachryma” shifted gears into an ’80s power-ballad vibe with Scorpions-style riffs and soaring vocals — tight, emotional, and huge. Then came the classic horror-film keyboard intro on “Spirit,” with the Ghouls trading matching riffs before splitting into dueling lines. It’s an older track, but it still fits like a glove — pure pre-Wes Craven prog-metal.

I had to stash gear and hustle back to my seat (10th row, first riser — stupidly close) just in time for “Majesty.” A few songs later, during “Devil Church,” the black backdrop ripped away to reveal a glorious gothic cathedral stage: LED candelabras, stained-glass windows glowing, everything lit like a cathedral from hell. The visuals were jaw-dropping, and the song? Pure power. I leaned to my photographer buddy and said, “Dude, I feel like I’m at a Yes concert.” He laughed: “Yeah, me too.” Prog-metal guitars tearing through the Delta Center — who knew?

“Circle” and “Darkness at the Heart of My Love” hit like classic metal anthems — riffs that took me straight back to my teenage bedroom air-guitaring to Boston’s “Amanda.” “Satan Prayer” opened with Papa Emeritus rising on a platform, holding a black matte cowbell aloft like a holy relic. He handed it to the keyboard Ghoul (devil-nun vibes), who started hammering away in perfect sync. My buddy and I lost it — straight-up Blue Öyster Cult “More Cowbell” SNL reference. Genius.

Pyro flared, heat blasting my face from 20 feet away. “He Is” turned into an acoustic power ballad, Papa blessing the crowd like a deranged evangelical. (The video’s Jonestown undertones were strong here — a sly warning about charismatic preachers wrapped in beauty.) “RATS” had the stained-glass windows animating with chasing rats and hellscape reds. Confetti guns blasted dollar bills with Papa’s face on them — they flew past me into the second tier. Insane.

Papa’s banter was pure goofball gold: thanking Salt Lake for growing with them (The Complex → Depot → Amphitheater → Maverick → Delta Center), then conjuring “Jesus” with a chant. A Hispanic roadie rolled out with a leaf blower to clear confetti. “Give it up for Jesus Rodriguez from New York City!” Jesus waved politely and kept blowing. The arena roared.

“Kiss the Go-Goat” was silly fun, but “Mummy Dust” killed — militant marching cadence, layered vocals, killer bassline (that unnamed Ghoul on bass deserves more credit; he held the whole thing together). Papa thanked the fans again, then dropped “Monstrance Clock” — an oldie that’s haunting and heavy, soothing lullaby turning into Luciferian metal.

The encore? “Mary on a Cross,”(Juxtaposition, right? Fair is fair), “Dance Macabre,” “Square Hammer” — the perfect closer, better live than on record.

Ghost isn’t just a band; they’re a full-on theatrical experience that mixes blasphemy, prog-metal chops, ’80s arena-rock nostalgia, and laugh-out-loud absurdity. They take themselves seriously as musicians but not as people — and that’s why it works. If you want humor with your arsenic, spectacle with your soul, and a night where you leave feeling lighter than when you arrived, go see Ghost.

You won’t regret it. You’ll be smiling for days.

Stay scary, goofy, and cursed, my friends. Until next time.

http://ghost-official.com/

#ghosttheband #deathmetal #doommetal #powermetal #swedensfinest #ozzy #dontfearthereaper #papaemeritus

ACTORS Brand New Single – CTRL

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In 2018 Vancouver Post Punk band Actors released the groundbreaking album “It Will Come To You” as part of a next wave Darkscene revolution. After extensive touring through world stages the follow up record 2021 “Acts Of Worship” propelled Jason, Shannon, Kendell, and Adam to festival level crowds at the spearhead of the modern alt movement. Now with a third LP release and new tour on the horizon I’m excited for the chance to review the latest single “CTRL” on  Artoffact Records.

CTRL | ACTORS

ACTORS are:

Jason Corbett – Vocals / Guitar
Shannon Hemmett – Synth / Vocals
Kendall Wooding – Bass / Vocals
Adam Fink – Drums

For a band I have loved since the beginning when I hear a new release the first thing I think of is what is new? For me the Actors sound has always built around the core of Jason’s vocals. Thirteen seconds into CTRL you are blasted with a wall of sound driven by a run-away chariot of blasting bass. Jason is emotive and understated with Kendall and Shannon shining echo’s glowing around the edges. The guitar swirls and cracks in precise moments. The entire ride is a 3.25-minute banger with tight structure and vibrant energy. I can’t wait to hear this live with Adam booming away in 4/4. I’ve never heard Actors push the needle like this and I am here for it. The “Our Love Starts Forever tour is coming in 2026 and if you have never witnessed the Actors live, don’t wait.

ACTORS

Turn the light down soft and low
bend it into shape – and let it go

satiate your aching need
disconnect erase the memory

I take my time now
I make it right now

No control
CTRL
No control
CTRL

dark devotion dressed in black
flooded streets drown in your regret

between the teeth of misery
the hunger takes a hold of me

I take my time now
I make it right now

No control
CTRL
No control
CTRL

Black Panorama by Gary Robert and Community

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Having written about Gary Robert and Community before, I was excited to hear of a forthcoming release, with Black Panorama as its flagship single.

This time, GR&C have some fun with the time signatures to keep your ears piqued while delivering their trademark blistering guitar sound and driving rhythm, while the subdued baritone vocals float along over the energy delivered.

No one thing about GR&C makes their sound enjoyable. It’s the whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts that make Black Panorama another feather in the cap for this Missouri band. Black Panorama is a foot-tapping, fist-pumping tune that evokes elements of memorable hard rock and goth rock bands thrown together in a mixture that doesn’t seem hodgepodge, but rather makes the listener wonder why no other act has tried it up to this point.

https://garyrobertandcommunity.bandcamp.com/track/black-panorama