Cat vs Bat – Sounds and Shadows

You might be thinking, Ken, you run a music review page, why would you want to direct people to other pages with the same function? Because I don’t do this for financial gain. I do it to share music that moves me with the world. To help support bands that you need to be listening to. I have continued to try and get better and grow. There are things I feel really good about but the format I do well isn’t everything and isn’t for everyone. I wanted to share some of the pages I am going to and finding great bands and ideas on how I can be better at what I do. In the end we all have the same goal and that is sharing music we believe in to help bands we love get a wider audience. I hope this can also act as a guide for bands looking to share their music and get press. Bands, if you are not sending a copy of your album to reviewers, you are doing yourself a great disservice. I can’t speak for everyone, but personally bands that reach out and interact with me are the ones I am thinking about first. Take the first step.

http://www.obscuraundead.com/?fbclid=IwAR0ngAAcj75grPhZ0FgHHPMm5n0RBslN5UM0g426Q-OkMNS5YsBqm41wuzw

Obscura Undead – I love this site. They are always posting and do a lot in terms of news and happenings. They focus mostly on Goth/Industrial/Synth and keep right on the cutting edge. Megan and Sherri put out some of the best review videos around which are always interesting and have a fresh take. High production values and lots of personality and humor.

https://postgothic.com/?fbclid=IwAR0wD86xZRLpGEtH2aiFCM82aWBGYxNx2tadGC7J58R0NQfu5-0G8Wfb50c

Post Gothic – Run by Oskar Terramortis who has been a part of the European goth scene for ages. This page focuses on Goth and modern traditional in particular. Very in depth and knowledgeable, Oskar knows his business and is a true pro writer. When he says something is good you can feel confident it has been through the paces and proven.

Industrial Island – This is an awesome podcast run by Michael J. Carrasquillo formerly of Wax Trax. Focus is on Industrial which is an area I am never as up to speed on. Michael knows everyone in the business and is always up to date on hottest new tracks. He spent long enough with the label to know it when he hears it.

http://dreadmusicreview.com/?fbclid=IwAR1xKdILuH3VRBf1dFrDKqDolqHzd3ATZyGUDoB5dM3dLRwURbNNAZMZHYk

Dread Music Review – This is a more eclectic page with a pretty wide range from Metal/Goth/EDM/Hip Hop. Really professional look that covers a ton of ground.

https://www.post-punk.com/?fbclid=IwAR0jwHdeGDDTjDNZzz6okDcn1sfzzi1C5VexCGZMGpysx63WQKGws82eYvs

Post-Punk.com – This is a widely followed page run by Alex Baker along with contributors Frank Deserto and Andi Harriman . It’s widely followed for a reason….it’s really good. Great writing and huge reach. A lot of bands do premiers with Alex because the level of quality here gets everything he releases in front of a lot of eyeballs. I had the good fortune to meet him when I was in Berlin and he is a wonderful human who cares about music.

http://catvsbat.podbean.com/?fbclid=IwAR1mlhGfb1kkY1XcKzy6NMCOvyx1Ko-HZI2hLqsuGiBRPU42RP1v8WurOB0

Michael Nagy – Runs an awesome youtube channel that does reviews focused on Industrial but has some goth/metal mixed in. I really like his interview style and they always are shot with a professional look and interesting questions that draw great background out of your favorite new bands.

http://worldofgothmagazin.wixsite.com/goth?fbclid=IwAR2FDOI0mjHql4wgoY5Qz5mRqzo2ofc6GyBXp_Hcen_6TPY5y2Czj1Onuyg

World of Goth – I really like this online zine for the attention to aesthetic and goth culture in addition to in depth reviews. It really comes at the goth scene as a culture rather than just a music style which adds a nice element.

https://www.theinfidelnetwerk.com/?fbclid=IwAR2yX74FPv9HUuS_WJoXIQoZ6T_B1tTDqBoR2cPMDf3etn4GDR0Qm0HyAX0

The Infidel Network – A really cool promotion sharing page with a pretty wide range of styles. Videos, interviews, reviews they really cast a wide net but aren’t afraid to get into some of the more experimental music.

https://luminousdash.be/?fbclid=IwAR0zoHYu3XfbUbvsgLA6hzD8RDRIJTxs9yxN4pcAQvAkiq8AUPMuwATs3sA

Luminous Dash – Cool online zine from Belgium with a focus on Indie and minimalist. They do news coverage, interviews, reviews with a lot of great European stuff I don’t otherwise see.

http://www.elektrospank.com/?fbclid=IwAR004-vjJuFSWG_dzh5CnXtX0706og1z7wqYXsMOi7YBSi0OWnDBzNvlU5o

ElektroSpank – Online music magazine covering Goth/EDM/Industrial. They do a really cool format and their reviews are longer and pretty deep. In fact i should really figure out how he sets this page up 🙂

https://whitelight-whiteheat.com/?fbclid=IwAR0-WgkohSVc5ETdaUp86tQdMoLmpJZAWeSDEwXcBL-BOfYhZ82zgUFAzOc

White Light/White Heat – In a way I think they really set the standard. It looks about as pro as you can get. when i was first starting out i got feedback from them because I really like their page. They handle an enormous amount of content and do a lot of quick hits along with longer pieces.

Dark Music Net

Dark Music Net – Out of Germany run by my friend Michael. This page was actually the first to share Sounds and Shadows reviews before i got my own page. I feel like we really share a passion for music and doing less pieces but more in depth. Sometimes I think this page is the other side of my coin in Europe, highly recommend

Rule of Three – Incredible mix cloud Show and magazine featuring Pete Burns of Kill Shelter and Christian Schaefer. They focus on Shoegaze, Coldwave, Darkwave, Goth. Both are certified musical experts and they comb through the vast wasteland to bring you the goods. This is a must listen

Regen Magazine – Setting the standard in Electronic/EBM/EDMIndustrial music reviews for decades. Run by Ilker Yücel they provide an honest journalistic approach to music reviewing.

https://regenmag.com/?fbclid=IwAR1U89hInxghh_XsQT50LMw6MipYNyk1aoFoOoQkWwEW1ZS5rl1GgDdmICw

MusicShock by Alex Shock Music does a wonderful blog full of passion and fire from Alex Dematteis in England. Someone who cares about bands and new music.

https://musicshockworld.wordpress.com/2019/11/28/my-review-the-amaranth-my-turn-again-2019/?fbclid=IwAR0R9gJe6CAm6LHDZ6e4-VHq7GcpRv36CiASIoUjs_Ce2NDuZO_Jc–XLcA

Other Voices – Great review page that focuses on new music and does in depth reviews

https://www.facebook.com/other.voices.50/about?lst=1673700987%3A100040381777694%3A1575530763

Dark wave Publications – Run by the amazing Veronica of the band Death Loves Veronica. This page is the real deal. A great musician reviewing bands she loves. It’s a must read

Firefly Mouth – Wonderful review page run by my friend Dana. They really do deep dive focus on new artists. I love the eloquence and standard of writing that Dana brings to every review. A real passion for lifting up new artists. Featured genres: Post Punk, New Wave, Darkwave, Shoegaze, Goth.

https://www.facebook.com/fireflymouth/

IdieYoudie – Amazing page run by Bruce and Alex. I really love the professional look and wide range of genres covered. They also do a great podcast. This is a great template for how to make your page look and a fantastic attitude of lifting the whole scene up.

https://www.idieyoudie.com

A Model of Control – A cool UK based Industrial review page. I haven’t had a chance to deep dive it yet but it is run by Adam Williams and is currently accepting submissions.

http://amodelofcontrol.com/?fbclid=IwAR07rExN64K3xOG5hmJHpSzWRNz8g22vpklF_OAFFXW_GOIGHQbwkEdznms

Black Velvet Audio – A diverse dark genre based page run by Simon Lebby who is a huge supporter of the scene. I really like how much this page feels like an old school printed zine. Nice personal touch.

Welcome Dark Music Lovers.

Brainwashed – A nice mix of bigger artists and new up and coming with nice sharp clean writing. Run by Jonn Gauntletier with a focus on goth/coldwave/darkwave.

http://www.brainwashed.com/?fbclid=IwAR3Odom0cHou4vFAYLEI82R_aQBsdViesUVYVavTQ4LNebbpLpArrVEnpFc

https://darkwavepublications.com/2019/11/16/sonsombre/?fbclid=IwAR2rxyGadAUrba7Xyn_p-BvANfQ6wkwOAyb4V5blKANIdCfxP5RaDtUIKZo

Sounds and Shadows – Wait, you are already here 😉

So running this review page we end up sifting through a lot of music. Some that a band or label reaches out and sends to me. Some that I just find in the endless traversing of the internet. However another often overlooked source are the hard working Dj’s doing broadcast and mixcloud shows which help sift through the vast abyss of musical darkness and highlight those burning gems that set my heart aflame. I thought it would be fun to give a shout out to some of the shows I listen to regularly. These are people doing the dark lords work out here and following and liking their pages really helps them continue to find the best new music. These are in no particular order and are by no means the end of the list, but I have to start somewhere.

Sunil does a live radio show in Austin TX, one of the world hubs for hot new goth/Industrial music. He has a finger firmly planted on the pulse of the scene. He does a Mixcloud every Sunday called Dj AsuraSunil’s Sunday Seven where he highlights 7 songs from different artists in a wide range of genre. Usually with some theme and no discussion just music. However he is also one of the friendliest easy to know gentlemen you could hope to meet. His show is always a source of sparkling jewels.

Next up is Pat 626 and their show SubCulture Shock. They are out of Charlottesville VA which has a really thriving goth scene. They do club Djing as well as this show every Sunday and I rarely miss it. Pat always finds incredible balance of new music and classics with just the right touch of discussion and background on some of the bands played. Pat also does a nightly feature called “So bad it’s good” where they find the cheesiest over the top song possible. We share this guilty pleasure to the point neither of us is even guilty about it. I also love this show for the live group chat which often has a lively discussion from dark music lovers (often including great musicians in the genre)

DJ Dark Dave does one of my all time favorite shows out of Toronto. However it is also live broadcast on radio-dark-tunnel.net. Dave is always finding and spinning new great music and supporting bands all over the world. He also does a fair amount of discussion and background between sets. Which I love because he is freaking hilarious. Definitely a very light hearted show but his music finds are always spot on.

https://www.facebook.com/theeleventhhourwidr/

Here we have my hometown of Kalamazoo MI’s very own Dj Shadowplay. She does a wonderful show at Wednesdays from 11 PM-12 AM ET on the local college radio station WIDR called The 11th Hour. Lots of great Post Punk/Darkwave/Coldwave and a good mix of backgound and discussion.

The Cold Transmission show put out by the German record label is a standard setter in terms of consistent brilliant playlists from the entire world stage. The genre tends towards mostly Post Punk/Cold Wave/Dark Wave but definitely not as a rule. They also set up a lot of specials such as mixcloud lists picked together with members of popular bands. I actually had the honor of doing a Sounds and Shadows/Cold Transmissions mixcloud list

DJ Kelly A from Pittsburgh PA does this wonderful show. She has been a part of the scene forever and although not exclusively I think does a great job of highlighting great female performers in the goth/post punk/darkwave genre. She has wonderful insight between sets and a warm and pleasant voice.

The amazing Highway 7 show by Galit Korni on Ze Rock Radio in Tel Aviv Israel. This show is always on point in both the music played and the wide variety and world wide scope. She also has the most wonderful voice and although the show is in Hebrew and I can understand little of it, I find listening to it quite relaxing.

DJ Sonic Szilvi does Radio Dark Noise out of Portland Oregon. This great show has a wide range to the genre and best of all Szilvi is the most fired up energetic goth Dj I have ever heard. She is on in the morning on Sundays and sounds like she just crushed a vegan smoothie and ran five miles to the studio just be be fired up to spin great music for you.

Dj Subbababa from Rosenheim Germany manages LautFly FM. His new Music Hot but Dark shows are always on point and where I find a lot of the European bands that don’t always get picked up on other American Shows.

Dj Scott Durand does this great show great show from Lafayette LO. It’s all music and more EBM/Industrial based but he does a ton of new Music. He has a lot of personal contact with big name goth industrial bands and has done wonderful remixes for bands like Adoration Destroyed and Leather strip. He is usually one of the top mixcloud shows every week so that should tell you something

Dead Sound show is another I love by Victor Sevillano. Victor does an all music show as well but has such a vast variety of Goth/Industrial/Electronic. He really does a great job of finding new bands with old school flavor and is just an all around great guy. when I needed help putting together a playlist for Cold Transmission Victor helped me get my order right.

Dark Nation Radio is a wonderful show with DJ Cypher (Jeff Weinstock). Great blend of discussion and background with new music. He really scours the web to find exciting new hits and is pretty broad with genre

Scary Lady Sarah (Sara Rose) has been the lifeblood of Chicago Darkwave for decades. She is in the amazing band Bellwether Syndicate and runs the local goth night. A huge promoter of the new music scene and all around amazing human.

Out ov the Coffin is an amazing show that has this wonderful campy vampire vibe. Blending cinema and music for a great immersive experience .

Much ado about Bugger All – This great show has a raunchy feel with a blend of old and new goth music. I really like the total lack of genre for this show and the DJ is funny and in your face.

DJ Reverend 23 out of Utah – This show is done by Aaron Shea a true journeyman of the scene with a finger on the pulse who promotes and understands new music. Love this show.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Reverend23/about/?ref=page_internal

https://ultramichigan.com/podcast/episode-5-chat-about-local-music-community?fbclid=IwAR16qtWK5eJ0al7ILvKRdBid3E736VQGTPx3d3aI1O3R42eDXcyRz467k40

https://www.facebook.com/UltraMichigan/

Ultra Michigan Podcast are a group that specializes in local Michigan music of every genre. Really knowledgeable about history and the scene and a great way to hear about a wide pallet of local bands.

MK Ultra magazine does an awesome podcast that tackles lots of topics in the scene but a lot about Industrial music. They do wonderful interviews with a wide variety of guests.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/mkultramagazine/posts/?ref=page_internal

Post everything is a great show that somewhat focusing on post punk but touches on everything dark. Not much discussion most right to the music. Great mix and really does their homework on what is fresh

Communion After Dark is a burner of a show for fresh new Goth/Post Punk/Darkwave. Mark Paradise and crew are what make the Tampa scene special. This one is a must listen to.

Radio Arcane featuring several great Djs from the Louisville KY scene. Great mix of different darkness. Plus they are doing Convergence this year 🙂

Post Everything – Dj Eternal – I really love this one. Great mixes of old school and new finds. Also does a wonderful review page. This is a must follow

Melodywhore and Sapphira Vee do this Situation 47 every Monday night. It’s always a great mix of music and interviews with top bands in electronic and Industrial. They have wonderful chemistry and discussion to go with the latest music.

http://radio-dark-tunnel.net/?fbclid=IwAR0dt4TFaEOumSDaKndJ5cnXMV6TYKYGlHYqOs_quAD8A1XVivNOtFyMa9U

Cold Memories Post Punk & Gothic Stuff – With Jonas IH – Really cold blend of old school and modern hits in the genre with the focus on music.

Kate Mior – Amazingly fun shows including the Day Drunk with is always such a quirky mix and full of her dry wit and antics. So make up a pitcher of Margaritas and join in the fun.

http://hatemior.com/?fbclid=IwAR14bLPwwr1cI_supO6G9He2v1km9VPNSD1kjtMoMZ3cVYg6Sl_To9p0ptk

Tag: Cat vs Bat

Who is going to sift through all the new music in the world to help us find diamonds ?

Sounds and Shadows Favorite Dj’s Shows List