Tag: Detroit

New Music Reviews from the Dark Underground

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It’s Bandcamp Friday, darkness swirls around my head and Halloween fast approaches. What a great time for some quick hit music reviews from some of the best in underground darkscene artists. I’m working on another article for some of the bigger names in the scene with new releases. These bands are for experimental listeners looking to find new bands everyone doesn’t know about yet.

Wandering Whispers – Uneasy Listening – Amazing Detroit artist Lela Marionette with a brand new project she embarked on in 2023. Filthy soundscapes stumbling around a warehouse labyrinth of 90s Detroit rave culture. Pulsing slow heartbeat base. Music meant to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up while Lela whispers frightening poetry to the back of your ear. Love the liberal use of slutty muted horn synth effects.

This project is meant to feel very instrument heavy emotional resonance. I love these ghostly vocals from Lela and hope they come forward more in future releases. They really tie the haunt together.

▶︎ Uneasy Listening | Wandering Whispers (bandcamp.com)

The Bleak Assembly – until the world stops hurting – Newest release out of Denver from the collaboration between Kimberly of Bow Ever Down and Michael Smith of Fiction8. Additional shoutout for the wicked artwork by Greg Rolfes / eleven12design.com. TBA always conjures amazing visuals when I hear it. The perfect music for the most powerful moment in an anime. The mixing and mastering of this album are superb. The concepts here are so natural energy, so finding a perfect sonic balance is key to the message. Shoutout for giving Sounds and Shadows a Thank You in the liner notes 😉

The Powerful Sun: Gorgeous opening track with a slushy shoegaze guitar line. Kimberly has a gorgeous and distinctive voice that always sounds powerful without pushing itself. I picture her on a beach aquabending streams of water reflecting the sun. “What is it you’re fighting for”

Only Truth Remains: You can’t go wrong on this album, and the songs all maintain a consistent vibe. If I had to pick a favorite, this has such an amazing Til Tuesday darkpop sound with a chorus that lived in my head for days. Kimberly’s voice rises like warm air over the sand. The dueling guitar lines on the solo with such effortless precision create so much without grasping for a spotlight. This one got deep under my skin.

▶︎ until the world stops hurting | The Bleak Assembly (bandcamp.com)

Cyborg Amok – Cellophane Grind – Brand new single from the New Jersey father son electro rock duo of an August album Pin’s and Needles. Thick basslines and thundering 70’s darkrock tones. I love Brydon taking lead on the vocals here to conjure some Jim Morrison energy. Everything here feels big, spooky, and psychedelic. Doom rock like this is a bit of a lost art and I am loving this snapshot CA has captured.

▶︎ Pins & Needles | Cyborg Amok | Greg Bullock – Cyborg Amok (bandcamp.com)

Sierra Miffed – Demo – Kalamazoo MI’s own power punk trio including Jena, Leah, and Katy (Katy Needs A Life/Sounds and Shadows) with their debut release. A high-speed rollercoaster of emotional deliver and tight turns. Fan’s of 90’s indie edge like Muffs or Vaselines will love this clever spit in the face of convention.

Favorite Track: Untitled Banger – Normally a primarily instrumental punk thumper doesn’t get on my radar. What can I say, this cooks. It’s got energy, craft, and a devil may care attitude I can’t help smile and stomp my feet to. Can’t wait to get out and see this band live. I have a feeling the energy is next level when the wall of sound hits you in the face.

Demo | Sierra Miffed (bandcamp.com)

MORTAL REALM – Stab In The Dark –  Adam V. Jones, of Haex with a new project on Negative Gain coming like a charge into the breach. Prepare to be pummeled by a spiked gauntlet of sound. I really like how light on it’s feet this full plate dance beat bobs and weaves. There is a consistency of electronic bop, but the vocal style and emotional spectrum shows great range.

Death Debt– I didn’t know that Adam had a Martin Gore style in his bag of tricks, but I am loving it. Sassy and synthlacious this retro wall shaker hits all the notes.

Nostrum Nepenthe – What in the Industrial Ronnie James Dio is happening here? Gnashing teeth and stomping boots flinging out berserker bard tales of pain and destruction. This track is great for the club, or beating the piss out of rich boys in the dumpster out back.

Blood is my reward
The call of the void
The moment is gone
Blood is my reward
The call of the void
The moment is gone

Stab In The Dark | MORTAL REALM (bandcamp.com)

 BRIDES – Sundown – New three track EP from Adrian Borgia in Norway off Produkt 42. One of the most underappreciated expressionists of the modern scene. Track one Amour opens with swirling New Dawn Fades energy. A love ballad crooned by a broken demon. Adrian has mastered the art of being a single voice dragging a long cape of immense weight behind him.

Favorite Track: Apocalypse In Slow​-​Motion – This is a slow watching your heart burst from your chest, fall on the dirty ground, and get run over by a steam roller sound. Somehow that demonic growl still feels hopeful. An ending you long for, a rebirth to come. A difficult concept to describe, you know it when you hear it though. Adrian always leaves me memorized with the minimalist efficiency of his songs. An adventure of flavor with 5 simple ingredients.

Sundown | BRIDES (bandcamp.com)

Sword Tongue – Diamonds To Rust – Power Trio Jennifer Wilde, Gaetano Maleki, and Dan Milligan with a dreamy 4AD mystical Siouxsie “Superstition” feel. Jennifer floats like mist on top of the rotating toms and vibrating bass. Amazing to see how in synch this project has become. I think the first few releases were still asking themselves who they wanted to be. Diamonds to Dust definitively shows they have found the answer. This single shines with a complexity and sense of purpose that has been lacking in the scene. I love this clarity of direction.

Diamonds To Rust | Sword Tongue (bandcamp.com)

Camlann – Numb and Hollow – Immensely talented young folk from Jakarta, Indonesia who are creating darkscene music on a level I couldn’t have conceived of at their age. Sophisticated and exotic with a sharp foil of capitalist excess. The way this hits a pop anthem chorus while existing in the same track as the darkest imaginable David Lynch surrealism is an incredible artistic achievement. A sensational contradiction that casts a spotlight on the hypocrisy of the world. Another impressive evolution. No one is making music like this.

Vocals and Guitar: Ony Godfrey
Synth, Analog Bass, and Drum Machine: Fauzan Pratama
Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by David Novotny

Numb and Hollow | Camlann (bandcamp.com)

Fixation Festival II at Small’s is over. proving once again the Detroit Darkwave scene is something special.

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Year two of Small’s in Hamtramck’s Fixation Festival happened this past weekend. For the second year in a row Mike Mouyianis and Kat Paled put together an epic bill of legacy/modern darkscene talent both locally and around the country. This city has always celebrated a rich musical culture from Motown, Iggy Pop, The MC 5, techno’s holy trinity, ADULT, along with a slew of new talent in the current wave. Small’s cares about and celebrates artists, while running a tight ship that respects fan’s time. The venue is intimate with a great sound system and professional technician that knows how to communicate and bring out the best in the wide variety of acts. Having the stage and merch in one room, another with the bar for cooler temps, quick service, and a large video screen showing the stage at a volume you can talk over makes for a best of both worlds. Sometimes you want to be right in the action. Sometimes you want to share a moment with friends, making a personal connection with the bands. It has the Cold Waves “goth summer camp” vibe with a smaller more relaxed venue.

I’m going to fire off some quick impressions from of all the bands. Some that are long time favorites, some I saw for the first time. I’ll also include photos from the amazingly talented Jen Jeffery who really captured highlight moments from both nights.

https://www.facebook.com/pinknoisepix

Helix – Starting out Friday night strong was the married duo of Mari Shear (Day Twelve, Mari & The Ghost) and Tom Shear (Assemblage 23) firing off blistering electropop with Mari’s powerful, smokey delivery. Her stage show was captivating and serpentine. A beautiful way to set the tone for everything to come.

Unimaginable Place | Helix (bandcamp.com)

Rosegarden Funeral Party – Next up was Dallas TX dark rockers Rosegarden Funeral Party who I had previously reviewed for albums and singles. I had never seen them live, this became my favorite surprise of the weekend. Sometimes you really need to see the live show to get a full appreciation of a band. Leah was this glorious guitar sheading silver beam of light belting out lyrics with breath support to do Aretha Franklin proud. Thunderous live drums really his home the organic dark rock roots to give the impression of a wailing full band with only two people. I became an instant fan for life, can’t wait to dig into the new album “From The Ashes” available on bandcamp now.

From the Ashes | Rosegarden Funeral Party (bandcamp.com)

ego likeness – I remember looking over to Collin right after Leah absolutely obliterated that stage and saying “I feel bad for whoever has to sing after her”. Then I saw it was Donna and went, never mind it’s Donna, she will be fine. With everything Donna and Steven have going (Poetry, Painting, Stoneburner, Audiobooks) sometimes it feels like Ego Likeness shows are a rare and glorious treat. Rick and Mike were here on stage to give the full experience of powerful percussion, wet crunching swamp riffs, and luring siren vocals. There is a reason Ego Likeness has stood the test of time between goth resurgences. Another call out from this performance, you can always tell a special band by how they react when something goes wrong. Tech issues happen, you can either let it under your skin, and lose focus. Or you can let the audience feel like they are a part of the inner circle, pop forward, and hit a higher level than you were when something went wrong. This is what the greats do.

Live to Tell | ego likeness (bandcamp.com)

Bootblacks – This was my second time seeing the reinvented suave dark Italian disco Bootblacks sound and they have dialed it all the way in. I’ve seen a trend of bands moving towards this sound, but I think Bootblacks were the first American’s to the peak. The new single “When You Want” highlights the power of pacing change to create constant movement. Panther’s vocals have never felt more present and sensual. This performance had the whole crowd sweating both physically and metaphorically.

When You Want | Bootblacks (bandcamp.com)

Assemblage 23 – Tom Shear coming back to the stage for a second performance in one night. This marked another band I have listened to frequently but had never seen perform live. FuturePop fell in that middle place where I had given up on new music and got to re-discover recently. Hearing a top tier male vocalist delivering such crystal clarity free of effects is a powerful experience. Sometimes poetic lyrics feel a bit of an afterthought in the modern era. So hearing heartfelt emotive words delivered with a beautiful voice really stands out. I really need to see Tom play again when he is the focus of the night. Tom did promise to do an interview with me soon, so be on the lookout for that.

Mourn | Assemblage 23 (bandcamp.com)

Night Club – I understand that some traditional goth fans don’t really want to embrace the darkpop cross over in the modern scene. I’m not one of them. Night Club was another band I had only reviewed albums of. On stage, they absolutely brought the house down. Sassy, dangerous, with pristine production, setting the stage for Emily’s undeniable star power. I know it when I see it, Night Club is dripping with it. What a way to close out an epic night one. Another of those bands I implore everyone to catch at an intimate venue like Small’s now. It’s won’t be long before main stream audiences catch on.

Masochist | Night Club (bandcamp.com)

Adding this selfie of Amaranth/Stoneburner/Black Rose Burning who will be playing together August 17th in Lancaster PA. An incredible night 1 where we Uber’d back to our Air B & B to crush previously acquired late night food which turned out to be some of the best Thai cuisine I have ever had.

The Love Part – George Grant (Black Rose Burning) once impressed upon me the importance of festivals including some local flavor in the mix. Night two is where Fixation let some Detroit talent shine. My partner Rachel has exceptional taste in music, so when she came running and dragged me to the stage (something she never does) to hear The Love Part I knew I was in for something wonderful. Swelling psychedlicgaze pastel ectoplasm with great charisma from the singer spinning Curesque romantic energy. I spoke with them a bit after and this was an early show for them. I think this project has a high ceiling. I love that Small’s took a chance on them, I love that they delivered in a big way.

Let It Fall | The Love Part (bandcamp.com)

Access To Concrete – Another Detroit band that was my highlight surprise of night two. The Stringer brothers put together a full experience multimedia performance that took the best parts of Devo and Front 242 synthesized into chaotic SciFi sonic assault. They had multiple guest vocalists including Steph Strange (Schedule IV) in Nuruto/Tank Girl cosplay and Industrial Alice In Chains. It was fun, it was fury, it left me hungry for more.

The Robots In The Walls | Access To Concrete (bandcamp.com)

LEATHERS – This was another showstopper highlight. The evolution of Shannon to ultrastar status has been a pleasure to behold. Having to do two sets in a night at this level of energy and precision is a feat within itself. This performance was a shooting star sparkling across the stage. Captivating and razor sleek Leather’s brings an otherworldly late 70’s glam energy that leaves you feeling how am I seeing this? It’s too bright, too beautiful to exist on this mortal realm. Last night they played Cruel World Fest on a stage with Duran Duran/Ministry/ect and I can’t help but feel like a dream realized for Shannon is hope for us all.

Crash | LEATHERS (bandcamp.com)

The Bellwether Syndicate – Chicago darkscene legends that always rock Detroit like they have something to prove. William Faith (Faith and the Muse, Christian Death, Mephisto Walz, Shadow Project, The March Violets) throws the best rock star looks in the biz. Sara Rose and Philly have enough musical pedigree to fill 10 bands. They really create a mythical beast with gnashing punk rock teeth, a long slender synthpop neck, and expansive sharp post punk wings. Moving together in perfect harmony. It always feels like a complete experience, a big deal, every time they play. Vestige & Vigil is such a good album, I had to buy it twice on LP.

Vestige & Vigil | The Bellwether Syndicate (bandcamp.com)

ACTORS – How do they do it? How does a band I feel objectively plays one of the best live shows rather in a 300 person capacity club or a festival consistently raise the bar to amaze me? The sound is so sharp, crackling with spirit, engaging the crowd every night until we all leave feeling a part of something special. Some might think I sound crazy saying this, but in 6 short years since “It Will Come To You” Jason’s voice is reaching towards the discussion of all-time greats like Ian McCulloch, David Gahan level of impact. Actors might not have compiled that size of discography yet, but they are climbing towards it at a rate few others in the modern scene can keep pace with.

Also it is the love they show for their fans everywhere. After absolutely demolishing the crowd. Most of the band playing two sets that night. They must have been exhausted. I truly don’t expect folks to have the time and spoons to say hi to every reviewer. So Jason reaching out to have me come to the back for a headlight selfie and to say hello meant a lot. Actors aren’t just a band for a lot of us. They are a movement you are a part of.

In Real Life | ACTORS (bandcamp.com)

Stabbing Westward – I have seen Stabbing Westward several times. 16 year old Ken alone in his bedroom, eyeliner streaking down his face because some girl broke his heart and only Chris Hall could understand. I have never seen SW play 8 feet away from me for 90 minutes spanning their entire catalog in a room of rabid fans. The fact that 1) they took a show in a smaller room to do this festival 2) They brought the energy of 20 year olds for and hour and a half while walking through the crowd and meeting everyone catching the other bands. To have a band with as much impact as they did on me be that down to earth and considerate is such a glorious icing on a face melting show of a cake.

I even managed to keep my cool when I went to introduce myself to Walter, who said “Yes Ken, I know who you are, nice to meet you”. We talked about the modern scene, how much he loved Actors, and how much he still enjoyed doing this. I feel like I maintained my pretend journalistic integrity the whole time my brain went SQUEEEEEEEEEE IM TALKING TO WALTER FLAKUS!!!. Hopefully I will have an interview with them soon and won’t sweat to much while I ask the questions. Overall it was the perfect cap to a perfect night.

Stabbing Westward – American Industrial Rock Band

Another smashing success in year two establishes that Small’s has built something here. That top talent is recognized and travel out of their way to play with like minds. My head is already spinning with the possibilities of who will be there next year. Detroit is a fun an economical alternative to some of the other big destination festivals. A beautiful diverse setting full of unique cuisine and friendly people looking out for each other. If you have heard mutterings to the contrary, my guess is you are talking to people who saw Detroit in a movie. Not folks who have spent time here. I’ll see you in 2025.

Unrated V by VAZUM

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NOTE: This review includes an interview with Zach of VAZUM. See below.

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Detroit’s VAZUM is a band I’ve had my eye on for a while now. Zach Pliska started the band in 2017,
with Emily Sturm joining in 2019. Since then, VAZUM has released three albums and an EP.
Unrated V marks their third full-length release and their second release this year.

Sonically, Unrated V has a fully realized sound. Everything sounds like it is meant to go with everything else. Clever arrangements and intricate songcraft are certainly the bedrock of the album, which also serve as the perfect fit for Sturm’s vocals. You’ll hear what I mean on the song “Lycanthrope”. Pliska’s no slouch as a vocalist either. The duet on Frankenstein Gurl showcases their voices in tandem and gives evidence of the chemistry these two artists share. The synths interact with the guitar parts and themselves in a very eloquent way; a sign of well-rounded musicianship, IMO.

With such song titles as “Lycanthrope”, “Frankenstein Gurl” and “Vampire”, it’s easy to guess their
aesthetic (- a style which they call “Deathgaze”). But there is certainly much more going on here than
your garden-variety deathrock dirge or yet-another darkwave push-button band-in-a-box. The instrumental, “Fantoms” is a cinematic tour of a horror movie nightmare-scape and is something you really have to know what your doing to pull off effectively; especially in the darker musical world.

And they’re not afraid to change gears. “Wytch Tech” has a decidedly more danceable approach and is surprisingly minimal compared to the songs leading up to it. “Summon Her”, another instrumental, is rhythmic clangy-ness in the style of old-school industrial. In fact, the entire latter half of this album is instrumental. VAZUM takes full advantage of this to explore sonic possibilities not always called for in 3 1/2 minute radio-friendly crowd pleasers.

All in all, I can’t say enough good things about Unrated V. It had me already looking forward to the next release; which, conveniently, was released on December 31st, 2021; the double single, “Gallows”.

Zach was kind enough to take some time with us and do an interview via text. Here it is…

Who are your influences and what did you take away from those artists?

Smashing Pumpkins had a big impact on me from when I was 10 years old and served as a gateway to other genres like classic rock, shoegaze, new wave, goth, progrock and jazz drumming. Emily is really into Gary Numan, Christian Death and Queens of the Stone Age. She naturally brings elements of new wave, deathrock and desert stoner rock into her songwriting. Lately we’ve been influenced by more atmospheric groups like Cranes and Miranda Sex Garden and listening to their production techniques.

I get a cinematic feel from your music. Do you draw inspiration from sources outside of music, per se?

Emily and I are both visual people and associate images with music. Emily is a horror and sci-fi film expert. She is strongly influenced by Dario Argento (Suspiria) and Panos Cosmatos (Mandy) with The Thing and Alien being in her top five. She is also really into the aesthetics and soundtracks of the video games Silent Hill and Bloodborne. Emily has a background in jewelry and costumes which she incorporates into our videos.

What’s next for VAZUM? How are you forming/adapting your plans in the age of COVID?

The pandemic set the stage for the path we’re currently on which is writing, recording and releasing a steady stream of music and videos. Before the pandemic there were a lot of distractions. I was playing drums in multiple bands and I didn’t take recording or producing seriously. We’re currently recording a new single called Thief which is about energy vampires. Thief will be on our next album along with our previous single, Gallows. We’re doing electronic versions of the songs too as we go along.

Please describe a typical day in the studio with VAZUM. What is the chemistry like?

We’re fortunate to have a good home studio set-up so it’s pretty relaxed. It’s nice being able to wake up on a Saturday morning, brew some coffee and get to work on a mix or overdubs. Recording and producing can be a long and tedious process but we are committed to seeing it through to completion. When we’re working on a new song we’ll usually play through it a bunch of times until we’re comfortable then begin tracking each instrument individually. Emily and I understand each other pretty well. We can learn and play a song without saying a word. We just feed off each other. I can sense when she’s going to a change and vice versa. I’m in the studio everyday working on something. I like experimenting with my gear. I mostly use hardware for compression, reverb and effects instead of plug-ins. On Unrated V we ended up using a Dark Glass distortion pedal on a lot of tracks and it worked out really well.

What is your take on the current state of the dark music “scene”? (Impressions, opinions, funny thoughts, etc.)

I think the music industry as a whole would benefit from toning down the nostalgia and giving new artists a chance. When a tour announcement from an artist that’s been around for 40 years is the biggest news story of the week, or the popular bands of the day all sound alike, I shake my head. The music industry is relying on nostalgia acts to keep itself afloat which is short sighted and counterproductive. And I think people are sick of it. Fortunately there are underground outlets supporting independent artists. We are very appreciative of the DJ’s that play our music and the websites that share our videos or write reviews. There is a healthy network of artists, DJ’s, bloggers, youtubers and playlisters all keeping the dark scene alive. I wish there were more mainstream outlets, but we will infiltrate those in time. Most independent artists seem to share a common belief structure and are supportive of one another. I’m optimistic about the future. As messed up as the music industry is, there are a lot of advantages at our fingertips. Being able to record, produce, market and promote from home is a huge advantage. The technology really does place the power back into the hands of the people.

https://vazum.bandcamp.com/album/unrated-v

https://vazum.bandcamp.com/album/gallows

https://www.youtube.com/user/theallelusive

I Missed Posting For Bandcamp Day :( Yet here is some reviews.

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It’s October my darklings, the month of spook, where goths can be goths. So I need to start thinking about my Halloween soundtrack. I’ll fire through the latest batwings and eye lashes of newt falling into my cauldron.

Swansect: Kill Pop Goth – Adrian is always thrashing like a madman in a new direction. Always producing something he hasn’t done and something I hadn’t heard a million times before. Track #1 Horse of Grass has this cool percussion driven guitar strike. Almost a folk goth tempo with vibrating underwater vocals. Track #2 Kain is my favorite and has this sinister Tones on Tail Daniel Ash sex appeal. The words are in Norwegian telling the story of Cain. I love the old school batcave rockabilly riff. Swansect always takes you to a place in your mind with the music, and usually that place is a nightmare.

https://swansect.bandcamp.com/album/kill-pop-goth

SpankTheNun: The Bunker Tapes II – This album is mixed by the legendary Claus Larson (LeatherStrip). Out of Texas Eric Hanes does a hard and nasty industrial, full of chant and eye beam precision. Track 2 Fight and Breed is a building whisper that holds aggression on a greasy chain to make a tension build you can feel on the back your neck. I think what really sets this above the bar are how clearly the vocals ring for industrial music. It has a bit of effect, but you can savor every growled line. Some amazing remixes here from Melodywhore, Sapphirra Vee, and Assemblage 23. My favorite track was Lies and Hate which unleashes a real Nitzer Ebb feel. I think what impressed me most of this album is how it never has to turn the volume up to 11 to hit you in the fucking teeth with it’s power. It’s a real skill to project that much rage without screaming.

https://spankthenun.bandcamp.com/album/the-bunker-tapes-vol-i

Vazum: Rated V – Ok I know I recently reviewed the Detroit band Vazum, but they did this new release specifically for Halloween with a monster/ghoul theme. It’s stalking creature abomination horror full of heavy guitars and sinister keys. Zach unleashes and inner demon from behind his usually lovely lilting vocals to send a shiver up the spine. I said the same about the previous album Vampyre Villa but I love the use of 90’s alternative mixed into the horror. Emily has a soulful Concrete Blonde vocal style that is the perfect offset in every song. Each monster has it’s own tone and flavor, my favorite was Werewolf . This one really let Emily shine on vocals and truly laid out the primal transformation. Cool lyrical poetry, “Copper turns to gold, sell our gold for silver”. There is so much going on here stylistically. We had an interview with them last week (which will post soon) I am really bummed I hadn’t heard this to discuss before hand.

https://vazum.bandcamp.com/

Vanity Kills : Chapter 2 Enemy – Hard rocking cyberpunk from Cardiff UK. The real beauty captured here is the driving rock 90’s aggression of Helmet phase shifting into pixilated time dilation of club smashing electro-core. The intensity almost rides the line of metal. Yet the distinctive dance stomp is catchy and clean. For personal preference I wish I could hear more of the lyrics and feel the melody lines. The music really placed me in an empty room of drywall I found myself smashing out of, I wanted to know more about why. Favorite track was “This is Gonna Hurt”, it had such a punch it made me picture Clutch smashing synthesizers on a flaming stage. This one shows great promise for the future.

https://officialvanitykills.bandcamp.com/album/chapter-2-enemy

UnderTheSkin: End This Summer – New single complete with some outstanding remixes from Poland. This one is a Cure heavy darkwave bird of prey soaring on a night sky. Mariusz has a beautiful and captivating voice. The bassline of the song is everywhere beneath the soaring wings. A powerful track in crafting and execution. So who could successfully remix such a track? Ash Code, Shad Shadows, Kill Shelter, and Antipole with Paris. Now that is a heavy weight endorsement of some of the great production tunesmiths of our scene. A lot of individual flavor here for each remix on an absolute scorcher of a track.

https://underskin.bandcamp.com/album/end-this-summer-ep

Razor Hawt video with this one too.

Twin Tribes: Shadows(Matte Black remix) – Holy shit how did I not know this was coming out? Also why does Matte Black get to remix Twin Tribes and I don’t? Ok now that petty jealousy is out of the way, this is my favorite Twin Tribes song. The song I discovered them from. I didn’t even recognize it at first in the best possible way. This is everything I want from a remix. It has taken their glorious violet energy and fired it through a prism to create something new and beautiful. I am jaw dropped on the floor right now. Buy this immediately.

https://twintribes.bandcamp.com/

Panic Priest: When Daylight Disappears – Brand new single from Jack, and it’s another burner. Such a master of blending sizzling guitar licks and neon streaming synths. His bellowing baritone voice is an trap I can’t stop falling into. This song is a prayer to the darkness that surrounds us. I want to sit on a Chicago roof staring at the moon as the city sleeps below.

https://panicpriestngp.bandcamp.com/track/when-daylight-disappears-demo

Klack: Two Minute Warning (Depeche Mode Cover) – This is a beautiful cover with a beautiful and tragic story behind it. Claus Larsen (Leatherstrip) recently lost his husband Kurt after a long battle with sickness. It left a lot of medical bills and the community really rallied around him in this tough time. All proceeds go to assist their family. I’ve always loved this song and Klack of course didn’t disappoint to capture it’s energy and majesty.

https://klack.bandcamp.com/album/two-minute-warning

Detroit Darkness

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I thought I might write a little something close to home. About the glorious music scene in my very own Michigan. I know, I said Detroit. However as anyone from the D will tell you, all white boys from the suburbs claim Detroit even if they currently live in Kalamazoo MI. While doing the podcast with SYZGYX last night I got excited talking about our local scene. Then figured why not share it with all of you 🙂 Lets start with some bands.

East Side

https://youtu.be/B9ErSjjmmQs

Josie Pace – Nightmare pop that takes top 40 sensibility wraps a rusty chain around it’s neck and chokes the shit out of it. Josie takes singer songwriter hooks then feeds them through a spicy electroclash beat. With an LA aesthetic and a motor city grit.

Schedule IV – Post Punk synth wave with giant sound and piercing powerful vocals from Steph Strange. They do a wonderful live show that is wound tight and full of soul. One of our favorite bands to play with SIV are a must see.

Vazum – Dark Retro dream rock with a flowing minimalist style. I really like their crunchy 90’s grunge style with dark edges. Large thumping drums and Zach’s slippery shifting melodies carry you on a roller coaster of driving fuzz.

Heavy Water Factory – Textural industrial old school that has been a part of the Detroit scene since I was a high school kid in black boots and a trench coat. When it comes to perfect production and beats that take over the floor Jesse McClure is one of the most respected in the business. It’s electric, it makes you dance, it’s the soundtrack of my angry youth. Just out with a new album after a long hiatus, HWF has not lost a beat.

Ritual Howls – The sinister dark rock poets have brought their European style Nick Cave shadow twang to the motor city and continue to spew forth quality content from the void.

The Ruiners – Detroit Gothabilly royalty have been a little quiet as of late. They hold a special place in my heart. I had the honor of playing with their must see stage extravaganza complete with ex Amaranth singer Nina. Her husband Rick Ruiner is Iggy Pop 1977 brought forth and made flesh. There is no party not made better by throwing Ruiners on the stereo.

Siamese – Thicccc bass lines and lovely crooning vocals are the trademark of shadowy retro rockers Siamese. They really blend the synths and rock seamlessly to create that metal gauntlet in a velvet glove.

Detroit also sports one of the United States oldest and best Goth Clubs “City Club”

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

Featuring Djs – Jay Itchon, Charles English, with guests like Sandra Katz, and Leo Oakley

As well as Smalls, my favorite Detroit venue for live bands. They also have a badass Industrial night on Fridays and Saturdays.

https://www.facebook.com/smallsbar/?eid=ARAUlR3Gcafk-qUXIzgdn3iotK5_tNdpe9NuJng0HVB1aUMWYzeVNzuRZ-v5fuoab96DgpJwEkr9Zbd3

Featuring : DJ Aaron Hingst, DJ Elektrosonik ,

Suburbs

Audrey Burne – Our dear friends dark fantasy rockers Audrey Burne bring that witchy energy from Bay City. Powerful vocals and intricate construction. They have a wonderful intimate live show.

Damien Done – He toured through Europe doing dark folk. Then returned back to Michigan and reinvented with incredible midnight alternative post punk with a dark humor. Deep, rich voice that just draws you in. Why have I never played with them? 🙂

Ann Arbor also has a great Monday night goth event I have tragically never made it too. I hear great things though. Djd by Jay Itchon and Leo Oakley

https://www.facebook.com/FactoryAtNecto/

West Side

My home town of Kalamazoo MI sports on of the secretly greatest goth scenes in the midwest. Smack dab between Chicago and Detroit this has been a stopover spot and music mecca for many years.

Katy Needs A Life – Synth Princess and S & S contributor these ethereal 80s prom dream waves are always a great show. It’s lovely, pure, and authentic.

Sexy Toxins – Eurotrash disco sex party duo A Toxin and B Toxin take performance art and ass slapping beats that are a guaranteed good time every time you see them. I can think of few live shows in this life I had more fun at.

Nekomata – These doom metal droning sound explosion are so fucking good they make me listen to metal. It’s beautiful sludgy filth. Have you ever had your ass kicked by sound alone, because this is how you do that. Plus Myah is in this video.

Drink Their Blood – Some like their metal with a little more speed and sizzle and Drink Their Blood are furious wizards of the keyboard. Ben Boggs is a vocal experience not to be missed. Plus Saxophone + Metal !!!

Thee Elder Gods – Kalamazoo’s punk rock icons. The play loud, mean, and take no shit off anyone

Deadlight Holiday – High energy goth slush from Grand Rapids Michigan play a wonderful shoegaze darkness and have an electric stage show full of leather, sweat, and fury.

https://kidsaintnothing.bandcamp.com/releases

Kid Saint Nothing – This brilliant new release from my dear friend Reggie left me floored. It’s tender, genuine and full of pop hooks that stick in my mind. It has transported me with a scope that goes from fury to elegance. You must hear this. I can’t wait to see it played live.

Amaranth – we make bullshit goth about Ninjas, Swordfights and Lambos.

Kalamazoo also sports one of the best goth dance nights around Chaos. Anastasia and Asher (Dj Wyrmwood) have created a beautiful and inclusive environment for music and dancing to thrive. Every time I bring someone from a big city to our local goth party they are blown away wondering how is this happening in the tiny hamlet of Kalamazoo.

https://www.facebook.com/ChaosKalamazoo/

I’ll try and keep adding to this. If your city deserves a great write up to celebrate it’s music culture than hit me up and lets tell people why you are excited.