Sounds and Shadows March 2023 Darkscene Singles Chart

Yes I know this is coming very late. I unfortunately got wrapped up in my own bullshit this month and didn’t release this in a timely matter. Nor opened voting for the month of April. However, better late than never, these are the top 10 songs voted on by our group of Artists/Djs/reviewers/Lables/and Superfans released in the Month of March. No pay to play, just your votes on great darkwave music.

  1. LockjawAnnihilove
  2. Dead CoolStranger Kind
  3. Giant Monsters On The HorizonSecret or a Lie Featuring Arden and the Wolves
  4. Unitcode:machineUndone (Aesthetic Perfection Remix)
  5. Eva XVirtualsexual (Braindance Mix)
  6. Kill Shelter and Death Loves VeronicaSex Tape
  7. En EschPush
  8. Ritual HowlsDark Ceiling In Tennessee
  9. Self Titled AlbumEconomic Housing Anxieties​(​STA Mix)
  10. Dread RisksMachine Identity (in the walls mix by God Module)
  1. LockjawAnnihilove – Excited to see a band new to the group and from Milwaukee grab the number one spot with their first single on the chart. Look for an upcoming interview I did with Medavon we will release soon. I was drawn in right away by this lean wolf, untamed wilderness goth. It has a wonderful stalking hungry Iggy Pop feel synthesized with electronic beats. Lockjaw has had some previous success playing with some big names in the scene. Returning with a vengeance of hard rock riffs and recklessly revolving percussion I will be paying close attention to the project going forward.

Annihilove | Lockjaw (bandcamp.com)

2) DEAD COOLStranger Kind – Wilmington death pop duo makes their return to this chart with a sizzling new retro trance song with 8bit major motion digital drive and Johnny’s wide beam vocals and lyrical painting. I love the brushstroke of Angela’s phonograph spoken word line.

Stranger Kind | DEAD COOL (bandcamp.com)

3) Giant Monsters on the HorizonSecret or a Lie Featuring Arden and the Wolves – Glorious across the continent collaboration from St Louis to California. Cyberpunk electronica band Giant Monsters On the Horizon lay down a FILTHY beat that twists and writhes to lay a pathway for my favorite vocal performance by Arden. Something about their voice always feels like lashing motion. The dynamics and venom of this glowing green delivery make every line hit home. Total Banger.

Secret or a Lie Featuring Arden and the Wolves | Giant Monsters on the Horizon (bandcamp.com)

4) unitcode:machineUndone (Aesthetic Perfection Remix) – Texas native Eric Kristoffer has been on an absolute tear this year. Singing with COP, releasing this instant classic hit with 3 legends doing remixes. Daniel Graves absolutely crushed this slowly unspooling the story and highlighting a premier vocal talent in the modern scene. Pay attention to this future star.

Undone (Aesthetic Perfection Remix) | unitcode:machine (bandcamp.com)

5) INSULIN SHOCKSEva X Virtualsexual (Braindance Mix) – British Colombia Cyberrave single featuring Gaby of Eva X. She delivers this lovely terrifying AI choir you expect to hear right before the machines take over. Let yourself be assimilated, resistance is futile.

Virtualsexual (Braindance Mix) | Eva X | INSULIN SHOCKS (bandcamp.com)

6) Β Kill Shelter & Death Loves VeronicaSex Tape – Everything Pete does will be at the top of my buy list. Add in the smokey embodiment of a David Lynch film in sonic form Veronica Campbell. You have an instant recipe for a delicious sensual club banger. The craft displayed for every subtitle detail in song writing. Veronica’s temptress whisper. Nothing better than a song that starts a conversation while slapping this hard. You need this.

Sex Tape | Kill Shelter & Death Loves Veronica | Kill Shelter (bandcamp.com)

7) EN ESCHPush – Industrial legend En Esch collaborates with Gabriel Lennox newly on Give/Take with a rawkus 90’s industrial sound with a tent revival spiritual chant. I love the vocal layers and resonant clarity breaking the standard of the industrial roots. That clear breakdown at 4 minutes in particular is an absolutel gem.

Push | EN ESCH (bandcamp.com)

8) Ritual HowlsDark Ceiling In Tennessee – A different sound for the Detroit band. Personally I am loving this darkwave jangling spurs Violator vibe. Around 1:30 a flaming sword guitar lead cuts the tension. Paul Bancell fully embraces classic goth Baritone, which strikes the mark freshly against the digital chainsaw static. Personally this is my favorite Ritual Howls to date.

Dark Ceiling In Tennessee | Ritual Howls (bandcamp.com)

9) Self Titled AlbumEconomic Housing Anxieties​(​STA Mix) – Wonderful to see the Utah band back on out single charts. I have tried and describing Self Titled Album is always a Herculean effort. It is deeply honest and vulnerable spoken poetry in a psychedelic haze and electronic glide. A complex mixture i am glad our group reconizes and appreciates.

Economic Housing Anxieties(STA Mix) | Self Titled Album (bandcamp.com)

10) Dread RisksMachine Identity (in the walls mix by God Module) – My favorite Doomdustrial from Texas remixed by God Module and released on Re:Mission Records. I love everything about this sentence. Jason Bangert really adds a slippery wetness to Dread Risks usually boot stomping destructive power. If your club isn’t working this into your local dance night you are being done a disservice.

Machine Identity (in the walls mix by God Module) | Dread Risks | Re:Mission Entertainment (bandcamp.com)

System Syn and the Influence of Clint Carney on the Dark Music Community and Beyond

This started out with all the intent of being a review for System Syn’s latest two offerings β€œOnce Upon a Second Act” & the just released accompanying remix album β€œIf It Doesn’t Break You”

Both brilliant offerings from an act that has put out one great release after another but, I decided I didn’t just want to talk about the albums of System Syn, but about the man behind System Syn, Clint Carney and his ever-growing influence not just on dark music and our little corner of the world, but also art and film that’s often over shadowed by the shenanigans of other artists and his down to earth persona.

I first discovered System Syn in late 2004/early 2005 through classic online electro-industrial-EBM show Real Synthetic Audio followed by a tour supporting Imperative Reaction at local legendary Denver Nightclub Rock Island.

This was the first glimpse I had of the energy and creativity of Clint. Since then, I have become a fan on many levels, and through many channels.

As a long-standing DJ and writer in the Goth/Industrial/Alternative Communities I have followed the career of System Syn and Clint with relative curiosity over the years, each release better than the last. Which is saying worlds, with 15 releases as System Syn to date.

I always look forward to new System Syn releases yet dread it at the same time, as there is always more than one track worth spinning, that you know will make people move.

I know this doesn’t sound like a problem, but when an artist has this many albums full of great club worthy tracks that are also massive earworms. One can easily get bogged down and lost in the fray but, I always find something.

Once Upon a Second Act and If It Never Breaks You are no different in that respect. Both are solid albums filled with sonic goodies. Hell, the covers of Pulp’s β€œCommon People” and The Strokes β€œSomeday” are worth the money alone. And looking at the cover art (also done by Clint) brings me to the other side of Clint and System Syn.

As with a lot of artists in the dark and indie music community Clint is a multi-talented artist (more on that later) as well as filling in as a hired gun on multiple tours for acts like Imperative Reaction, and God Module. Adding the to the chemistry and artistry of each band’s live performance.

I have seen Clint live as often in other bands if not more than I have with his own projects. During the Triptych Tour, in Denver he not only played all 3 sets, but when the power at the venue went out, instead of just giving up or waiting, what did he do? That’s right he pulled out an acoustic guitar and continued to put on a pretty fantastic show.

This may not sound like much, yet it was the first time I have seen an artist at this level just take the road block and run with it.

Besides the above-mentioned artists and System Syn, if you go to Clint’s Wiki or Discogs you will see a number of side projects (Fake, Parallel Project) but also how far reaching his influence is working with people all across the board.

One might think it is enough to be a known and respected musician, not Clint.

As I spoke about earlier, Clint is also a prolific artist in multiple other disciplines. His album covers give an idea but nothing prepares you for the sheer volume of his work (very similar to Steven Archer of StoneBurner and Egolikeness in this regard), check out his involvement with Hyena Gallery and his transition into film and music video.

Since that time, he has worked with directors as notable as Wes Craven and David Fincher. And in 2017 making his Executive Producer, Writing and Acting debut in Dry Blood. Currently Clint is in various stages of production on other projects in film.

Talking with Clint, one would barely have an idea of how much he has going on or how wide his influence really is. He is both humble and polite, as well as being more down to earth than most I have had the chance to meet and speak with.

I for one am looking forward to many more years of releases from Clint and his various projects.

system syn (bandcamp.com)

Clint Carney Official Site | Artist | Musician | Film Maker

DRY BLOOD Official Trailer (2019) Horror Movie HD – YouTube

2020 has some amazing music festivals. Here is our guide to help you get the most musical band for your duckets.

As the scene of Goth/Industrial/Darkwave/Post Punk/Shoegaze music continues to experience an amazing renaissance, live shows are becoming a haven for the masses of fans to connect. This year boasts a boatload of amazing festivals where bands and fans can meet and share their love of this scene, so I will try and put together a guide of some of the great ones so you can plot a trip full of memories to last a lifetime.

Dark Spring Festival – (Boston) I am super excited for and will be at this one. This a brand new festival is anticipating its first year and they are already starting out strong with an amazing lineup including some of my favorite up-and-coming bands, mixed with long-term favorites. Great town with a cool scene. *Best New Festival

1. Un Hombre Solo (NYC)
2. Golden Apes (Berlin)
3. Sonsombre (VA)
4. Secret Shame (NC)
5. Shanghai Beach (NYC)
6. Pilgrims of Yearning (Boston)
7. Twin Tribes (TX)

https://www.facebook.com/events/2224829014290261

Golden Apes at Boston Dark Spring Fest
Dark Spring Festival Berlin

Dark Spring Festival Berlin – This brilliant festival inspired the aforementioned Boston one. It was started by Christian of Golden Apes and features Swiss darkwave act Hapax, Finnish Goth Rock elders Two Witches, Russian New Wave quintet Brandenburg, and French No Wave duo Dear Deer. Lots of Representation from Switzerland’s ‘Dark Nights’ label.

https://www.facebook.com/events/bi-nuu/dark-spring-festival-2020-berlin-bi-nuu/1275406542622411/

Hapax at Dark Spring Festival Berlin

Absolution Fest – (Tampa Bay, FL) Located in Tampa’s legendary club The Castle, this festival started last year and works closely with our friends at Obscura Undead. Tampa Bay has an outstanding scene, and this lineup is off the chain. I mean, fucking Drab Majesty! This one was spectacular last year and every band who played it told me how inspiring it was. Plus, you’re in Florida heat at one of the most renown goth clubs in the US. *Best Value

Pre-Party Lineup:
October 8th at Hooch and Hive
Mr.Kitty
Cold Medicine
Gulf Blvd with DJ MAUS

Day 1 Lineup:
October 9th at Crowbar
Hante.
Astari Nite
Rosegarden Funeral Party
Sonsombre
Die Robot
The Kentucky Vampires
Pass/Ages with
DJ Winters and DJ Black

Day 2 Lineup:
October 10th at The Orpheum
Drab Majesty
TRAITRS
The Bellwether Syndicate
S Y Z Y G Y X
Third Realm
The Purge
Mother Juno

https://www.facebook.com/events/2473284262889368/

Drab Majesty will be at Absolution Fest

Cold Waves – (Chicago) – So we went to this show last year and it was a life changing experience. The scene, the venue, the cause, the history, this is everything you hope for from a top-notch music fest. This one has been doing it right for a long time, and the lineup is absolutely stacked. Phenomenal mix of goth and industrial, old and new, plus the fact that Chicago, as a city, is so deeply entrenched in music history. Finally, Jim Marcus is doing a DJ set and I am here for that content! *Best Lineup

http://coldwaves.net/

Stabbing Westward will be at Cold Waves Chicago

Convergence – (Louisville KY) Interesting new venue for this long running festival. Amaranth applied for this one but sadly didn’t make it this time. Maybe next year. However when I look at this boss lineup I can’t feel mad. They packed this show with top talent in lots of genres. *Great lineup Fresh New Scene

  • The Kentucky Vampires
  • Xorcist
  • The Rope
  • Wingtips
  • Scary Black
  • S Y Z Y G Y X
  • Sonsombre
  • Twin Tribes
  • Vyva Melinkolya
  • God Module
  • The Bellwether Syndicate
Twin Tribes at Convergence KY

https://www.facebook.com/events/471361446925391/

Cold Transmission Fest – (Cologne Germany) – Our dear friends at Cold Transmission records started their first festival last year and we had the opportunity to cover it. It was amazing. The way people traveled from all over the world to come together and share a passion for great music. After the success of last year Suzy, Andy and team have expanded and have another wonderful lineup and more to be announced. My heart will be with them again. *Great Lineup, Intimate show

ASH CODE
BEDLESS BONES
IAMTHESHADOW
MARK E MOON
DILK

Ash Code will be at Cold Transmission festival

https://www.facebook.com/events/1417909858356678/

Dark Side of the Con – (Parsippany NJ) – Another long running festival I hear everyone rave about year after year but I’ve never attended. I need to get this on my list. This year it is a who’s who of 3rd wave goth and industrial. Big line up with lots of established acts. If this time period in goth was your jam you can’t beat this. Plus it has a convention feel with a lot of things beyond the music (panels, art, DIY, access to bands)

The Birthday Massacre
Cruxshadows
suicide commando
GRENDEL
DAS ICH BAND
God Module
Bella Morte
Echo Black Ego Likeness The Gothsicles
The Rain Within Astari Nite Chmcl Str8jckt
Methodical Devil-M DaGeist Ghostfeeder
00tz 00tz Die Robot Cliff and Ivy Stoneburner
Abbey Death Peter Turns Pirate Tragic Impulse
The Mary Lous Red Lokust

The Birthday Massacre will be at Dark Side of the Con
Out From the Shadows Fest

https://www.facebook.com/events/2556610007786941/?active_tab=about

Out From the Shadows Fest – (Portland) – Another festival I have heard wonderful things about from a great music city. This lineup is stellar and really runs the entire frequency of music styles. Great focus on fresh bands doing 3 stacked nights of music. Huge lineup with a lot of bigger named acts blending well with fresh faces. Plus Portland is just a great place to have a vacation if you are goth.

Thursday:

SYZYGYX (Wash. DC)
FEARING (LA)
KOMRADS (Rochester NY)
LOVE HATE AFFAIR (Austin)
THE ELECTRIC WEST (LA)
PHYSICAL WASH (PDX)
RITUAL VEIL (PDX)
– TBD –

Friday:

BODY OF LIGHT (Arizona)
AUTOMELODI (Montreal)
SSLEEPING DESIRESS (SF)
MAYFLOWER MADAME (Oslo)
PUSH BUTTON PRESS (Tampa)
V.E.X. (members of MOIRA SCAR) (Oakland)
VERSARI (Paris)
WE ARE PARASOLS (PDX)

Saturday:

RITUAL HOWLS (Detroit)
TEARFUL MOON (Austin)
KORINE (Philadelphia)
ASTARI NITE (Miami)
SICK WISH (Boise)
SEVENTEEN AT THIS TIME (Paris)
MR WRONG (PDX)
LIES WE WERE TOLD (PDX)

Ritual Howls will be at Out of the Shadows Fest
San La Muerta Festival

San La Muerta Festival – (Austin Tx) Austin is probably one of the best cities for goth industrial in the US. The list of bands currently out of this town is staggering. Great DJ support. I imagine this party is off the chain. They boast a monster lineup from all over the globe. The Vanishing doing a reunion and Shes Past Away.

https://www.facebook.com/events/573222733407494/

San La Muerte Fest 2020
Sept. 17th – 19th
Austin Texas

-This year SLM proudly presents:
from Spain
ANA CURRA
(formerly of Paralisis Permanente, Alaska y Los Pegamoides, Los Seres Vacios)
Ana Curra will perform Friday Sept. 18th, 2020 in Austin Texas
Venue: TBA
Tickets available now on SLM website

-SHE PAST AWAY
One of the best current Darkwave Post Punk bands. Only Texas Show! All the way from Turkey!
Sept. 19th with The Vanishing
Elysium Austin Texas

-THE VANISHING (San Francisco)
20 YEAR REUNION!
Only Texas Date!
The Vanishing will be playing Saturday Sept. 19th
alongside She Past Away!
Venue:Elysium
Tickets available now on SLM website

The Vanishing at San La Muerte Fest

Dark Malta Festival – (Malta) Great mixture of Euro darkness. Some big names in goth/Industrial/ and metal here. Plus it is in Malta in April which i imagine is gorgeous. If you have the means, I highly recommend checking it out, so choice πŸ˜‰

https://www.facebook.com/events/428462821068850/?active_tab=discussion

Solar Fake is at Dark Malta Festival

I will continue to update this as lots of the big festivals have not announced lineups yet. Wave Gothic, Sanctuary, Machinefest.