I’ll Give You Something To Cry About

It’s been a really tough week for me. It’s been hard to find the motivation to write or do much of anything. Today was a little better. I haven’t found myself listening to less music, just finding it harder to hear the words to describe it in my mind. Today was the first time I had felt like I could talk again. So I have an enormous backlog of music to write about. Lets get some of that out now.

ESA (Electronic Substance Abuse) – “Eat Their Young” If ESA’s latest album Burial 10 was a barb wire wrapped bat beating the shit out of you with electronic destruction. The new EP Eat Their Young is the same effect with a razor sharp sword. It has a purpose and intent with it’s execution. Back again is Corlyx Caitlin Stokes adding a sensuality and velvet glove to the relentless destruction. Power and Beauty in equal measure in this must have EP from London England. Also the video for the single is a masterclass in modern music/image synthesis

https://esangp.bandcamp.com/album/eat-their-young-the-scorn-ep

Corlyx – “Together Apart” – Speaking of Caitlin, her and band mate Brandon Ashley are back for a follow up to their album “In2 The Skin” 1st single is out now for a Sept 15th release. It’s another burner. Porcelain Skin brings that same darkpop flavor of broken glass candy and ghostly light. Caitlin has a beauty and truth with crawls under your skin and infects you with a cracked mirror of perception. Can’t wait to hear how the rest shakes out.

https://corlyxngp.bandcamp.com/

MelodyWhore – “This Is How We Were Taught To Pray” New single release from electronic sin wizard MelodyWhore out of Texas. This single was written as a charity donation for BLM. Jimmy called in some of the top names in the scene to contribute with remixes and vocals. The song is a powerful hymn of equality in a call to take down an unfair establishment. This one gives me chills with it’s intensity and soul shaking faith. I was lucky enough to contribute myself on the Gothic Tabernacle Choir remix. A Great cause and outpouring of talent forged together into one of the most spine tingling singles of the year.

https://melodywhore.bandcamp.com/

Carrion – “The Tempest” Swirling ash and oblivion from Norway’s Carrion. A new single of slow fuse creeping doom that shows you the horror to come and leaves you chained waiting for the inevitable destruction.

https://officialcarrion.bandcamp.com/

Hallowed HeartsInto The Fire” I really like the way this album bends the line between goth and post punk with a slight lean towards goth. It’s emotional and flows like a rippling black ribbon. The melody lines are captivating and seamless. Some beautiful guitar rock elements with gentle curves to match the tight post punk base lines. Impressive.

https://hallowedhearts.bandcamp.com/

Stoneburner – “Dark Ambient Album” Steven Archer is always twisting the joint to find a new position. Never comfortable in one concept he is an ever moving force. This new 6 song EP steers away from the vocal driven industrial of the last few albums into texture sonic painting. Full of strong effects and video game soundtrack pastels. From one mountain many rivers may flow.

https://stoneburnerofficial.bandcamp.com/

EchoBeryl – “The Awakening Of The Mutant” From Cold Transmission this French synthtrance retro dance dream keeps the imagination flowing. The album is an homage to 50’s and 60’s sci-fi drama. It’s a modern concept through a retro lens. Set to release Aug 21st currently 2 tracks are available for pre order and both are a teleport beam to both the past and the future.

It’s Wed my dudes. Which means I’m red wine drunk talking about new music.

So here we are my friends. Another night of me spewing drunken ramblings into the interweb about what I am listening to. I have to admit I have been stepping outside the box a lot this week Stretching the boundaries of my usual genres. Which is a great feeling. Also if you read this page and feel like you know a type of music which doesn’t get good representation here, why stand for that? Reach out to me. I am always looking for new writers who know about things I am not well versed in. Lets dive in.

MasinaAwake Again With You – So I came across this criminally underrated band from London when they did a remix of our friends Loveblind. They released this EP in January full of soulful triphop with rich beautiful piano tones and slick feather floating vocals. Kayleigh and
Jo have a fencer vocal style of sharp strikes and deceptive flourishes. I really fell into the constant heartbeat of these songs. It has a light airy expansive style but the constant drive of the drums keeps the blood pumping in your finger tips while the vocals float on top like a cloud.

(Side Note) Amaranth is working on a remix for them and they are looking for more remixes. If you are an artists, reach out. These sounds are hot.

https://masina.bandcamp.com/album/awake-again-with-you

Guillotine DreamDamaged and Dammed – July release from the Welsh traditional goth band. I love this heavy handed mudslinging spookfest right from the start. It’s urgent, sensual, and hums like a spectral generator keeping the lights on in a cemetery. Arc growls away with a rough and ready metal vocal feel. I really liked the feel of “Hidden Rooms“. It had this cool glam Scary Monsters flavor. those guitars just keep ringing out like bell chimes. This is one of those bands that is making goth claw it’s hands through the earth and rise from the grave.

https://guillotinedream.bandcamp.com/album/damaged-and-damned

Damien DoneTo Night – Our fellow Michigan band has a new EP release from May. I really love the singer songwriter style of this band that has clear, clever pop hooks which have evolved and expanded into ultra dark ringing shadow soul theatrical goth. The dynamic shift of these songs are a master class in how to yank the emotions of your listener like a stallion on the bit. Thick heavy baselines that rumble and echo to drive each track forward. Damien has a rich and lovely baritone that spews poetry and clever transition. Everytime I hear this band I think to myself why am I not listening to more of this band. It’s like Voltaire with more spit and vinegar.

https://damiendone.bandcamp.com/album/to-night-ep?fbclid=IwAR35sAZUASpKOZgaFbIC0p1h2f8q4JCS3Dy4xfiD7CPaBDcY-TDSXvpJCSU

Big Time KillBurn Out – Boston MA electro grunge has a new EP out. It’s a beautiful energy full of peaks and valleys. It’s electric and full of sizzle and shriek. I love the introspective lyrics and 2000s guitar shredding emo thunder. Adam has a true laser beam belt that helps carry the message with napalm intensity.

https://bigtimekill.bandcamp.com/album/burn-out?fbclid=IwAR1b-QZxSug765C0cLynRatdEjA22dBzgJWOPVF6I3maTwk59C21o0PABS8

Skull Family SPhone – Arkansas dance weavers released a new EP in April. It’s breathy, wicked, and full of dark intent. I love the energy of the opening track Void . The slick even shadow pop is full of dynamics and explosive crescendos. I really enjoy the trilling guitar word and synth builds.

https://skullfamily.bandcamp.com/album/sphone

The Walking Icon III for the Past – New single for the Russian dreampop duo. It is dancy, delicious and full of swirling air, and purple lightning tempo. Sasha has a voice that is striking and warm with a dash of echo effect. I look forward to future releases.

https://thewalkingicon.bandcamp.com/album/iii-for-the-past?fbclid=IwAR3qbzpo1naXJPBFXJrWgGmxswcYYIO9nUSQNVYZcrxrfPA01jHu6SetXUM

Pigs of the Roman EmpireSeasick – Ok this band from Australia first captured me with a brilliant name, but quickly I was drawn into the post punk alt dark slither. I love the harmony vocal separation offsetting the low ket drone guitars. Just a four song EP but a brilliant swirling tornado of 90’s aly rock and 80’s post punk. It spins with reckless abandon until you can’t see the lines between meshing styles.

https://pigsoftheromanempire.bandcamp.com/