Friday, May 21, 2021

Top Twenty Goth Releases of April/May 2020

 I had originally planned to start work on a summary of the best releases of the second quarter of 2021 (April - June) on the post-punk/goth scene, but by the middle of the second month it was already clear that in the more traditional gothic genre alone, arguably the poor relation so far of the largely synth-based goth/post-punk/wave revival, there were more than enough high-quality releases to merit a full top twenty listing. In no particular order therefore, here are some of the current highlights from a subgenre which (political controversies notwithstanding) is clearly rising and reverberating more strongly than at any other time in over two decades.

1.       The Black Capes – The Bride of Frankenstein

After last year’s impressive sophomore album Lullabies for the Dead, Greek gothic rock act return with a hugely impressive new song which is the title track for a new Frankenstein movie in their homeland. Alex S Wamp’s basso profundo croon is highly effective in this slow-burning delight as the band enhance their deservedly growing reputation as one of the best old-school gothic rock acts on the scene.

No YouTube video available for this track, so just a Bandcamp link here


2.       Black Angel – Live To Love

Growing up in the UK’s original 1980’s goth scene, Black Angel mainman Matt Vowles is back with the lead track from the band’s forthcoming third album, The Prince of Darkness. With Corey Landis still providing a classy lead vocal, Live To Love rides a galloping bassline and understated riff and continues the sumptuously produced gothabilly seam so richly mined on the second album Kiss of Death released last year.

Bandcamp link here



3.       The Wake – Perfumes and Fripperies

A-League goth legends The Wake have released a new video to accompany the title track from last year’s comeback album Perfumes and Fripperies. Whilst far from the best track on the album, the shimmering guitar lines and velvety vocals reveal both the original charm of the second-generation frontrunners and the subtlety of their song structures. With a vibe that recalls those moments of slumber between deep, decadent slumber and the harsh light of the new day, the new video is a welcome invitation to revisit one of 2020’s most rewarding releases.

Bandcamp link here.


4.       Gemidos Necrofilicos – Cutun

Chilean project Gemidos Necrofilicos have an instantly appealing low-fi charm and demonstrate keen goth sensibilities on new release Relatos Malfidos. Cutun is typical of their short evocative bursts of darkwave deathrock and revels in a strong melody tinged with cinematic b-movie horror movie ambiance, and marks Gemidos Necrofilicos out as one of the leading lights of the pre-dominant Latin American gothic scene.

Bandcamp link here


5.        Byronic Sex & Exile – The Mirror

Leeds’ hearse-driving “Mr Goth”, Joel Heyes, is back with another fascinating album of well-written gothic folk tales. Heyes always wears his bruised heart on his sleeve, and has a dandyish authenticity and wit that transcends what can be a somewhat nombrilistic genre. As ever, the individual tracks on new EP Yorkshire Gothic cover a range of styles, but with a bluntness and depth which are suitably epic to represent Goth’s (sic) Own County. Standout track The Mirror tells a spooky tale of an alleged magical ritual once performed on York’s river Ouse in the shadow of the famous Minister cathedral.

Bandcamp link here


6.       A Cloud of Ravens – Tithes and Offerings

Another band with a new video highlighting a key track from a recent album is A Cloud of Ravens, recent interviewees on this blog and authors of arguably the year’s most outstanding album so far. Tithes and Offerings is the album’s standout track, a stark and atmospheric verse contrasting with an epic chorus which highlights the rougher edges of Matt’s vocal, whilst the video itself, featuring bassist Beth is symbolic of the band’s effortless cool.

Bandcamp link here



7.       The Last Cry – Lifeline Part One (isolation edit)

UK scene stalwarts have released a timely return to form last year with the album Lifeline, and an “isolation edit” of lead track Lifeline Part One has just been released. The Brighton based band’s 2010’s reformation has rightly been greeted with enthusiasm by those who loved the distinctive sound of late 80’s goth, and the new version of Lifeline Part One develops the classic sound further.

Bandcamp link here



8.       Raven Said – A Flowering and a Flattering

Mastered by Pete Burns (of Kill Shelter fame), Raven Said’s recent single A Flowering and a Flattering adds a new depth to their previous old school gothic rock sound, updating it for this third generation revival. Andy and Maria deliver another quality song with a lyric about a “heartbroken Valentine”, steeped in the melancholic vibe of traditional gothic literature, and hinting at a more creative new direction for the genial Russian duo.

Bandcamp link here


9.       Glasszone - City of Light

Orleans-based act Glasszone’s sound is a perfect balance of moody gothic rock and typical French coldwave, and City of Light from the new Moments LP released this month is a great introduction to their sound. Beautifully layered soundscapes rise and fall, continuing the uniformly high quality of previous releases from one of the most underrated projects on the current scene.

Bandcamp link here



10.   Dreamscape – Dreamscape

Dreamscape is a side project featuring the wonderfully Nephilimistic vocals of Drew Freeman (late of Sometime The Wolf), and this single track released on Bandcamp though clearly highly derivative, delivers a thrilling slow-burning epic of a track which would fit very well on FOTN’s classic Elizium album.

Bandcamp link here



11.   Everlust – Land Of Dreams

Latvian goth metal lite band Everlust evoke memories of Evanescence and Lacuna Coil at their world-dominating millennial best on this lead track from their new album, with a real lilting earworm of a melody over a descending bassline, metronomic crushed riffs and the classic ethereal verse/stadium chorus mix. A strong vocal, clean production and a well-crafted song structure, albeit with a bizarre coda featuring an impressively Minnie Ripperton-esque vocal range at the very end, combine to make this one of the stand-out tracks of the year so far.

Bandcamp link here



12.   Sex Gang Children – Death Mask Mussolini

Whether on his solo releases or when reviving the SGC moniker as on new album Oligarch, Andi’s releases are always a breath of fresh air, freed from the shackling straitjacket of gate-keeping expectation by a career of confounding genre norms. The abiding sense of theatricality and the plangent whine of his voice always make a new set of songs a genuine treat, and in a typically varied selection of which Death Mask Mussolini is the most traditional, SGC reaffirm their position as one of the scene’s most consistent performers and strongest influences.

Bandcamp link here



13.   Jyrki 69 feat. Steve Stevens – White Rabbit

Billy Idol’s collaborations with Steve Stevens led to some of his greatest alternative dancefloor hits (“Rebel Yell”, “White Wedding” etc), and the guitarist returns with some trademark melodic power chord sequences on this atmospheric cover of the Jefferson Airplane psychedelic classic (known to most goths from The Damned’s version) with second generation goth royalty Jyrki of the band 69 Eyes, whose leathered croon is one of the most distinctive voices of the genre. There are no surprises here, just two consummate professionals pooling their talents to create another slice of goth’n’roll heaven.



14.   Vazum – Haunted House

US deathrock-tinged act Vazum first caught my attention with their twisted Vazumnacht release at the end of 2020 featuring contorted and Krampused-up versions of some perennial Yuletide favourites, and new single Haunted House from the forthcoming album V+ is a haunting, claustrophobic in-your-face song with its disturbing “In your heart, violence, violence, violence” chorus in a similarly thrilling vein. Buzzing bass, spooky guitar riffs, pounding drums and atonal sounds in a wilfully muddy mix make this track a genuinely dark delight.

Bandcamp link here


15.   Cathedral In Flames – Blacktrain

With their studied gothic look and careful use of genre tropes, Prague’s Cathedral In Flames sometimes come across as one of those acts trying just a little too hard to be authentic (they even have a track called Twilight Of The Goths), but there’s enough variety and quality on new album Hang Me High And Bury Me Deep (see what I mean?) to retain the attention of the most ardent critic. Whilst the lyrics and music of latest single Blacktrain are utterly predictable (think mid-era Sisters crossed with second generation bands like Rosetta Stone and The Wake), it’s an undeniably well done pastiche.

Bandcamp link here



16.   Vampires of Rome – Wish You Were Dead

Talking of risibly stereotypical “goff” acts, The Vampires of Rome are back with another single which is as gloriously over the top as every other aspect of the project (name, image and sound). Wish You Were Dead begins with a suitably Wagnerian Euro-goth riff, and the overall effect is Angels of Liberty and Rammstein combining to cover Lucretia, My Reflection. If that doesn’t whet your appetite whilst inducing a slight eyeball roll, you’re reading the wrong blog.

Bandcamp link here


17.   La Procesion de lo Infinito – la Tumba de los dioses

This round-up ends with four oft-overlooked releases of the past couple of years which are being re-released in a new or extended, and the first of these is the vinyl debut of Columbian duo La Procesion de lo Inifito’s re-release of the wonderful album La Era Oscura (The Dark Age) on Peru label In Club Records. Bolstered by the inclusion of a couple of extra tracks which didn’t feature on the (still available) original CD release on Gothic Rock records. Featuring a mix of strong yet ethereal female vocals and angular guitar progressions, this well-produced treat has a wonderful late 90’s feel which will appeal to fans of The Eden House or Christian Death alike. If you have yet to dip your toe into the lush waters of Hispanophone goth, this darkly melodic debut would make an excellent starting point.

Bandcamp link here



18.   Into Grey – Frailty

Also on In Club comes the first physical release (on CD and cassette this time) of one of the albums of 2020, Into Grey’s self-titled debut EP of deceptively complex “miserygoth”. Jermaine Artis’ solo project is a perfect juxtaposition of bleak introspective lyrics half-whispered over meandering basslines, a stark backbeat and interwoven lush guitar which sum up in musical form the beauty of misery. Into Grey have also recently released a new single, Waiting Here: driven as usual by a simple eight-to-the-bar bassline and basic drum pattern, Artis’ unsettling deadpan vocal wilfully clashes with some typically excellent guitar interplay, with warm synth swathes adding extra layers to the mix.

Bandcamp link here



19.   Slow Danse With The Dead – He Speaks Too Much

In Club Records’ run of impeccable taste continues with a CD issue of another of our top 10 albums of 2020, an extended release of Slow Danse With The Dead’s eponymous collection of tracks originally released as a series of singles and EPs. Whilst operating in similar miserygoth terrain to Into Grey, SDWTD’s sound is more minimalist and synth based, but no less powerful and melodic.

Bandcamp link here



20.   Stranger and Lovers – Succubus (S.F.)

Saving the best until last, Stranger and Lovers’ brand new release Masochistic Love on Young and Cold Records brings together remastered versions of the tracks from their debut cassette self-release with the stunning singles (like Succubus) drip-fed onto the market over the past six months. The Mexican act’s overtly S&M imagery and (thankfully largely indecipherable) lyrics will be a turn-off for some, but the beat-based grooves featuring superb modern goth guitarwork and synth pulses melding ancient hardware with modern studio techniques make for compelling listening on an album which sets a new bar on the current darkwave scene.

Bandcamp link here