Thursday, December 29, 2022

The best goth/post-punk releases of 2022

 Although this blog is currently mothballed, it would be very remiss not to salute those acts whose releases have illuminated this first post-Covid year, with gigs virtually back to normal and bands no longer confined to the studio. 2022 has seen a further maturing of the current wave of bands, with most of the projects in the Top 10 on at least their third album, and now fully establishing themselves as scene leaders. With giant Euro festivals as diverse as the 80's retro W-Fest (in Belgium) and metal-obsessed Hellfest (in France) seeing the wisdom of effectively having a goth stage at their events (with Fields of the Nephilim set to play at both) in 2023, the scene continues to both consolidate and grow organically, waiting for the glorious day when the rest of the world finally catches up with the great music made over the past decade....



So here without any further ado are the Goth/Post-Punk Revival blog Top Releases of 2022:


Top 10 albums of 2022 (in alphabetical order)

 

All My ThornsFurther From The Distant Sun

Shamelessly Nephilim-influenced metal-tinged occult goth rock, fantastically written, performed, produced and mastered.

 

Black AngelThe Black Rose

Dramatic modern film noir gothic rock take on classic 80’s tropes updated for the discerning modern audience.

 

Deathtrippers Passion and Fire

High quality atmospheric gothgaze from the Leeds band keeping the flame alive in the scene's "heartland".

 

JE T’AIMEPassive

Energetically diverse French post-punk album stuffed with good tunes.

 

Kill Shelter - Asylum

Stunningly produced modern gothic darkwave which at its best is an alchemical melange of The Prodigy and The Sisters of Mercy

 

MalefixioMagia Ceremonial

Spell-binding buzzsaw low-fi Batcave deathrock from the Barcelona trio, it's raw power earning the album a place in this top 10.

 

October Burns BlackTwo Worlds Collide

Trad goth rock supergroup deliver powerful and well-paced full debut set after a couple of highly promising EPs

 

Secret French Postcards Life Got Claws

Dreamy guitar-based gothgaze with shimmering Chameleons-reminiscent melodies, an album to wallow in.

 

Then Comes SilenceHunger

Peerless polished angular and dramatic goth-tinged post-punk from the Swedish maestros on this their sixth album.

 

They DieEmptiness Prevails

Epic dark gothic synthwave for the dancefloor from the fast-rising Italian trio.

 

 

Runners-up (i.e. 11-20, in no particular order): Soft Moon, Adriano Bê, Cabaret Grey, Byronic Sex & Exile, The Doctors, Red Moon Macabre, Crows, The Palest Grey, The Black Capes, Rammstein

 

  

 

Top EPs of 2022 (in alphabetical order)

 

Fearing Desolate

Classy darkwave post-punk from the first note to the last chord of a varied but fascinating EP

 

Gallows’ EveFive Hexes

Accomplished Swedish goth rock with trad leanings

 

Mark E MoonLux Invictae

Gothier set of tracks from the ever-reliable Manx darkwave act

 

NeonpocalypseISM

Wonderfully retro futurist solo outing from Then Comes Silence frontman

 

Velvet MistVisitation

Unashamedly late 80’s-style melodic goth rock from Belgium

 

The Waning MoonThe Waning Moon

Excellent trad goth collaboration between Ariel Maniki and Zac Campbell (Kentucky Vampires)

 

 

Top 5 singles of 2022 (in alphabetical order)

 

Ground NeroDead World

Strong baritone vocal lament over the habitual upbeat gothic wall-of-sound

 

Kill Shelter ft Beborn BetonIn This Place

Nagging syncopated Hussey-esque riff underpins modern darkwave classic which nods knowingly to DM and TSOM

 

The Bellwether SyndicateDystopian Mirror

Surprisingly energetic and original gothic rock from one of the scene’s most established, erm, bellwethers.

 

Then Comes SilenceTickets to Funerals

Inventively powerful gothic post-punk from the most professional band on the scene

 

They Die A Single Frame

Descending bassline, lugubrious vocal, club friendly sequencer BPM, shimmering and modulating guitars. A perfect example of the current scene at its best.