Reviews: gothic

The Search is a band from Sweden who independently released their self-titled debut album. Like many young bands at the momoment, they’re clearly inspired by gloomy music from the early 80’s.

The Polish band Miguel and the Lving Dead has a classic horror-rock/punk image and sound. Their heavy and dark rock is fuelled with psychobilly and surf influences. Besides that they make use of synths to create some spooky sounds and effects. All of this results into a very theatrical sound. At times the party mood takes over a little bit too much…

This fourth release by :Spassmodique: is one that they recorded and produced all by themselves between 2002 and 2004. And I can add that they did a great job at it, the production level at least is quite high. The music of this Cologne-based trio is best described as some kind of electronic soundscapes in song-structures…

For some people Wallenberg might be a well known name in the gothrock scene as the band was already active in the 80?s. But, for others the band will be completely unknown. This new cd will most likely not change this status of the band. The sound of the band is that of a classic gothic rock band, but with a very light and poppy character. Most typical is the bad singer of the band…

It is amazing how many contemporary gothic rock bands Strobelight can find. This is already the third double cd they release that focuses on new gothic rock, deathrock, post-punk and related bands…

NLW is the label related to the well known Backagain webzine. The main interest of the webzine and the label is minimal and electronic (wave) music. But also other wave and 80’s styles are covered. This 7” by Experiment Nnord (who also have other releases) has a classic gothic sound. Both tracks feature some electronic elements which are mixed with traditional instruments…

Possibly this is the most looked forward to deathrock/post-punk album of the year. Black Ice started as a side-project of The Phantom Limbs as an outlet for their darker sounds. Now Black Ice is a name on itself. After a brilliant EP this is their real debut album. I must admit the record is both satisfying and a little disappointing at the same time…

Silent Love of Death is a new band from Spain, consisting of the brothers Juan Carlos and Miguel Angel Toledo. Together they have created over an hour of dark and atmospheric music on their debut album. The music cannot be easily put under one label: there are influences from apocalyptic folk, dark wave, neo-classical, gothic rock…

Vinyl On Demand already released some very good obscure 80’s avant-garde, minimal electronics and industrial music. This lp comes as a surprise after these records, a pleasant surprise I want to add. Die Unbekannten is of course an 80’s band. They combine the best of new wave, gothic rock and post-punk…

The last cd by Mira from Tallahassee, who you could perhaps call an ethereal gothic band, is already a few years behind us. Good news: a new album called “There I go daydreamer” is coming up this summer. To get you in the mood the band has released a 4-track mcd, with two tracks that will be included on the album…

If Lycia’s Mike Vanportfleet and Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor were to copulate, and one of them would receive a child rectally, undoubtedly, they would name it Architect’s eye. A little male child, with almost invisible batwings and crunching steel teeth. Both fathers make poppy, danceable music. Reznor a little more industrial, Vanportfleet a little more lush and gothic…

It’s been a while since “The Art of Creating Confused Spirits” was released, but Torben Wendt proves it was worth waiting. Melodic synth-songs that are so driven that you just have to put everything else away while listening to this album. You just want to dance along, cry along with the album.. feel what emotion there is in yourself…

FTC Records is a bit of a strange label. They seem to specialize mainly in tribute albums. A tribute to The Cure was released over a year ago, and albums dedicated to David Bowie and Nick Cave are in the making. Meanwhile a tribute to Joy Division and its sequel New Order came out, with 14 different bands interpretating both ‘hits’ and lesser known songs…

Deine Lakaien has evolved over the years from an obscure darkwave act to a mature band on a big label which is no stranger to the (German) charts. Their melancholic and romantic music is apparently something which appeals to a bigger audience than just the goth scene. A characteristic element of Deine Lakaien is the expressive voice of frontman Alexander Veljanov…

What is there to say about Ikon that is not said yet? This gothic band has been around for a long time and made several good records. They always succeed in writing some wonderful melancholy and catchy songs. Of course on this single they have done that again. The title track is from the most recent EP Psychic Vampire…

La Mamoynia fuses electronic gothic / darkwave music with minimal electronics. So, electronics are the main ingredient in the music, but at times also some guitar sounds can be heard.

If you like classic gothic rock Voices of Masada is a band not to be missed. The music on Four corners is very much in the tradition of bands like The Sisters of Mercy, Rosetta Stone and the likes. This also means that if you like some progression in the genre and some new sounds from time to time you will have to look elsewhere. Musically Voices of Masada is a strong band…

On the Cochon Records compilation Nostalgia Del Buio, Veronica Lipgloss and the Evil Eyes was one of the bands that really caught my attention. This band plays fierce post-punk in the style of early Siouxsie and the Banshees. Also the band is somewhat comparable with contemporary acts like Black Ice and Swann Danger, although they seem less gothic and more riot grrrl orientated…

Fans of music with the old batcave feeling will be delighted with this album by Deadchovsky. Spooky basslines, haunting guitar pieces, screamed vocals and creepy percussion are the tools of this band.

Italy-based My Sixth Shadow releases their first full-length album (two e.p. releases went before this one) to the masses. The six men give us a taste of what they mean with New Wave Of Gothic Rock, a description that actually fits the music quite neatly, except for the missing link to metal…