Early 2023 - Subterranean

I can always count on SwissDarkNights and Bat-Cave Productions to lay down a batch of goth albums whether is be new or recurring acts. Bands from both labels are featured on here from Reflection Black, Long Night to Shrouds, Cult Strange and more. Digital releases are a bit pricey but that is so you will have to order the physical release which is a nice but sadly I live in the US and the shipping is going to kill my wallet. But enough of that little rant, Astari Nite just released a new single with "Bowie in Daydreams". The band is currently on a US tour and hopefully we will be able to hear more new music from the group. I featured Spanish darkwave/deathrock band Malefixio some months ago with their latest release Magia Ceremonial. For those that want a physical release of said album it is now possible as Psychic Eye, an indie label that specializes in goth, electronic and experimental music is handling the distribution of the LP for US audiences. They also offer shirts as well which is a nice attention to supporting the band. Now I been following this group for a while now and glad to see they are not only touring but with their first LP, this is Chrysanthenum Ballroom's Daylight Dies. The album is a mixture of post punk, deathrock and new wave that was heavily influenced by the 80's bands around at the time.

Moving on to the latter half of the goth/post punk set is Diary of Dreams with their brand new album since 2017. The album Melancholin dives into the band's more ethereal wave-like sound strung along with darkwave melodies and minimalistic industrial tings. One of the artists within their latter half of the portion that i keep running into is Ukrainian musician Hans Helwinden. And I run into him in strange places i shouldn't be like on tick tok or youtube shorts. This is definitely one artist to check out as he has this sort of apocalyptic darkwave sound. Very unique. Depeche Mode is back with a new single titled "Ghosts Again". Looking further to more new album from them. Lastly to highlight is a Paradise Lost side project which I did not see coming. Their side band is Host which is named after the Paradise Lost record of the same name and even follows that same style which they did at that time. Host is a blend of goth rock, darkwave, synthpop to even vague hints of industrial. It is lead by Nick Holmes and Gregor Machintosh. And I for one really look forward for them to continue said side-project.

Nick Holmes and Gregor Machintosh of Host/Paradise Lost

Paul Ion Barker is at it again and back with Lead Into Gold his the new album The Eternal Present which will be released in April at the time of this reading. An industrial music legend with many groups under his belt notably Ministry, Revolting Cocks and Lard to name a few. The release will be distributed by Artoffact Records. Out with his second compilation is Metal Disco's Technoid Electronics II, a collection of his work from 2021-2022. The Greek musician has been at it again and always busy pumping out tunes after tunes. You can also caught his music through Werkstatt Records if you didn't get a chance to get his physical releases from his own bandcamp page. One highlight within this mix-set is Harsh R who are fairly new-ish industrial group. They been around since 2017 according to the releases. They just released their first ever LP Seek Comfort after a string of EPs. The group provides a unique blend of distorted synthesized sounds that almost border on industrial rock and electro-industrial. The album will be handled by American noise/industrial label Phage Tapes. Glad to see this project signed onto a notable label within the scene.

February has been a good month this year for industrial rock and metal in general. Morlocks are back and with a brand new upcoming album since 2011's The Outlaw of Fives. They released their first single off of the album Praise the Iconoblast with "Dicks in Tanks". Now what is interesting about it is that it features Heljarmadr who is the current vocalist of the Swedish black metal band Dark Funeral and the frontman of Gra as well. You can check out the official music video here. The album has no set date but will be out soon according to the band. Leæther Strip is at it again with more new music and the first batch of new music is a one off cover of Rammstein's famous track "Du Hast". Also look out for Claus Larsen's brand new full length studio album Last Station. Now we just mentioned Paul Barker just a little while ago, this month we hit an anniversary. A 20 years anniversary with Ministry's Animositisomina. This is where fans of the band are split and claim this is Ministry's "final true" on the count this was the last album with him on board before Al Jourgensen and co. reformed under a much more heavier thrashier direction. This month off with a new single is Static-X with Nine Inch Nails cover "Terrible Lie". The band is currently touring with already some sold out shows with the support of Fear Factory, Dope, Mushroomhead and Twiztid. They will be back with a brand new album under their current vocalist with Project: Regeneration Vol. 2. Another band I would like to spotlight is GhostHost with their brand new album Testament of a Wretched Dogma. This LP is a strange amalgamation of darksynth and metal much like early to mid Gost but coated in gothic horror.

Static-X circa 2023 (Photo by Jeremy Saffer)

Another notable act from Ukraine is Aenfrz, one man dark ambient project. I came across this by pure accident. What caught my attention was the description of Aenfrz on their bandcamp page. "16 y.o. guy who tries to create dark ambient and black metal." Kid, if you are reading this, you are doing an amazing job. Keep it up. Check out his bandcamp page, all music is set as name your price.

There were so many anniversaries in the metal portion they had to get their own block. Wanna feel old? Cradle of Filth's Damnation and a Day turns 20 in March. This album was one of the turning points where the group cemented their extreme gothic metal sound while they shift away from the Cruelty and the Beast's more black metal-like sound prior to Midian. This was also around the time when Moonspell's The Antidote was released 20 years ago. At the time this was the band's sixth LP continuing the style of Darkness and Hope but leaning towards a heavier sound furthering the gap between their mid-career more experimental albums. Going a bit further back 25 years ago this month, Coal Chamber released their debut selftitled album in 1997. This was around the time when nu metal was king as the band gained support through touring to spread their music with the help of bands such as Fear Factory, Korn, Anthrax to even Danzig and Type O Negative to name a few. The group did release more albums but their LP was their bread and butter and what album they were best known for. Every kid at the time had this album in their cd collection I almost guarantee it they were that big. Now if we go back even further 30 years this month, Anathema's debut was released through Peaceville. Serenades was a label hit and the band was quickly referenced as one of the big 3 from the label. Their hit "Sleepless" is featured within this mix set.

Coal Chamber circa 1997 (Roadrunner Records)

The dark metal portion of the mix features some notable highlights as the very talented Lilita Arndt and her one-woman project Leschure from Ukraine. I discovered Leschure through another project of her's, Akhemar, an esoteric black/ritual ambient project that has been featured in my past mix-sets. Speaking of one-woman projects, Victoria Carmilla Hazemaze makes another appearance in my mix-set with one of her many outlets of music, Luna Pythonissam of Mexico. This young lady does it all from shoegaze, post punk, dungeon synth to black metal and more. Definitely check out her work. Now here is another blast from the past when the underground post black metal scene was getting noticed by the rest of the world. Heretoir is back with a remastering of their 2011 debut selftitled LP that also includes two re-recorded tracks. Hopefully Eklatanz and co. go back to the studio to make another recording, last new material was in 2019 with their single "Golden Dust (Acoustic Version)". Here we have a brand new act Tribunal, a gothic doom metal duo from Vancouver Canada spearheaded by both Etienne Flinn and Soren Mounre. The duo are an instant hit and currently signed through American label 20 Buck Spin. If you are into My Dying Bride but with a gloomier twist, this band is a must to check out.