The Sun And The Moon [UK]

The Sun and the Moon were Mark Burgess, John Lever, Andy Clegg and Andy Whitaker, with both Andy's on guitars. The group was formed when Andy Clegg and John Lever, recruited Mark (a friendship had developed between Mark and Andy Clegg who had played keyboards with the Chameleons) and Andy Whitaker. The two Andy's had been working together on another project (Music for Aborigines).

The band recorded an album, "The Sun and the Moon" and an EP, "Alive; not Dead", which included a cover of Alice Cooper's 'Elected,' a song which the Chameleons sometimes covered during their live shows.

The setup of the band, two ex-Chameleons playing with two guitarists, begged comparison to the Chameleons, though the band tried to develop its own sound. The Sun & The Moon broke up in April 1989.

http://www.myspace.com/thesunandthemoonmusic

The whole story of The Sun And The Moon:

http://www.thechameleons.com/press/index.php?article=22

Varsovie [Fra]

Between dark rock and post-punk, Varsovie emerged in 2004 by the creative output of Arnault Destal (lyrics/drums/arrangements) and Gregory Catherina (music/vocals/guitar), both ingrained figures of the French underground scene. (Forbidden Site)

Armed with influences such as Joy Division, Bauhaus and a generation of decadent and dark bands, journeying through a literary overdose that leaves irreversible repercussions and a pronounced taste for vertigo, Varsovie's repertoire is raw, in the image of the city (Warszawa) that, in the middle of the apocalypse, fought on, area by area, barricade by barricade, even if everything seemed to be already lost.

Joined by Thibault Chapelat on bass, and replaced by Yan Four in 2006, the band brings all of this energy and passion together on stage, radical and effervescent, in balance on the edge, the last cigarette before the long fall.

http://www.myspace.com/varsovie

Leitmotiv [UK]

Post punkers from Sheffield (UK), North of England goth band, with a four-man line-up consisting of Simon Asquith (vocals & guitar), Steve Shepley (keyboards), Dean Woodhead (bass) and Paul Asquith (drums). ’Silent Run’ should be a post punk classic, otherwise ’(Living in a) Tin’ is more synth/wave oriented, and here is a version remixed from the mini album ’Caress And Curse’. They realeased two excellent singles "Silent Run" in 1984 and "To the Suffering" in 1985 and the richly textured instant mini-album "Caress and Curse". Then, the line-up changed and Louie replaced the bassist Dean Woodhead. They released a maxi-single 12" "Big Money" in 1986.

http://www.myspace.com/leitmotivuk

Miserylab [UK]

Miserylab is the main music project of Porl King, formed after the disbanding of Rosetta Stone in the late 1990s.

King originally conceived miserylab as a moniker for remix and production purposes, such as work done for My Vitriol and the Mercury Music Award winning Elbow. A number of tracks were written in 2000, but were not released whilst production work remained the priority.

In 2005 King created a profile on MySpace, reworking and uploading some of his early miserylab material. In 2007 four of these tracks were made available as a free download, complete with downloadable artwork, known as the Vaporware EP.

Enthused by a positive response, and the successful relocation of his home studio to Leeds, King began writing the full-length Function Creep in November 2007. Released in April 2008 as both a download and limited edition CD, it had a more guitar-driven, post-punk feel than the previous EP. Function Creep was immediately followed by a downloadable single, an extended version of the track Be There Tomorrow.

King is now working on a second album, A Death That We Can Cure, intended to be released on November 5th, 2008. (It is consciously being released on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot.)

http://www.miserylab.com/

http://www.myspace.com/porlking

Three Clouds In The Sky [Net]

Three Clouds In The Sky - A Long Forgotten Day 12" (Self Released-1985)

Three Clouds In The Sky were a dutch post-punk band from Deventer. Ton (the guitarist for TCITS) was previously in the punk band Alerta where he played the bass guitar. “A Long Forgotten Day” was recorded in Joke’s Koeienverhuurbedrijf and produced by Dolf. After Three Clouds, Esther (vocals), Petra (bass)and Leon (drums) teamed up with Harry as guitarist in The Nightblooms who released several records on various UK labels.
http://www.last.fm/music/Three+Clouds+In+The+Sky

PS: Sorry Phoenix Hairpins, the search engine lead me to your old posst again, thank you for the upload:

click here

Never Blue [Che]

The only information I can find is from Phoenix Hairpins, who has upload their Freaky City 12" 1985.

Freak City 12" (Bariton Records-Be 30-920-1985)
1. Freak City
2. Storm
3. Summer In Town
4. The Whale

The Prophetess [US]

The Prophetess is yet another band who has abandoned the majority of it's original sound to escape back to the gothic days of yesteryear. Gone totally are the electronics used in previous work replaced entirely with melodic guitar work. The overall structure of the music remains almost exactly the same as before just without an electronic element. This seems to be a popular fade with gothic bands recently in hopes to get back to the true roots that gothic music initially stemmed from. The Prophetess seems to be doing the job remarkably well. One can even heard elements of some of the older Love & Rockets material present on a number of tracks.

Review from first LP from “All Music Guide”:

"Dripping more than a passing interest in Christian Death, Bauhaus, early Cure, and the Sisters of Mercy in their atmospheric wake, the Prophetess turn in note-perfect goth by rote, and are completely unapologetic about it. Vocalist Mark Hawks wanders through carefully constructed smoke and candle wax, indebted perhaps more to the rumbling of Peter Murphy than is prudent, but still obviously and completely taking the task at hand very seriously. Backed by all the tolling bells and ghostly whistles one would expect across a healthy ten-track set, the band also adds its own spark, using acoustic guitar and classic rock riffs to great advantage, most notably on “Avalon” and “Sylvia.” From the opening “Embrace My Love” to the slightly histrionic “Crucifixion of Sanctity” and on to the bite and punch of “Masquerade With Me,” there aren’t many corners the band doesn’t sweep out. Although it can be argued that the Prophetess are little more than a generic goth-by-numbers combo, and that their lyrics pass too often into the moon goddess arena of triteness and overly obvious allegory, it’s impossible to dismiss them. They are endearing in their way, and musically, they can’t be faulted. And while old schoolers probably won’t want to cast much more than a passing glance at the Prophetess, this album is persnickety, infectious, and ultimately not easily dismissed.”

http://www.myspace.com/thisvastness

Atomic Neon [Ger]

Atomic Neon - Darkenia (Release 2008)

Having started their spaceship from planet "Darkenia", the young German band releases this OldSchool Cold Wave CD just right after their "Life on Earth EP" released on Motor Digital. These 6 extra-terrestrian musicians were on the hunt for a life saving substance - the ATOMIC NEON. In a skillfully arranged manner, adding new elements to the ColdWave sound and combining PunkRock with emotional vocals, this CD presents a range of sounds which won't definitely be forgotten.

Influenced by the sounds from the late 70's/early 80's, ATOMIC NEON is the groundbreaking band for the future.1994 was the year Rio Black & Dr. Mole, the creative center for ATOMIC NEON, first made music together. In the Fall of 2006, after forming the Synth-Pop project SPUNK2003, Black & Mole searched for a live guitarist to help. Thus, the project was reinvented and songs were reconstructed into the band ATOMIC NEON.

http://www.myspace.com/atomicneon

http://www.atomic-neon.de/

Valery & The Greedies [Rus]

Four guys from northern russian village had gone through passion for the most dreary garage-punk since February 2008. And then they changed their course aside post-punk and new wave flirting with pop-music and art at the same time.

http://www.myspace.com/valeryandthegreedies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY7ehhshlRk

Novocaine Mausoleum [Rus]

Novocaine Mausoleum is a band from Moscow plauing batcave/gothic/deathrock. With a flair for the dramatic and bizarre, they make an interesting addition to the underground gothic landscape. Their sound echoes the abandoned grandeur of the former Russian Empire, from gilded grand palaces to desolate ruins of factories. Influences like Cinema Strange can clearly be heard on their 6-track demo.

The band disbanded early August 2008. After several years of making themselves known, the band has called it quits.

http://www.last.fm/music/Novocaine+Mausoleum

Two vids here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_J_tjE2YE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=999QX4_5I-Q

The demo can be download here:

Madre del Vizio [Ger]

Madre del Vizio - Un Mondo Dove 2008 (Compilation)

Many moons ago, MADRE DEL VIZIO spread like wildfire with their track "Amore, Fede, Speranza" featured on Zillo's "German Mystic Sounds Vol. 2" compilation, which quickly conquered the whole of Germany and the rest of Europe. For a long time they maintained the position of being the only German band of that particular genre. In 1990, their first release was a split LP togther with LES FLEURS DU MAL (now known as ENGELSSTAUB), followed by the track "Madre" on the 7" compilation "Death By Dawn". In 1992 they released the CD album "Dio!Dio!Dio!" which is a cult classic today, followed by the CD "The Crypt" and the two MCDs "Feast Of Blood" and "All Around...". The successful history abruptly ended in 1997, when the band split up.

http://www.myspace.com/madre2008

Drama Of The Spheres [Fra]

Drama of the Spheres - Integrale 2CD (Usual Things 1996 + Unable to Dream 1997) @Manic Depression Records

Drama of the Spheres was of the most important band in the 90s French Dark Scene.A unique piece of a kind that melt psychiatric Batcave with machines, loops, samples.For the Darwinists of music, the Drama of the Spherosaur is the missing link between The Virgin Prunes Rex and the Nine Inch Nailsosaur of the early ages... A (re)discovery of highest importance in the history of madness.

http://www.myspace.com/dramaofthespheres

Zuruck Placenta [Fra]

At the beginning they were CAPHARNAÜM, then APOLLONS DEPRESSIFS. During the 80s, the name and line-up changed regularly until 1988 when they became ZURÜCK PLACENTA. ZURÜCK PLACENTA's music is a mix of powerfull Cold-wave and dark 80's gothic rock, with some industrial influences, and even some hardcore. The band had a strong personnality and a sharp and heavy sound, obvious influences, but well integrated. ZP will released a first demo in 1990, then the self-titled album in 1992, produced by Jean Taxis (Asylum Party, Babel 17, Complot Brünswick, Norma Loy). ZP splited in late 1992, leaving behind them a unique and mythical album, which deserves its rank among the weird and cult temple of French Cold-Wave. BTW: Frustration fans, members went on to start Frustration. You can hear the similarity!

http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecomzuruckplacenta

Leisur Hive [UK]

LEISUR HIVE were formed by Daniel Knowler and Maria Vellanz after a chance meeting 13 years after they first met as children.

With Maria's punk-spirited enthusiasm and Dan's background in Suicide-esque rock band Proton Wedding, they began Leisur Hive as an attempt to fuse angular, percussive forms with intense, emotional and visceral songwriting.

The line-up was solidified with the addition of longtime friend and collaborator Mark Bishop and drummer Robert Allen (of Australian noise duo Halo )

Their close-to-the-bone, emotional performances, echoing distorted soundscapes and throbbing, thunderous basslines have ensured that Leisur Hive remain solely focused on their own wayward path.

LEISUR HIVE's new album "THE SOFT COLUMN" was described as "Stirring, stately and throbbing with a warm grey heart, this new full length album brings to fruition the off-kilter sound of LH's live performances. ""like a hybrid between Swans and Nick Cave".

http://www.leisur-hive.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/leisurhive

De Volanges [Bel]

Black romantism and psychedelic tension. De Volanges defines itself as a rock band strongly but not exclusively influenced by 80's underground rock: Joy Division, the Chameleons, Bauhaus, And Also the Trees but The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, Cranes, Interpol, Editors and much of others have always counted and still do amongst their principal references. From 1990 to 1997, de Volanges has played a hundred gigs, includind opening acts for Sttellla, Dripping lips (Brian James), The Passengers, Peter Jefferies, Into the Abyss, Corpus Delicti, The Breath of Life, The Venus Fly Trap, ... During this period, about fifteen tracks have been recorded on different studio sessions, which have been used as demos, promotion and compilations in Belgium and abroad; a mini-LP, "First Paradox", has been released on a tape, in Poland by Black Flames Production, an independant label based in Poznan, but no real album came to light. Between February 1996 and May 1997, the band played in Poland three times, in Malbork, Legniça, Warsaw, Grodzieç (Castle Festival 1996), Szczecin and Katowice. In May 1996, de Volanges opened for Rosetta Stone in Camden Underworld (London). On July 12th, 1997 the last concert of this line-up stands on the main stage of Dour Music Festival (opening for Breath of Life, Das Ich, La Muerte, Sisters of Mercy); de Volanges splits and each one is occupied by his own personal musical projects. Early 2002: Yvan, Renaud and Enrico reform the band after a 4 years separation. A brand new musical repertory is created, cold-rock-alternative directed, leaving beside the dark wave references they had in the past. The band focuses its activities in Brussels and is joined by percussionist Priscillia.

April 2003: a 3-titles self produced CD is recorded, "Caresses Draw Maps". December 2005: de Volanges enter in studio. A nine tracks album is recorded and mixed in a few days by Renzo Gotto, called :"SDSS J090745.0+24507 (the Outcast)". March 2006: Str8line signs the group and produced this firts album, released in may.

http://www.myspace.com/devolanges

http://www.str8linerecords.com/devolangesuk.html

Deafear [Ita]

Deafear are an Italian Dark/New Wave band circa 1983, featuring Max Casacci and Lux Colarelli. Casacci's later band Subsonic appears to be active still. It bears some similarities to the Chameleons.

Discography:

1983 Demo

1983 Stair EP

1984 The Waiting Ep

There's few hint for the history of this band and even no trial for their songs.

Here's the dl link for their 1983 demo I find from deathrock forum:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8EFW7H7G

De Brassers [Bel]

De Brassers - Gesprokkeld en bespoten (Compilation 2008)

Joy Division-like post-punk band out of Hamont, a little village in the north of Limburg. Started out at the end of the 70’s, inspired by early British punk bands like The Clash and The Damned. Short-lived but not forgotten. Their self-released single ‘En Toen Was Er Niets Meer’ (1981) is considered a true Belgian cult classic.

After sporadic reunion gigs throughout the years, De Brassers are a working unit again as of 1998. In 2005 they even released a 5-song EP with new material. A compilation album surfaced three years later.

http://www.myspace.com/debrassers

The Bureau [US]

The Bureau - We Make Plans in Secret (2007)

A dark, danceable quartet with roots in '80s mope-rock and sleek neo-post-punk. Slinky basslines work well in tandem with its synth parts, just like Duran Duran's best, critically underrated work. Plus, the band's impeccable hairstyles.

"It's easy to think of the Bureau as a throwback to darkly melodic new-wave bands of yore. The group's professed love of Duran Duran only reinforces this idea. In truth, the Bureau takes moody, synth-based rock & roll and infuses it with a heavy dose of sharp-cornered post-punk and austere robo-rhythms. We Make Plans in Secret delivers on the promise of the band's debut EP by framing Mike Cracchiolo's expressive, octave-spanning vocals with retro keyboard bleeps and lush synth pads, while the rhythm section maintains a propulsive, carbon-based energy."-Christian Schaeffer, Riverfront Times (reviewing The Bureau CDLP "We Make Plans in Secret)

http://www.myspace.com/thebureau

SafeAsHome [UK]

SafeAsHome - Not What Happens 2008

Not What Happens is SafeAsHome's first full-length album. Composed of 11 tracks, it plays like a flow of disconnected memories, a random series of photo slides projected through the distortionary lens of long-lost childhoods or uncertain futures. From raging guitar epics to delicate, fleeting moments of introspective electronics, it is an album of fertile contradictions.

Pop-song structure persistently competes with gritty texture. Soaring melodies are overwhelmed and lost in phases of intense sonic density. Suspended synth and vocal lines are set against grinding riffs and noise, in bittersweet moments of dream versus reality.

Not What Happens is the difficulty in expressing anything more than the Unimportant. It is sudden starts and abrupt endings. It is haunted by the uneasy comfort of nostalgia, and by the frustration with what remains unresolved. It is the derelict spaces of disappointment through expectancy, of loss via pursuit.

The album itself is graced with the stunning, sprawling artwork of Roberto Calbucci, the depth and substance of which mirrors the sound's myriad of layers. Both seem to be questioning the extent to which detail is not what is concealed, but is what draws away from the greater picture, itself hiding in plain sight.

http://www.myspace.com/safeashome

Dreamtiger [US]

Dreamtiger - Glisten EP 2008

"Dreamtiger is a band better described through poetic devices than through comparisons. Their first EP entitled Glisten is an ambient creation swathed in reverb and within the first line, becomes the soundtrack to indie romance. "

"Even though there's a lot of similarity to the Cocteau Twins' floaty harmonies, the band doesn't give off one of those "We're tyring to be British" vibes. Still, it's not easy to find a local comparison. It's been a while since we got any shoegazer type music sent over here. So it's a pleasant surprise that this five-song EP is full of lush, atmospheric songs. There are pretty melodies and boy-girl harmonies making it easy to get lost into. But what's surprising is that as soft as the music appears on the surface, there's an undertone of toughness thanks to heavy guitars and strong vocals."

http://www.myspace.com/dreamtigermusic

Black Nite Crash [US]

Black Nite Crash - Array 2008

It’s no coincidence the band name was picked from the final and most explosive single by legendary Brit-rock band Ride. Black Nite Crash continues in the same fuzz-drenched tradition of gorgeous melodies and big guitar sounds. The band’s atmospheric, dynamic sound has seen them compared to The Church, The Pixies & The Jesus & Mary Chain. Black Nite Crash formed in 2002 in their adopted hometown of Seattle. A shared love of shoegaze bands, new wave and classic sixties garage blended together into their own version of noise-pop. "We always felt a little too post-punk to be psychedelic, a little too psychedelic to be post-punk," states Jim Biggs, "but we've always seen the obvious connections: a good melody, loud guitars and a dark sense of absurdity." Array, the band’s full-length debut, was recorded at London Bridge Studio. Recorded & produced by Dave Hillis & Erik Blood. It is being released as an LP with a free CD version of the album included. Highlights include “Falling Down”, “Soft Focus”, & “Perfect Blue.”

http://www.blacknitecrash.com/

http://www.myspace.com/blacknitecrash

Pains of Being Pure At Heart [US]

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Everything With You 7" (2008)

Everything With You is a total noisey-pop classic, bursting with all the melodic magic, guitar blaze and sunshine vibes that we've come to expect from the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Everything With You is but a taster for the Pains of Being Pure at Heart's debut album, which will be released in early 2009.

"Despite only having been together for the best part of a year, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are fast becoming the most name-dropped band in underground circles on both sides of the Atlantic, and only seconds into jaunty opener 'Hey Paul' (think The Pastels, The Razorcuts or indeed any pre-Madchester bands before indie became part of the mainstream first time around) it's blatantly obvious to see why. While they make no bones about where their hearts and inspirations lie, it would be churlish to call them mere revivalists, particularly with the way singing/guitarist and humble storyteller Kip engages in almost constant interplay throughout their 25-minute set with perma-smiling keyboard player and co-vocalist Peggy. Hell, their new single is even called 'Kurt Cobain's Cardigan' yet it sounds like Lazy-era My Bloody Valentine exchanging sweat glands with a pre-major label Soup Dragons in a sixth form common room. What's more, it's utterly ace like the rest of their set and turns the whole of the Red Room into spring-loaded coils of unbridled excitement." (Drowned in Sound)

http://www.myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart

http://www.thepainsofbeingpureatheart.com/news

Sins Of The Flesh [Jpn]

Sins Of The Flesh - The Death Of The Flesh 2007 Reissue

Not many acts boast a hybrid Japanese-British line-up, and not many spend 16 years thinking about how to follow up their first album: yet that is how long the world was waiting for SOTF to deliver on the promise of 1990's seminal debut FIRST COMMUNION. Hailed by fans and contemporaries alike as the great hope of the UK goth scene in the early 90s, SOTF seemed content to fade away into legendary status... until unexpectedly returning with a breathtakingly eclectic full-length studio album THE DEATH OF THE FLESH in 2007.

In February 2007 the band made its long-awaited debut in Germany and Holland, on the back of extensive publicity from the magazines Orkus and Astan. October/November 2007 found SOTF returning to its roots in the UK for a regional tour, including appearances with rising Canadian stars The Birthday Massacre in London and at the UK's premier scene-event Whitby Gothic Weekend...plus a trip east to headline the Radio Inferno festivals in Finland and Russia.

Russia's leading underground label Shadowplay has now released a special edition of THE DEATH OF THE FLESH featuring exclusive new bonus tracks, while a first taste of new material from the next SINS OF THE FLESH studio album IN THE KINGDOM OF THE BLIND, (HOW CAN I) SMILE? is included on the new Deathwatch Asia compilation-CD DARKER WATERS.

In support of the Russian release of THE DEATH OF THE FLESH, SOTF took to the road again in September 2008 for their most extensive European tour to date: taking in 9 countries in 2-and-a-half weeks. Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland all had a first taste of SINS OF THE FLESH, while stages were shared with the likes of Project Pitchfork, Fixmer/McCarthy, Psyche and Soman in a tour once more both beginning and ending in festival appearances: in Germany and Spain.

Invariably inviting comparison with such popular contemporary alternative acts as Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie, SINS OF THE FLESH offer an altogether more accessible and poppy sound: combining rock riffs and electronics with strong melodic vocals, darkly poetic lyrics and a theatrical visual presence. Current album THE DEATH OF THE FLESH is a melancholic tour-de-force: a carefully-crafted homage to the UK positive-punk scene from which SOTF was spawned, incorporating subtle musical nods to such classic acts as Joy Division, Killing Joke, The Danse Society, Bauhaus and The Cure into a thoroughly contemporary production: and a sound both classic and contemporary in equal measures - a musical tribute to the best of the alternative scene itself, past and present.

http://www.myspace.com/mysinsoftheflesh

http://www.sinsoftheflesh.co.uk/

http://www.jgoth.com/sins-of-the-flesh-death-of-the-flesh-review/media/audio-content/2007/11/30

Vivian Girls [US]

Although only a band for a little more than a year, the Vivian Girls charms have already worked their magic on their short road to “out of nowhere” status. With their irresistable mix of 60’s girl-group sounds, punk, post-punk and shoegaze, the ‘Girls have mastered blurring the lines of genres and coming up with something aggressive yet beautiful; simple, gutsy music with a lot of class and melody.

http://www.myspace.com/viviangirlsnyc

http://www.last.fm/music/Vivian+Girls

Averkiou [US]

Averkiou - Throwing Sparks @Clairecords 2008

Clairecords is excited to present the debut from Gainesville, FL's most promising young, fresh fellows, Averkiou. Inspired by everyone from Ride and Guided By Voices to Teenage Fanclub and Wire, and taking cues from the likes of Dinosuar Jr. and Sebadoh, Averkiou is like the classic indie rock band that you've always loved – you just haven't heard 'em yet. A modern indie rock masterpiece clocking in at a scorching 22 minutes, Throwing Sparks will rock you like a Category 5 cyclone. You best not blink. Not matter what, we are positive you will be begging for more.

http://www.myspace.com/averkiou

Second Skin [Ita]

Over the past decade SECOND SKIN have made music for compilations, labels, film, and most importantly, for themselves... "Illa Exuro in Silentium" (She Burns in Silence) is their 29th musical release and fourth studio album.

Second Skin is an Gothic band formed from the ashes of Seattle based band Flesh of my Flesh by frontman Arron. Flesh of My Flesh appeared on one of the first ever Gothic tribute Cd's "First Last and Forever" where a who's who of Gothic Rock bands paid tribute to their own, this CD launched a host of groups Like the last dance,Eleven Shadows,Wreckage and the Shroud.

Second Skin was formed in 1992 and has played with everyone from Rozz Williams both Christian Death and Shadow Project to the Mission UK and have been featured on over 25 compilations, e.p.'s and Albums. Second Skin was also featured in the Movie title "Liberata Me" named after one of the bands songs, "Liberata Me" won best short subject at the New York Film Festival, director Pearry Teo then cast Arron in the follow up film "Children of the Arcana" Arron played the gate keeper of Purgatory.

http://www.myspace.com/scndskin

Autodrone [US]

Autodrone - Strike A Match CD
@Clairecords 2008

Autodrone, formed in 2002, is based on a mutual love of dream pop and early '90s Brit rock.

Seamlessly melding the sonic dynamics of noise and pop with throbbing bass lines, jagged angular synths, searing dark atmospheric guitars and urgent banshee vocals, Autodrone has quickly developed the attention of the UK and American Press garnering universally favorable reviews. Strike A Match is Autdrone's latest studio effort. Their debut album is darker, denser and more experimental, yet catchy and hook-laden than any of their previous work. The album has received a deluge of critical acclaim and has made it onto multiple "best of 2007" lists, thought it was unreleased at the time. Autrodrone have toured both the east and west coast, and have played festivals such as Pop Noise, ATJ, NEMO and CMJ.

http://www.myspace.com/autodrone

War Tapes [US]

War Tapes - ST EP 2008

War Tapes, a Los Angeles 4-piece, successfully creates epic anthems of angst, blending the attitude and edge of today’s post-hard-core scene with an appealing nod to 80’s new-wave and post-punk. All the while, War Tapes demonstrates a knack for creating huge hooks and sing-a-long choruses.

http://www.last.fm/music/War+Tapes/+wiki

http://www.myspace.com/wartapes

Have A Nice Life [US]

Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness - 2008

HAVE A NICE LIFE is a shoegaze/industrial/new-wave hybrid band from Connecticut.

It is the brain-child of TIM MACUGA, black-metal experimentalist and songwriter for the classic Western Massachusetts hardcore band The Danger Strangers, and DAN BARRETT, singer of the ghost-music project Giles Corey and the now-defunct In Pieces.

The music recalls the droning melodies of My Bloody Valentine, crossed with the crushing abstraction of SUNN0)), but is ultimately unclassifiable; beautiful, yet simultaneously droning and heavy.

HANL released their first full-length record in January of 2008, a double-album entitled DEATHCONSCIOUSNESS.

The two discs (entitled The Plow That Broke The Plains and The Future, respectively) feature music spanning over five years of collaboration between the two artists, and are accompanied by a 75-page booklet on medieval Italian heretics in lieu of liner notes. The album was entirely self-released, right down to the hand-painted discs, and put out via the ENEMIES LIST HOME RECORDINGS label.

http://www.last.fm/music/Have+A+Nice+Life/+wiki

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=15024 (new album review)

Monozid [Ger]

In 2003 three people met in a small room in the north-west of leipzig starting to play together. influenced by 80's new wave and postpunk."Erstens" was then the title of the first cd-ep released in 2006. They started to play around in squats and other places with bands like SWANN DANGER, DON VITO, THE VERY JOB AGENCY or LIQUID LAUGHTER LOUNGE QUARTETT. In summer 2006 ralf joined the band and now the band is complete as a quartet.

In the following months they played shows with: CHARLES DE GOAL, EVA O, FLIEHENDE STUERME, BROCKDORFF KLANGLABOR, GENETIKS, CASUAL, SCIENCE OF YABRA, DER RAKETENHUND, THEE IRMA AND LOUISE, SUICIDAL BIRDS and many more. In 2007 the second cd-ep "waiting for the circus" was released followed by gigs in spain, france, switzerland, romania and italy. In april 2008 12 songs were recorded for the debut album. Now they are looking for a label to release our recordings.

http://www.myspace.com/monozid

The Silence Kit [US]

The Silence Kit plays textured, moody rock music. The band is based in New Jersey and Philadelphia, PA, and was started by Patrick McCay in 2002, as a home recording project. Inspired in equal parts by post punk, shoegaze, neo-psychedelia, avant-garde and indie rock, countless shows have been played and more than a few band members have come and gone through the years.

The Silence Kit released their debut LP "In Regulated Measure," in February of 2006. The album was very well received and garnered many positive reviews. The press favorably compared the band to the likes of The Cure, Joy Division, The Sound, Chameleons, Echo and the Bunnymen, Nick Cave, David Lynch film soundtracks, and more. A live band was assembled to support the album and they quickly began writing and recording for the second album. The band played many shows in 2005 and 2006, sharing the stage with bands like I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, Early Day Miners, Windsor for the Derby, among others. The second TSK album, entitled "A Strange Labor" is being released on July 19th, 2008. It is a split release by Azteca Records and Breakeven Records, and is comprised of recordings from 2005 and 2006.

The Silence Kit is always changing, and 2007 proved to be no different. Three members left and Patrick built a new lineup. TJ Wark (guitar, synth), Don Ocava (bass) and Jay Dyer (drums) joined The Silence Kit and after a few short months of rehearsal, the band resumed playing shows and began writing and arranging new material. The current lineup is playing shows in support of "A Strange Labor" and are already recording new material for the band's forthcoming third album (with an expected Winter 2008 release date). 2008 has already seen the band opening for Gene Loves Jezebel and a brief encounter and interview with Robert Smith of The Cure. The band is looking forward to the shows and releases in the years ahead.

http://www.myspace.com/thesilencekit

Albums:

http://www.aztecarecords.com/thesilencekit/the-silence-kit-music.html

CatPeople [Spa]

CatPeople - Reel No. 1 2006

In January 2006 with the support of PuPilo Records CatPeople came to record her first album after having high praises with a demo (CatPeople!), Which was chosen by the spanish music press as the second-best demo of 2005 and only five months later coinciding with the release of this disc was encouraged to number 1 in the Top Ten National. Since then CatPeople has experienced a meteoric growth that has led them to tour for Europe (Portugal, France, Germany, Slovenia..) and to be considered as the new revelation and one of the last independent music sensations of the country, confirmed by his presence at festivals such as Benicassim, Contempopranea, Sonorama Festival Do Norte, Europavox, Popkomm.

The generic and specialized press have echoed the boom of the band based in Barcelona and the unprecedented quality which has resulted in the production of her album "Reel1" labeled post-punk and new wave that had become the first national reference of this kind. The tour presentation of his record led them to play in 24 cities across Spain in just three months reaping success and put it to magazines like Go Mag as one of the best lives of 2006. Among his remarkable achievements is also a performance with Pet Shop Boys in the auditorium Natural Castrelos, in Vigo with more than 20,000 people.

Since the most absolute independence and with professional mentality, CatPeople has settled in the independent music industry with a debut that has placed in the front line and they had served as a springboard to move forward with other musical projects. In addition, the disc has been edited in the following countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Japan, United States and Australia.

http://www.myspace.com/catpeopletheband

Sounds of Emergency [US]

http://www.myspace.com/soundsofemergency

Negative Image [US]

http://www.myspace.com/negativeimage

So pity no more info available.

Fahrenheit 451 [US]

Fahrenheit 451 - The Gothic Years & After - CD 2000 (Cleopatra)

Named after the famous Ray Bradbury novel, Fahrenheit 451 was an East Coast goth rock band whose influences ranged from the Doors and the Stranglers to the seminal Bauhaus (which was to goth what Charlie Parker was to bebop and James Brown was to funk). Fahrenheit, formed in New Jersey in 1984, never became as well-known as Bauhaus or Sisters of Mercy, although it enjoyed a small cult following (mostly around the Northeastern Corridor). During its three-year run, Fahrenheit went through various personnel changes; some of its key members included lead singer Athan Maroulis, guitarist Shell Stewart, bassist Pete Lisa, keyboardist Nick Ferro, and drummer Ed Enzyme. In 1986, Fahrenheit's debut EP, House of Morals, came out on the Active label. The band also recorded a follow-up EP titled A Fire in the Garden, but its contents went unreleased until 2000, when Cleopatra assembled a Fahrenheit-dominated compilation titled The Gothic Years and After. Fahrenheit broke up in 1987, although its members went on to join other bands. Enzyme joined the Undead, while Lisa joined the Cycle Sluts From Hell, and Stewart joined the Lucifer Scale. Maroulis has kept especially busy, singing lead for the Philadelphia-based Executive Slacks from 1987-1991 and the obscure Tubalcain from 1992-1994. He was still a member of Tubalcain when, in 1992, he also joined the better known Spahn Ranch, which was still going strong in 2001. It was in 2000 that Maroulis formed the Blue Dahlia, whose romantic, '40s-minded jazz-pop was a radical departure from anything he had done previously. Those who knew Maroulis for goth, industrial, and darkwave were pleasantly surprised to hear that he was equally effective as a suave, sophisticated crooner with a strong appreciation of Frank Sinatra and Billy Eckstine. Maroulis and Stewart were briefly reunited in the studio in 1996, when they recorded some Mission and Bauhaus covers and briefly resurrected the name Fahrenheit 451. Fahrenheit's 1984-1987 and 1996 output is available on the Cleopatra release The Gothic Years and After.

http://www.discogs.com/release/1307677

Laughing House [UK]

Laughing HOUSE. 3/8/88 Sir Colin Campbell /Live Review/ S. A. Lane

This Impressive trio oozed mountains of competence in a tight and aggressive twelve-song set, playing music that incorporates trademarks of the Clash, occasional touches of Killing Joke and the vaguest bow towards U2 in some of the guitar lines. many of the songs are accusing and political, such as "Taken For Fools" in which a statement is made about Aborigines being kicked in the teeth by 'their' government.

Musically, Laughing House are professional, playing well-structured songs which, when lacking in melody, are adequately compensated for with rhythmic stops and kick-starts and raw punch. In my opinion, their only downfall is a tendency to over-indulge in the thuggish 'oh-oh-oh' backing vocals. If these were reduced in favour of more lyric harmonies (those used worked well), the finishing touch would be put to otherwise perfect material.

My favourite songs were the 'Lesson', with It's excellent melody, harmonies and the use of interweaving vocal lines, and their last number ' Do Your Worst' which erupted with an earthquake of an intro, ploughed a mean furrow and exited with a fortress of noise headed by a howling guitar which left your senses reeling. Apart from aggression, one of the band's main strengths lies in their attention-grabbing intro's. In 'Joking' ("a song about door-to-door salesmen"!), the guitar weaves an interesting mesh of picked notes over a walking drum beat and on 'See It In Your Eyes', a song with a good melodic hook of a chorus, the intro is best described as frantic!

http://www.myspace.com/laughinghouseuk

http://www.ilike.com/artist/Laughing+House

Pinoreks [Ger]

Pinoreks - There Is Hope - 2005

http://www.myspace.com/pinoreks

http://www.pinoreks.de/

Dorcel [Fra]

Dorcel - Sins - CD 2008

Dorcel is a “pop-wave” band based in France. They’ve been described sounding like “And Also The Trees” or “The Cure” by the french magazin Elegy.

http://www.myspace.com/dorcel

http://www.dorcelmusic.com

The Transisters [Ita]

The Transistors were founded in 2005 and spent the last three years in touring all over Italy. Enrico, Meson, Alberto and Matteo opened many live-shows of such greats as Kaiser Chiefs, the Raveonttes, White Rose Movement, X-wife, Disco Drive, Vincent Vincent and the Villains, One Dimensional Man, The Alps and many more.
During all that they even found the time to record two EPs in collaboration with Geoff Turner (New Wet Kojak, Girls against Boys), which were released in July 2005 and September 2007. As influences the four are naming bands as the renowned Joy Division, P.I.L., The Fall, Elvis - what results in their Electromagnetic(New)Wave, as the band call it.
On 28th of July 2008 their first longplayer 'Under Control' was released by the german netlabel afmusic.

http://www.myspace.com/thetransisters

Download link: http://www.archive.org/details/afm022_thetransisters_undercontrol

Psychosurgery [US]

New band.

Steve Rotter- Backup Vocals, Bass and Guitar
Stephen Morte- Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, and Trombone...
Micah Rotter- Drums

http://www.myspace.com/surgerypsycho

The Strandge Hours [US]

The Strange Hours, in their current incarnation, came together in mid-2008. The band consists of Phaedrus (composition, programming, guitars), James Mandible (vocals and lyrics), and Alan Roberge (synthesizers and loops). The band play a subversive, resonant form of experimental pop, informed by classic post-punk, industrial, goth pop, ambience, and noise.

http://www.myspace.com/thestrangehours

The December Sound [US]

The December Sound - The Silver Album - Debut 2007

This cult of noise-terrorists cloak themselves in MELTING GUITARS, DANGEROUS SONGWRITING, EVIL DRONES, HYPNOTIC BASSLINES, MANIACALLY DISTORTED BEATS, HEAVILY EFFECTED/DETACHED VOCALS & OTHER-WORDLY SOUND-SCAPES. It’s dark and extreme, influenced by existentialism and avant-garde/radical/underground currents. The group has a reputation for unrelenting live shows that are a full-on assault of the senses,whilst achieving even greater depth on their debut album.

Led by Zack Sarzana’s gliding guitars and vocal stylings that range from soft and hazy to outright threatening. The December Sound creates a feeling of hollowed reverberations, echoing trough the air. Jimmy Rosi joins in creating this vicious soundscape with dreamy keyboards and melodic rhythm guitar that often calls back to Zack’s leads. Keeping the back-beat going is the hypnotic ryhtyn section which includes the spiral-like drumming of Drew Richards, along with newest member Cat Crowley, delicately playinga bass that huns chaos and quit alike.

The December Sound debut album is filled with drones and tones of dark, profound sonic depth. Already being heralded as “the best unsigned band on the planet!” by the THE BIG TAKEOVER, their debut effort certainly lives up that praise.

http://www.myspace.com/thedecembersound

http://www.thedecembersound.com/

The Sky Drops [US]

The Sky Drops are Rob Montejo and Monika Bullette - a superforce of guitars, drums, and vocals. Based in Wilmington, Delaware, the band members each have their own fine pedigree and began The Sky Drops in the Autumn of 2005.

Rob Montejo's previous band Smashing Orange's retrospective album "1991" was released on Elephant Stone Records in 2005. Monika Bullette's debut album The Secrets won Philadelphia's City Papers 2005 Music Award "Best Album You Can Get For Free and Without a Guilty Conscience".

Rob and Monika's beautiful harmonies are intensified by swimming blissed-out guitars and no-nonsense drumming. The Sky Drops have been likened to a "shoegazing Everly Brothers".

http://www.myspace.com/theskydrops

http://www.theskydrops.com/

Thrushes [US]

Their debut album “Sun Come Undone” was released on March 13, 2007 on Birdnote Records.

Guitarist Casey Harvey had been pestering Rachel Tracy about forming a band for years. She finally relented in the summer of 2005, agreeing to play bass, and they recruited vocalist/guitarist Anna Conner during a pickup baseball game and drummer Matt Davis shortly thereafter. Having cut their teeth in the formative Baltimore all-ages indie scene of the mid-nineties, they were itching to make meaningful music again. Several practice sessions in, they realized there was real chemistry and Thrushes was born.

*Ryan Sterner replaced Matt Davis on drums in September, 2007

http://www.thrushesrule.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thrushes

Zero Le Creche [UK]

Zero Le Creche - Last Year´s Wife - The Collection - 2008

Zero Le Creche were formed in the mid eighties. The band consisted of terry Miles (bass), Richard Ollie (drummer), Andy Mitchell (guitar) and Andy Manning (singer). There most famous record was “Last Years Wife” which is still a favourite on the goth scene. Zero Le Creche were just getting noticed when unfortunately Andy the singer decided to leave. He was replaced with a guy named Jamie when they recorded “Falling”, but the band was not the same without Andy, so they split up. They are hoping to reform in the near future and have an albums worth of recorded unheard material which is being released in January 2008 via Cherry red Records. Including digitally re-mastered recordings of Last years wife, Women say and Fall to dust, also including studio recordings, live studio rehearsal songs and a live recording from Dingwalls, London.

http://www.myspace.com/zerolecreche1

http://www.last.fm/music/Zero+Le+Creche

The Preachers Twilight [Fra]

They've already been passed away for many years......

PROMO BIOGRAPHY 1988

Innovative new french duo "THE PREACHERS OF TWILIGHT" release their debut three track 12"single featuring "ON THE RAZOR EDGE","GUST", and a stunning cover of Bowie 's "SCREAM LIKE A BABY"in UK.on Monday December 12 (1988) (Sedition records/Pinnacle Distribution).

THE PREACHERS are twenty three year old GARANCE DANIEL (vocal/keyboards) and guitarist/bassist ASTLLY LAURENT,aged twenty two.The Duo met last year when LAURENT' S band "THE HILL' S PREACHING " supported " THE SILENT AGE" fronted by Daniel at a gig in Paris.Daniel has been with Silent Age since its inception in October 85.Although the band established a real cult following , Daniel was unhappy with the bands musical direction and welcomed the opportunity to established a new and original creative force.

The pair found a common musical meeting point in current bands such as THE MISSION and SISTERS OF MERCY with earlier influences coming from the likes of KING CRIMSON , GENESIS and YES .Says Daniel " Our music is anything but instant , but it has an identity and character of its own. Discipline and chaos co-exist side by side . Delve into the music into the sounds and you will find it growing more every time you listen. Lyrics are very important to us , we aim to create a trance like state investigating the planets natural elements and mysteries.

Although the band received tremendous support and live acclaim in France, they decided that because of their Gothic influences and roots they would be better suited basing themselves in Great-Britain.

In August the Duo recorded and produced the new single at AQUARIUS STUDIOS in GENEVA prior to moving to London in late September .Now signed to SEDITION RECORDS, THE PREACHERS are currently preparing material for their debut album before commencing a series of UK dates in January and February(1989).

End of 1988 biography.

http://www.myspace.com/thepreachersoftwilight

Phaidia [Jpn]

Phaidia was a Japanese goth band, formed in the early 80’s. Cutting voice, powerful drums and guitars… They’ve been labeled “the Japanese Christian Death”.

Discography:
+SANATORIUM ‘81 (Collaboration with the band Gilles de Rais)
+’81 and ‘82 VV.AA. albums
+PHAIDIA ‘83+R.B.F.1984 (Label bands compilation)
+DANCING DEATH(EP)’84
+CHIKASITSU NO AKUMATACHI(flex)’85
+IN THE DARK(LP)’85 city locker

They also appeared in a Tatsuya Yoshida compilation called “Devil from the East”, where he reunited quite a few projects he had been involved in, as Malinconia, Ruins, Naked City or Phaidia.

http://www.myspace.com/phaidiafanpage

http://www.last.fm/music/Phaidia

Blue Kremlin [Ger]

Blue Kremlin were a mid 1980’s German Goth band. They released one official cassette, and have an unofficial live show from 1985 that is of great quality.

This band should have gone far, but was quite underground.

http://www.myspace.com/bluekremlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cwjaBTxD0Q

The Catholic Comb [US]

The true origins of The Catholic Comb are shrouded in mystery. Truly, birthed of a distinguished misunderstanding of its own surroundings. Driven by the urgency of death. Inspired by the inevitability of beauty. How four strange daydreamers came together, wrote, sang, played, drank, and lived these songs is a sentimental story. Surely, some time ago, in the queerest hour of night, each staring out a separate window, a secret pact was signed as dreams and memories are signed. Even if, unbeknownst to themselves.

The Catholic Comb have compiled two collections of their adventures. A self-titled EP, and also 10 songs of “Ghost Stories”. Frantically, they have been inviting new dreamers in not-so-distant towns to join in contemplation, rambunctious ramblings, innocent violence, and drink. All in pursuit of beauty! So, bring your pillows, bring your flowers, bring your wine in spirited pursuit of the divine, and sing with me as I quote, “this is our time, it is severe!”


http://www.myspace.com/thecatholiccomb


http://www.last.fm/music/The+Catholic+Comb

Opera Multi Steel [Fra]

Opera Multi Steel began your activities in 1983, in the city of Bourges, located in the central part of France. Of the first formation of the band they made part the siblings Franck (I lower, vocal and keyboards) and Patrick Lopez (vocal and keyboards), besides Catherine Marie (vocal, keyboard and percussion). Before they deciding to create him/it it Operates Multi Steel, Franck and Patrick they participated in bands with proposed musical different. Franck Lopez was integral of a called folkloric band Avaric, together with Eric Milhiet that later would be invited to integrate OMS as bear and guitarist. Already Patrick, did vocal in a band of style called ebm/electro Afghanistan. In 1987 they would also start to integrate the band guitarist Xavier Martin, that would participate in few recordings. Besides him, the band counted in elapsing of your career with the several invited musicians’ presence, to example of Carine Grieg, vocalist of the band arnel Collection Andréa.

http://www.last.fm/music/Opera+Multi+Steel

http://pagesperso-orange.fr/opera.multi.steel/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_Multi_Steel

Plastique Noir [Bra]

Urban Requiems - EP 2007

Plastique Noir was formed at the end of the year 2005 by some members and ex-members from underground bands from Fortaleza/CE/Brazil. Since it started, has been always looking for new ways but not the commom live bands presentation, sometimes poorly explored in their artistic possibilities not only in the musical aspects.

Unique in the style in Fortaleza, the Plastique Noir (black plastic, in french) embraces the name of the bag used to store dead bodies in morgues. The music, gloomy but pleasant to dance, involves bodies and minds carrying them to an intensive experience with their english-written lyrics which evocates the myths and facts of horror, morbidness, melancholia and madness created by the conflict of the infinite passions proper to the human existential labyrinth. Besides, each step the band takes is meticulously planned by its members, from lyrics and melodies to graphical arts and cenography, by using their very diverse professional aptitudes. This goes with their proposal to be a multimedia and artistically self-sufficient band.

http://www.myspace.com/plastiquenoir

http://www.purevolume.com/plastiquenoir

Here you can dl the mp3 EP:

http://af-music.de/releases/plastiquenoir-urbanrequiems.html