Saturday, January 26, 2008

eNTERTAINME.nt [US]


Gender 2008

They are dark underside of Yuppie Indie Dance Rock. The things you keep closed and the things you hide. They've played shows with Sixteens, Ilya, Birdland (ex Lovelife), Radio Berlin, AutoNervous, Turn Pale, TV on the Radio, Glass Candy, Swann Danger, the Prids, Ausgang, Nina Hagen, Lene Lovich, Cinema Strange, A Spectre is Haunting Europe...


Thursday, January 24, 2008

Rest In Darkness [Ita]


Death/Black metal from Italy. Formed in 1997 and haunting the underground for 10 years they're still waiting to record their first demo.

Wry [Bra]


Whales and Sharks - 2007@ Club AC30

Probably best known by London gig-goers as the posse behind regular Wednesday club Goonite at the Buffalo Bar in Islington, Wry actually began life many moons ago, back in their homeland of Brazil. Childhood friends Mario (vocals, guitars), Lou (backing vocals, guitars), Chokito (bass) and Andre Z (drums), never ones to follow the trend, grew up playing basketball in a country obsessed with football. When it came to music they preferred Jesus & Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine to samba or bossa-nova, and in 1998 they sold their souls to rock'n'roll, started a band and called themselves Wry.

Ifwhen [US]

Created from the remnants of "ALL NATURAL LEMON & LIME FLAVORS," Ifwhen has two full length records to their name. Their self titled debut was only released in Japan. The second, "WE WILL GENTLY DESTROY YOU" was produced by Merc and mixed by Alap Momin of the incredible DALEK.

http://www.myspace.com/ifwhen

http://www.ifwhen.com/news.htm

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Colour [US]


Very early 90's England and dark like The Cure......


Discography:

Colour 2005 @ Dave Schurtman

The Dark Years 2006 @ Dave Schurtman

Heaven 2007 @ Colour / Dave Echo

Laboratory Noise [UK]


Hope is a Waking Dream EP - 2007

Laboratory Noise formed in the winter of 2005 and are based in the city of Bradford. Taking influences from psychedelia, shoegaze, electronica and post-rock, they aim to create multi-layered effect driven soundscapes, underpinned by strong melodies.


The Morning After Girls [Aus]


The Morning After Girls are an Australian psychedelic rock band. The group originally formed in Melbourne around 2003 by founding members Sacha Lucashenko (vocals/guitar) and Martin B. Sleeman (guitar/vocals).
The group has released two EPs, the first on Rubber Records in 2003 and the second on Fly Music in early 2005, both of which are self-titled, and one album. Mid to late 2005, they toured with The Brian Jonestown Massacre. In 2006 they toured with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and were rumoured to be recording their second album at The Dandy Warhols' studio, The Odditorium, continuing work on the new record with Jeramy Koepping of Voyager One while in Seattle.
On September 20, 2005, the band released their two EPs as one CD in North America entitled The Morning After Girls: Prelude EPs 1 & 2.
They released their debut album Shadows Evolve on November 17, 2005 in Australia and June 16, 2005 in the UK.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Cruyff In The Bedroom [Jpn]


cruyff in the bedroom formed in Shimokitazawa in 1998, the year Japan made their debut in the World Cup. Their name is a requiem to Dutch soccer coach named Cruyff who died before winning a World Cup. The band primarily sticks to playing gigs in the Shimokitazawa area and have found a home at CLUBE Que. They are the main organizers of the "Only Feedback" music events held at the club. They set up their own label, also called "Only Feedback". Their American releases are handled through TONEBENDER, and European releases are handled through 1970 RECORDINGS.cruyff in the bedroom are heavily inspired by the early sounds of shoegaze bands such as My Bloody Valentine. However, as time progresses, more influences in their music are shown boastfully - music around the world, outside of the shoegaze sound.After some self-released EPs the band released their first full length, perfect silence, in 2002. They released their second album, hikarihimawari, in 2003.



Friday, January 18, 2008

The Eternal Chapter [South Africa]

The Eternal Chapter - 1998

Some called it "Christian Goth".

The Eternal Chapter was a traditional gothic rock band from Johannesburg in South Africa. It was a labour of love for three musicians who were inspired by the sounds of good old fashioned goth in the face of the EBM onslaught that engulfed the underground scene. The band started in 1996 when Jaco V and Michael T came together to to let off some steam. They were then joined by vocalist Thomas W in 1997. Over time, the band became more than just a hobby and produced a demo album and contributed to several international compilations. Live gigs came as did tours to Cape Town. Unfortunately the band never made it overseas despite several invitations. The Eternal Chapter played a live show on 5fm (one of South Africa's national radio stations) at the request of the inimitable Barney Simon. The band broke up when Thomas went overseas to pursue his studies. A few years later Jaco V died tragically.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Skullsquadron [Aus]


skullsquadron formed in Sydney’s inner west around late 2004 originally created by brothers David and Anthony The (ex- Ides of Space). Paul Youdell (ex- Faker) was enlisted in 2005 to complete the skulls line up. Since then skullsquadron have been playing venues all over Australia leaving their audiences deafened and amazed by their sheer volume and sonic chaos. Fusing the sounds of early 90’s shoegaze with classic stadium rock rhythms, skullsquadron take their audience on a mind bending, ear shattering and sometimes even nauseating melodic rock experience. Dark Pop melodies and an over indulgence of guitar effects combined with a dam busting rhythm section are the main ingredients of the skullsquadron sound. Feedback, distortion, real time loop sampling and canyons of echo and reverb are just a few of the weapons in the skullsquadron arsenal. With their debut album “Sinking the Ghost Ship” in the making this year, skullsquadron are shifting their afterburners into overdrive and taking their sonic assault live across the nation.

Crudeness [Ger]


Crudeness started in 1994 as a three members group with electronic drums. Influenced by the dark, the SOM, the Mission and the FOTN. In 1998 they changed the lineup and became a five members band with a 2nd guitarist and a real drummer. They did 4 Albums: 2 E.P.s, and two full time albums. The latest »04« .

Discography:
Life before death - 1996 CD E.P.
Tongue of time - 1997 CD
Come and fall - 1999 CD E.P.
04 - 2004 CD

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Witching Hour [UK]


Witching Hour began in 1991, with Trevor Barnes on Vocals and Guitar, Alys Sterling on Bass and D.B on keyboards. There first gig was at the Turk's Head in Richmond and following the success of this debut, they soon went on to play at club residences at Scream and Club Dead Zone which were both held at the Camden Underworld and supported such bands as Nosferatu and The Marionettes.

In 1992, the band parted company from D.B, but in the same year, a self-produced vinyl E.P called "Hourglass" was released to high acclaim and the band also had a new keboard player in the form of Alex Winton. To promote the E.P, Witching Hour continued to gig, supporting such bands as The Dream Disciples and London After Midnight. Some bad luck followed this and the bands gear was stolen setting them back by many months and this aslo led to Al leaving the band. In 1994, Witching Hour recruited there 3rd and last keyboard player, Ash.

1994 also saw the release of the second E.P "She's Alive" and the bands 1st album "Exhumation". Alas things went bad with Ash and he was eventually asked to leave the band and Trevor and Alys continued to gig as a two piece. New songs were written and a new album on C.D. was planned, but this never materialised due to financial problems and in 1997 Witching Hour faded from the scene...............

However, that isn't the end of the story..........WITCHING HOUR ARE NOW BACK! After a very long break, Witching Hour are now back with plans for digitally remastered releases, new promo videos and maybe some live performances!

Discography:
Hourglass (12") - Succubus Records 1992
Exhumation (Cass, Album) - Not On Label 1994
She's Alive (Cass, EP) - Not On Label 1994

All Living Fear [UK]

All Living Fear is an alternative rock band from south Devon in England. The band were formed by Matthew North and Steven Howson in 1992 though the best known era of the band was formed by Matthew and Andrew Racher in 1994.

2007 was the fifteenth anniversary of All Living Fear's first gig at the Parrot pub in Torquay. The Parrot is now a block of flats but All Living Fear are standing fifteen years on. They made a very special album "Fifteen Years After" to celebrate this event.

Discography:
Waiting (Demo, 1993)
Close Down (First Version, January 1994)
Jessica (CDEP, July 1994)
The Widow's Blame (October 1995)
Minimum Resistance (October 1996)
Regeneration (November 1997)
Vintage Fear The 1994 Recordings (CDR Album, 1997)
Bridging The Gap (April 1998)
Into The Light (March 1999)
Home Too Soon (2003)


http://www.myspace.com/alllivingfear


http://www.alllivingfear.co.uk/


http://www.last.fm/music/All+Living+Fear

Monday, January 14, 2008

Leichenliebe [Ger]


Leichenliebe was born in 2005 with the intention to play goth music in the style of the 80s and the early 90s. In October 2005 the first 3 track demo was recorded and released. At the moment the band works on a second demo which will contain 8 new tracks and the 3 tracks of the first demo...

Obsession [UK]

Obsession formed at the end of 1982. In 2005, after almost 20 years of not playing together, the band got together, got talking and decided that they'd do a one-off reunion gig......

http://www.myspace.com/obsessionreformed

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Children of the Gun [Rus]


The band was formed in Moscow, Russia in 2002 by bassist and lead singer Mikhail Karpov and guitarist Sergey Moiseev and played straight drummachine goth-rock. The next year Sergey quited and Ivan Raev took his place. After a while keyboardist Yuriy Ilyin joined the project and so "Children..." played a few gigs. The new songs were influenced by The Mission UK, The Cure, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen and many more. Drummer Max Vainer joined in 2005 and bassist Roman Fomin joined in 2006, so Mikhail switched to the second guitar.

http://www.myspace.com/childrenofthegun

http://childrenofthegun.nm.ru/

http://www.last.fm/music/Children+Of+The+Gun

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Echoes of Silence [Ita]



Echoes of Silence - Debut Album - 2006
In The Night Time

http://www.myspace.com/echoesofsilenceband

http://www.echoesofsilence.it/

Velvet Violet [US]


Shards - 2007

Velvet Violet is a Hollywood California based Gothic Rock project founded in 1994 by Los Angeles musician J. Blades. Velvet Violet made its stage debut in October 1994 as part of a Halloween show at the now defunct Natural Fudge Company, a Hollywood club known for launching the careers of many notable music and comedy acts. Since then, the project has gained a loyal following not only in Blade’s native California but world wide as well. .....

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Il Giardino Violetto [Ita]


Danse Macabre - 1989 demotape

Giardino Violetto was born in 1989, year in which many other bands formed,as an answer to an advertisement posted up in a record shop.Guitar, bass, drums and a garage to play in, as the natural expression for any angry teenager in hatred with the world, a quest for an aesthetics ofthe inner and social catastrophe which was, in the late 80ies, the natural habitat of the band. Darkness, claustrophobia, insight, altered states are the main themes in the lyrics and the sensations flowing from Giardino Violetto’s sound.

After some playing, the line up is reduced from three members tojust two, adding instead a drum machine. The technical weakness of the duo led necessarly to an experimetal output. The sound ideas whirled wildly in their hot minds, but how to achieve was really far from realizing. Thus, after an year spent closed in that garage, decide to record these few drum machine patterns, lack of skill, and the load of ideas.

What is created is their first and only demo tape: Danse Macabre. Beside the written lyrics and some bass/guitar parts, the tracks are almost made up freely, especially the vocals. Has been let the sensation of the moment take advantage, like a polaroid of real life excerpts. Just the time to do an unique gig at the Uonna Club, legendary club in Rome’s underground scene, and by then everything stop just in the way it started, from emptiness to nothing. The band split up, the two members take their own ways not to meet again...

Erato [Bel]


Somewhere around 93 Jacques joins the new wave band Obscure Illusion. Bringing his experience and musical ideas to the band his influence is massive. Soon the band decides on a new name: Erato. In order to play live the band needs a bass player who they find in Patrick. Their debut-concert on the stage of J.O.S. in hometown Schepdaal invokes enthusiastic reactions. Erato is officially born.

Although the band has been around since 94 their music still sounds as promising as in the early years. Together with its members the music has evolved into honest contemporary dark rock songs without betraying their musical roots. It is no secret that the band is influenced by the death-rock, post punk, new-wave, goth-rock and electro bands of the eighties and nineties. Combining these musical influences with modern arrangements and their own typical style the band members create the unique sound of Erato :


Shadow Side [UK]

Soul Survivor EP

Disbanded......

Monday, January 7, 2008

Rhombus [UK]


Rhombus was formed in Bristol in 2002, but it wasn't until the band moved north that things really started to take off.

Now as the initial work, recordings and early gigs start to pay off; the band is becoming better known. Slowly but surely Rhombus are establishing a solid reputation as a powerful, inteligent underground rock act.

Discography:

The Soul The Spirit & The Wish - 2003
Rat City - 2003
Attention Seeker - 2004
The Closing Time EP - 2006
Remembrance Day - 2007

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Earth Calling Angela [UK]

Earth Calling Angela entered into their embryonic phase when vocalist and songwriter Miles Fender was hazily shimmying through his teenage years - slowly acquiring equipment, the technical knowledge to use it, and piecing together his compositional talents.The original ECA line-up was Miles (vocals, guitar, synths, samples, and drum programming), with childhood pal Stuart Barker (bass). It was in this form that the debut demo, 'First Damnation', was recorded in the Summer of 1992.
......

Now... after 10 years Earth Calling Angela is back as an active Transatlantic force in the Goth arena and release this long-waited compilation.



Saturday, January 5, 2008

Solemn Novena [UK]


All Darkness Falls EP - 2006

Gothic rockers Solemn Novena formed in Belfast, N.Ireland in early 2006, with a mission of creating guitar orientated Gothic Rock, no techno bleepy influences or metal posturing for these guys, oh no. This had to be straight down the middle goth, just like the 90s had never happened...or this century either...

http://www.myspace.com/solemnnovena

http://www.solemnnovena.com

Stella Mora [US]


A little sweet and charming, a little brash and cynical. A little experimental and fun, a little classical and thought-provoking. Stella Mora is all of these things. All the members have music in their blood (it’s been scientifically proven) and have joined creative forces in an effort to produce an original musical experience for your listening pleasure.

In true Shoegazer fashion, Stella Mora uses distorted washy guitars, fuzz bass, and dissonant vocal harmonies, to create a atmospheric wall of sound. Yet this band of non-conformists is having fun reinventing the rules – perhaps the only way to do music justice – by incorporating aspects of other genres into their sound as well. Add in self-deprecating introspective lyrics with a bit of social cynicism and agitation, and there lies what is, Stella Mora.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

The Nova Saints [UK]


The Draft EP - 2007 HR4 Records

A gang of five disenchanted yet ambitious mates from Hereford, relocated to Bristol, UK where they live, sleep and rehearse under the same roof, The Nova Saints blend spaced out rock 'n' roll with psych-tinged pop, sweeping choruses and west coast harmonies.

Driven by a shared love of golden-era Creation Records, and an unshakable belief in their collective musical vision, the Nova Saints count among their champions The Verve's Nick McCabe who has gone on to lend his expertise in the studio as well as choosing the band's appearance at Bristol's 2006 Ashton Court festival to mark his return to the live stage, joining them for their set finale.

The Nova Saints have just released their first limited edition EP, 'The Draft EP' on their own HR4 Records.

Chtonium [Swe]


In Sour Ground - Demo 2007

The band was formed in Uddevalla (Sweden) by Martin, Björn and Andreas, at the end of 1999 under the name Conspiracy. Conspiracy had 5 members, Micke P – Vocals, Martin – Drums, Jocke – Bass and Andreas and Björn on guitar. It was originally meant to be a heavy metal band but the music became faster and more aggressive then expected. It became more like thrash metal.

Martin decided to leave the band in autumn 2003 and Rikard joined Conspiracy as a new batterist. In autumn 2004 the lead singer Micke P decided to leave the band to focus on other projects. At the same time Jocke and Rikard also left the band. Andreas and Björn continued as a 2-member band until new members appeared. In January 2006 the new member Linn took place in Conspiracy as the singer. Niklas joined the band as the bass player in autumn 2006.

In spring 2007 Conspiracy switched name to Chtonium. The name changed because too many other bands had the same name, causing confusion among fans, and with new members joining, the name change was natural. Chtonium will continue the thrash metal Conspiracy began with, and spread the sound further. A new demo will be released in the summer of 2007, called “In Sour Ground”.