The unstoppable Satanic Lofi Music continues his stream of horror-ambient releases with this latest two-track dirge, 常に心の. Haunted drones and dark ambient soundscapes set the stage for a chilling listening experience, best enjoyed late at night when hypnagogia kicks in. Purchase it here.
Totally wild six-track single from French producer and singer [lyn] and Argentinian audio terrorists Morgve. On paper, the original version of "Innerside" sounds totally bizarre—hardcore beats and breakbeat percussion mixed with classical singing and witch-punk energy—but it works, especially with Nadia's vocals! There are also remixes from breakcore project Smeargle, a more balanced, low-tempo version by electronic duo Nouvelles Lectures Cosmopolites, an Italian hardtek edit by producer Ent1, as well as an early demo and a collage that blends all of the above.
Support them all here, and stream "Innerside" in full below.
The "Goths For Palestine" compilation made me check out other releases by one of my highlights there—Belgrado—and I'm so glad I did. The band is based in Barcelona and fronted by Polish vocalist Patrycja Proniewska, giving their songs a unique vibe that brings to mind Polish coldwave movement from the 1980s. the album "Intra Apogeum" came out last year, thanks to the ever-amazing La Vida Es Un Mus Discos, and it is truly a sonic time machine, wonderful minimal record that channels elements of post-punk, aforementioned cold wave and elements of gothic synth-pop. Love it.
You can still buy it on limited vinyl here. If you want to listen to it before, check out the playlist down below.
"Goths For Palestine" is a grassroots project organised by Finnish darkwave musician Suzi Sabotage, featuring 30 songs from various artists around the globe. All proceeds from the sales will be donated to Anera, a charity providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The compilation showcases incredible versatility in styles and genres, ranging from goth rock (duh) to darkwave, coldwave, post-punk, new wave and more! Some of my favourite cuts are Belgrado with "Rytmy Wszechświata", The Spoiled's "Time", blackened post-punk from Scary Black, minimal "El Planeta Enfermo" from Fatamorgana, and Ghost Cop's "Before the Flood". Awesome stuff in every aspect.
Support the cause and buy the album here. Stream it all down below.
White Ring's "Angel 13" album dropped out of nowhere back in March, available in digital format and as a limited edition cassette tape (last copies available here). I friend from the States ordered it for me, and I decided I'll check the project only when I have the tape in my possession. My package arrived a couple of weeks age at last, and I finally got to see what they had created. The album is said to be about the topic of spiritual warfare, fighting with your inner demons. The record is a guitar-driven, hardcore witch-house that drips with grunge undertones. Dope album that needs to be played loud, I hope I'll be able to catch them on tour soon.
Check out "Angel 13" on Bandcamp here, and stream it all after the jump.
Montoya's latest single "GoodBye Darling" has just premiered on Youtube with a video. Sampling indie pop song by Loud Hound, this version of "GoodBye Darling" feels more mellow in comparison with the original, with the catchy hook getting a syruppy treatment. Great joint from start from finish.
Blogging in reverse, but bear with me. Vascha's "Magna Cvnta" EP came out last December, followed a month later by a dragged remix version "Slow Trip", which I mentioned here. A few days ago, Adam sent out an email announcing a very limited CD edition of the EP, compiled with another project of his—"Shockmuzik (I)". All that being said, I really recommend checking out this 3-track gem, especially if you're into mixing harsh witch house and deconstructed club sounds. The EP consists of three tracks that are actually covers/remixes of German gregorian new age duo Magna Canta. Get them while they're there!
Cop the CD here, and stream the release down below.
Curses sheds his new beat cloak that defined a number of his recent releases, and embraces post-punk and synth-pop aesthetic for his new album "Another Heaven". I was a massive fan of his amazing 2022 LP "Incarnadine", and was anxiously waiting for his fourth album, released this time by Italians Do It Better. While Curses seems comfortable in this new, gothic new wave style, I can't help but feel the record lacks the kind of kick present in his previous projects. It's a solid album, but there's not a single track on it that makes me want to press replay straight after it finishes.
Buy "Another Heaven" here, and stream it down below.
I have so much to catch up on when it comes to Ourobonic Plague's output from 2024, but I guess it's better late than never. First on my list is his EP "Crumbs", released in May this year. Finding himself at a crossroads in his professional career and with time to spare, Nick decided to explore the realms of the techno genre. The five tracks that make up this release loosely play with the concept of techno label, and are injected with a solid dose of Nick's signature industrial and drone experimentations. It almost feels like stepping into an unknown club at 2 a.m. by mistake and being captivated by the strange yet fascinating music coming from the speakers. Give it a listen!
You can download EP1 on Bandcamp here, and stream all the tracks below.
Obsession is the mother of perfection. Anthony from The Implicit Order shares a fascinating story about his fixation on a vocal sample he encountered over 20 years ago, which inspired the release above. I'm not planning to copy-paste it here in full, please head over to his Bandcamp to read the complete liner notes, as it's a fascinating read. In short, "Cynical Love Songs (The Cold, Cold Hand Story)" is a remix album of that cryptic vocal track, featuring ten haunted and eclectic versions that shift between dark ambient, industrial, noise, drone, witch house, and psychedelic electronica. An incredibly engaging project from start to finish.
Download / buy the record here, and listen to all the tracks below.
Industrial drone nightmare from the enigmatic producer A Scent Like Blood Tastes. Eight minutes of what feels like being at the epicenter of the aftermath of a bomb explosion, bringing death and destruction to innocent civilians, all while a rogue military helicopter circles overhead. Limited release on tapes and lathe cut. Grab 'em here.
New batch of tapes arrived at the HQ of Bent Window Records, and this is the first album that I decided to check out. Pellucid Crops is a producer and musician from Slovakia, who debuted last year on Black Artifact with a electroacoustic drone-noise-ambient release "Pushing the Burden". His new cassette, "Concrete & Grapes", stays in a similar lane, though its two tracks stylistically differ from one another. "Man Made Maze" is a shoegazing drone soundscape with a hint of cinematic flair, whereas "Lights and Misery" veers towards noisier, harsher, more industrial territory. Perfect stuff for a nightcap.
Grab your tape here. Check out the album after the jump below.
Chayn Sloth comes through with a new hit single "Junglewoods", recorded over "Auto" instrumental, lifted from Pale Palace's 2023 EP "Volt Volta". The instrumental on its own is perfect, but it turns into a banger with Sloth's melodic bars. Stream/download here.
Hater4e is a side project of STRLL, conceived to explore a more positive approach to songwriting compared to the darker tone of his main outlet. While hyperpop is one of the most prominent tags associated with Hater4e's sound, the album "Eternally Hateful <3" — featuring tracks created between 2022 and 2024 — drifts more towards instrumental hip-hop, beats electronica, and witch house. Imagine Hudson Mohawke from 2008 blending witch house and trap into his productions, with the intention of someone dropping bars over them later. This one's made for car sound systems and cyphers.
Buy the album here, and stream it after the jump.
It feels like I blogged about Satanic Lofi Music just a few weeks ago, yet the man has released 15 new projects since then! "_,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,___" is one of them, published just three days ago and spanning over 25 minutes, the recording features a single, long, droning tone punctuated every few seconds by piano keys that anxiously herald impending doom. Around the five-minute mark, the gates of hell seem to come down crashing, unleashing a wave of menacing noise that intensifies the sinister atmosphere. This is some serious survival-horror music, best enjoyed late at night. Support on Bandcamp here.
I'm shocked that I haven't posted about this song yet! Released on Soundcloud seven months ago, "One By One" is a bootleg remix of Enya by Pale Palace — executed to perfection. The unmistakable melody and vocal sample are paired with the hardest beat and throbbing bass, resulting in one of the best remixes of the year. Get on the train, follow PP here and get the track here (limited downloads).
The House They Haunt Is You is the latest incarnation of LA-based producer Still ∞ Alive. Since my last review (here), he went through two name changes - this one seems to be the final one. His new single "Mort" conveys similar vibe to Kanye West's "Fade" - a minimal, screwed hip-house beat with deep bassline that will make you want to nod after a while. Dark, simple and tasty stuff. Get it here.
I'm absolutely in awe of Xavier's constant artistic growth - his latest Sofia Reta LP "Quiet's Helm" is simply amazing. Taking the best cues from his previous albums, it pushes them even further, creating a unique blend of futuristic darkwave, neo-synthwave, and his signature avant-pop sound. I love the club-oriented vibe of "Eraser", the calming strings contrasted with bass wobbles in "Gloss", the use of guitar in "Helm", and the many intimate moments scattered across the nine tracks that make this album so special.
You can purchase "Quiet's Helm" here, and stream it below.
BLD dropped a new single a couple of weeks ago on Bandcamp. "Clock Sickness" may (or may not) be a sign of a new record, but what it is for sure is three minutes of gothic, post-punk flavoured darkwave. It actually made me wonder how would it sound with vocals on top? Get the single here.
Recording of Night Foundation live set that took place in September 2023, at The Auxiliary Project Space, Middlesbrough, thanks to the ever-amazing Industrial Coast who also released it on tape. While cassettes are gone now, you can still listen to the performance on Bandcamp.
"Sanctuary", a collaborative EP from E_Death and Kmado came out earlier this year, but I was avoiding checking it out for some reason. Tonight's evening was a perfect occasion to dive into it and I'm so glad to it. Blending hyper-cloud-rap beats with junglist and breakbeat tempos, the duo delivered a post-trance ecstasy on this four-track release. It might just be E_Death's best work to date within her current niche. Blissful electronica! Get it.
Download the EP for free here, and stream all four track down below.
Drum n bass flavoured Vidchajj is peak right now, Final Fantasy magic beatmaking. My only moan would be the length, I want it way longer! Stream here.
Vertigo Cult once again delives a devilishly amazing debut, this time from U.S. producer Beauty. "Down in the Dirt" EP offers a witchy take on Gucci Mane's back catalogue, a trend that SALEM started in 2009 - but Beauty takes it to another level. The opening track "Lifestyle" is easily one of the best singles of the year, flawless mix of witch, rap and club. The whole EP flows perfectly, with ill production that juggles between up-tempo and slow beats, all in sync with the processed vocals of Gucci. I was never a fan of GMane but Beauty made him sound sick, and actually inspired me to dive into his old albums. Do not sleep on this icy package.
Download "Down In The Dirt" here, stream it below.
This is like a peak dubstep/brostep-era sonic onslaught, but with witchhouse and industrial influences all over the place. Hardcore sounds. Support Monomorte and get "Swallow" here.
"Blush", new single from Sad Madona, sounds like an unreleased single from TRST's debut album era, but played at 33RPM instead of 45. Absolute gem, free download as always, get it!
This new 7" split from Retrac Recordings brings together the Tennessee-based wonky psych-tripper New Mexican Stargazers and Chilean guitar-ambient wiz Agate Flow. Two great lo-fi tunes for mellow Autumn sessions.
Grab the vinyl here, and stream both tracks below.
Lush ambient OST from the Kuroi Ame duo, released earlier this year to promote 2023 indie film "Growth". Tense strings, delicate piano, creepy sound design and droney tones. If the movie is half as good as the score, I seriously would love to see it. Enjoy the music in the meantime, it works as a standalone album just fine.
Download the score here, stream it in full down bellow.
Birthday (?) mix from STRFLL, beautifully dragged and blended, featuring underground gems from Valhall, Salem, Sunset Architects, and exclusive preview of his collab with Beauty, and a rare side project of Micke from D040 called Gömstället. All dirge heat no fillers. Download and support here.
